Challenge Synopsis:
TransLink is seeking innovative ideas that address key challenges regarding building energy efficiency and energy management to reduce GHG emissions from their facilities. Building efficiency and energy management solutions could apply to a wide range of Translink infrastructure and assets, including bus depots, seabus terminals and rapid transit stations.
Context:
As the regional transportation authority for Metro Vancouver, TransLink plans, operates, and maintains bus, SeaBus, SkyTrain, West Coast Express, and HandyDART services, as well as five of the region’s bridges. TransLink also shares responsibility with local governments for the Major Road Network and walking and cycling infrastructure.
In October of 2018, the Mayors’ Council and TransLink Board of Directors approved environmental sustainability targets to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 80% by 2050 and to utilize 100% renewable energy in all operations by 2050. Meeting TransLink’s GHG reduction goals requires the implementation of cleaner, low carbon technologies, progressive policies and clean energy investments.
To achieve these goals, the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation outlined priority transportation improvements for the region in the 10-Year Vision. The 10-Year Vision reflects the consensus of local governments in Metro Vancouver and has been broadly supported by community, environmental, labour, and business stakeholders. In 2016, the Mayors’ Council and the Government of British Columbia reached a funding agreement for Phase One of the 10-Year Vision. In collaboration with the Government of British Columbia, the Mayors’ Council has now reached a funding agreement to advance Phase Two of the 10-Year Vision.
Response Criteria:
- TransLink is seeking low-cost, high impact solutions that will help advance building energy efficiency and energy management. Solutions can include, but are not limited to, energy use optimization, improvements to energy efficiency in TransLink operations and facilities and integrating transportation energy use with electric, liquid and gaseous fuel supply grids.
- Proponents should be able to provide initial data on market interest (i.e. initial sales data and evidence of a customer-realized value proposition), yet still be at a stage where they can benefit from a TransLink pilot or scaled deployment.
- Proponents should explain how their proposed solution meets basic certifications and/or minimum standards required to safely deploy.
- Proponents must demonstrate Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) compliance for any innovation that handles personal information. Data should be hosted in Canada and encrypted in transit and while at rest.
- If the proposal involved piloting a technology that interacts with TransLink’s system in a manner that requires either data feeds or electrical power, proponents must specify the required parameters; they should also include whether, when, and how often they would require physical access to TransLink premises.
- Proponents should explain desired contributions from TransLink.
- Proponents should explain if their solution requires exclusivity agreements and, if so, what these would entail, including boundaries.
Eligible EU companies can apply to the targeted challenge using the LCBA Canada application portal: