Thermal Energy Networks
About
New York State currently relies on fossil fuels to provide heating and hot water, which results in greenhouse gas emissions. Electric heat pumps—such as ground source and air-source—provide these necessities efficiently and without fossil fuels. We aim to pair ground source heat pumps with thermal energy networks to transform our energy system and meet New York State’s goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2040.
How it Works
Each building connects to the underground thermal energy network via a ground source or a water source heat pump, which provides efficient heating, cooling, and/or hot water without the use of fossil fuels. The heat pump moves heat from an underground loop into a building during the cold winter months and removes heat from the building and transfers it into the loop during the summer.
Benefits of Thermal Energy
- Lowers greenhouse gas emissions
- Improves local air quality
- Enables greater access to clean energy
- Creates jobs in the green energy sector
- Efficient
- Safe
- Reliable
Upcoming Projects
The following projects have been proposed as part of the Utility Thermal Energy Networks and Jobs Act, a statewide initiative to reduce building greenhouse gas emissions through energy-company-scale infrastructure projects.
- Mount Vernon: Low-rise buildings in a designated “disadvantaged community,” including community centers, single-family homes, and affordable multifamily buildings. Learn more about the Mount Vernon thermal energy project.
- Chelsea: Multifamily NYCHA buildings in a designated “disadvantaged community.” The thermal energy network will repurpose excess heat from a data center. Learn more about the Chelsea thermal energy project.
- Rockefeller Center: High-rise commercial buildings in a dense urban environment. The thermal energy network will tap into multiple sources of waste heat. Learn more about the Rockefeller Center thermal energy project.
For project status updates from Con Edison and the Public Service Commission, please see the Proceeding to Implement the Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act.