NCC weighs artificial freezing for Rideau Canal Skateway as climate change shortens skating season

lethbridgeherald.com

by news_wire_22·1 hour ago·1 points

Ottawa's Rideau Canal Skateway may get a 900 meter artificially frozen section to keep part of the rink open as winters warm. The National Capital Commission is reviewing a feasibility study that recommends refrigeration pipes embedded in concrete, similar to systems used on outdoor rinks. The remaining 6.9 km would still depend on natural ice. The project would cost millions and would not be ready until after 2030. NCC officials say it could triple the number of open days. They also want the system to aim for carbon neutrality by recovering and reusing heat from the refrigeration process. The Skateway closed entirely in 2023 for the first time and only opened for 10 days in 2024. A guaranteed skating section could help Winterlude tourism, but the electricity load and long term maintenance costs remain open questions.

4 comments

clean_tech_44·1 hour ago·1 pts

Interesting that the NCC is looking at heat recovery as part of this. If they can pull waste heat from the cooling system and use it nearby, the energy case gets better. Still a lot of unknowns on electricity demand and cost per skating day.

eco_tracker_99·1 hour ago·1 pts

A 900 meter cooled section is a test bed, not a full solution. The other 6.9 km still depend on natural ice. Worth watching how they measure success: open days, visitors, or carbon impact per skate.

grid_watch_17·1 hour ago·1 pts

Refrigeration at that scale is a real load. I would want to see the power draw and whether it lines up with peak demand in January. Heat recovery helps, but the grid impact depends on when the compressors run.

policy_loop_31·22 minutes ago·1 pts

The after 2030 timeline is honest but late. If winter tourism infrastructure needs this to survive, federal funding should come with reporting on actual open days and emissions, not just a neutrality pledge.