Higher Ed Dive
Summary
Vicinity procures carbon-free electricity from renewable energy sources like wind, solar and hydropower to generate eSteam through a combination of heat pumps, electric boilers and thermal storage technologies, according to its website.
The eSteam product, which is then distributed to customers through underground piping infrastructure, provides operational flexibility that allows operators to switch fuel and generating sources to avoid service interruptions, Vicinity says.
The transition to eSteam reinforces the college’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, Emerson College said.
Although the transition to eSteam will not fundamentally change Emerson College’s ongoing maintenance and operational costs, one key benefit of the thermal energy technology is that it does not require any changes in operational or maintenance procedures, according to Mueller. “To provide this carbon-free steam, Vicinity Energy is retrofitting our central Kendall facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with state-of-the-art electric boilers and heat pumps. These upgrades enable us to generate steam without relying on fossil fuels, significantly reducing our and our customers’ carbon footprints,” he said.
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