Industry: Hospitality
Vicinity Energy Begins Electrification of Cambridge Plant
Vicinity Energy Steams Ahead to Sustainable Future with Arrival of 42MW Electric Boiler in Cambridge, Mass.
Cambridge, November 28, 2023 – Vicinity Energy, a decarbonization leader with the nation’s largest portfolio of district energy systems, announces the arrival of its 42MW industrial-scale electric boiler, set to be installed at its Kendall Square facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Installing the electric boiler marks a significant stride in Vicinity’s commitment to sustainable practices and reducing carbon emissions. The company is poised to commence the installation process in the coming months, with the electric boiler expected to be fully operational by the spring of 2024.
The newly acquired 42MW electric boiler will play a pivotal role in Vicinity Energy’s mission to provide sustainable solutions to its customers. Once operational, the boiler will enable the immediate production of eSteam™, Vicinity’s award-winning carbon-free thermal energy product. This groundbreaking development underscores the company’s dedication to a cleaner, sustainable future.
“This 42MW electric boiler represents a significant leap forward in our decarbonization efforts for Boston, Cambridge and the Commonwealth. With the ability to produce eSteam™ on an industrial scale we are rapidly advancing our capacity to deliver carbon-free thermal energy to meet the strong and accelerating demand of our customers for an affordable net zero-carbon future. We are excited about executing on our years of planning and the positive implications this holds for our customers and communities. We are also looking forward to taking our next major step…stay tuned!” states Bill DiCroce, chief executive officer of Vicinity Energy.
Vicinity will implement the second phase of its electrification plans by installing a 35MW industrial-scale heat pump complex at its Kendall facility that will enter service in 2027.
“In our commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions, the technologies we are implementing signify more than just progress; they represent a large first step toward fulfilling our promises to customers, employees, and the communities we proudly serve,” states Kevin Hagerty, president of Vicinity Energy. “This innovation will enable us to convert renewable electricity directly into steam at Kendall Station in Cambridge, where we own a direct connection to the backbone of the high-voltage electric grid. By leveraging our existing infrastructure and deploying new technologies, we are taking our environmental responsibility to the community from the planning stage to reality.”
Vicinity aims to achieve net zero carbon across its portfolio and provide solutions to decarbonize its customers and communities. The company recognizes the urgency of addressing climate change and understands our pivotal role in decarbonizing urban cores and campuses. In response, Vicinity has set ambitious targets for decarbonization, aiming not just to meet industry standards but to redefine them to lead the thermal energy industry in clean energy solutions.
About Vicinity Energy
Vicinity Energy is a clean energy company that owns and operates an extensive portfolio of district energy systems across the United States. Vicinity produces and distributes reliable, clean steam, hot water, and chilled water to 250 million square feet of building space nationwide. Vicinity continuously invests in its infrastructure and the latest technologies to accelerate the decarbonization of commercial and institutional buildings in city centers. Vicinity is committed to achieving net zero carbon across its portfolio by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.vicinityenergy.us or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
Media Contact
Sara DeMille
Marketing and Communications
857-955-5073
sara.demille@vicinityenergy.us
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In this interview with Boston Neighborhood News Network host Faith Imafidon, Vicinity’s Chief Sustainability Officer Matt O’Malley discusses how eSteam™ is revolutionizing district energy by providing steam with heat pumps and electric boilers, rather than cogeneration or gas boilers.
Vicinity Energy Names Bill Fahey as Chief Operating Officer
Boston, July 10, 2023 – Vicinity Energy, a national decarbonization leader with an extensive portfolio of district energy systems across the United States, announced that Bill Fahey has joined the company as its new chief operating officer. Fahey joins Vicinity with over 35 years of experience in the energy industry. Previously Fahey served as the executive vice president and chief technical officer for Veolia North America, where he led many operations-focused initiatives and has been instrumental to its long-term success in North America.
Vicinity maintains the largest district energy portfolio in the nation, and recently signed an agreement with MAN Energy Solutions to build a low-temperature source heat pump complex at Vicinity’s facility in Cambridge, MA to produce carbon-free steam, eSteam™, utilizing water from the Charles River.
“Vicinity is leading the way to a decarbonized future with our carbon-free eSteam™ solution for heating and cooling,” said Bill DiCroce, president and CEO of Vicinity Energy. “Bill’s expertise and ability to produce creative, result-driven solutions will accelerate our decarbonization mission and allow us to offer our customers reliable, efficient, carbon-free technologies and services to meet sustainability goals.”
Fahey is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and earned his MBA from the University of Massachusetts Boston.
The race to net zero
In 2022, the company kicked off its electrification strategy by deconstructing a steam turbine at its Kendall Facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In its place, Vicinity is installing an industrial-scale electric boiler that will begin supplying carbon-free eSteam™ to customers in 2024 and a heat pump complex, the largest in the nation, in 2026.
The company’s other 11 locations in major cities nationwide will undergo similar electrification processes in the coming years to achieve its goal of net zero by 2050.
About Vicinity Energy
Vicinity Energy is a clean energy company that owns and operates an extensive portfolio of district energy systems across the United States. Vicinity produces and distributes reliable, clean steam, hot water, and chilled water to over 250 million square feet of building space nationwide. Vicinity continuously invests in its infrastructure and the latest technologies to accelerate the decarbonization of commercial and institutional buildings in city centers. Vicinity is committed to achieving net zero carbon across its portfolio by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.vicinityenergy.us or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
Media Contacts
Vicinity Energy
Sara DeMille
Marketing and Communications
857-955-5073
sara.demille@vicinityenergy.us
Clean Energy Future: Breaking Down Vicinity Energy’s Net Zero Carbon Plan with Matt O’Malley
Clean Energy Future: Breaking Down Vicinity Energy’s Net Zero Carbon Plan
On season 3, episode 1 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia talks with Matt O’Malley, the first-ever chief sustainability officer for Vicinity Energy. He discusses Vicinity’s Clean Energy Future, Net Zero Carbon plan, and how the company is working with its customers, communities, and local government to decarbonize its operations across the country and reduce the impact of the energy sector on the earth’s atmosphere.
