Tag: Baltimore
BNN News Interview with Matt O’Malley Vicinity Energy
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 Partners with Baltimore Gas and Electric on Key Infrastructure Investment in Baltimore
Baltimore, February 28, 2023 – Vicinity Energy, a national decarbonization leader with an extensive portfolio of district energy systems across the United States, has been awarded $1 million in incentives through the EmPOWER Maryland program managed by Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) to invest in the significant energy efficiency project that resulted in sustainable upgrades for its district chilled water facilities.
Vicinity invested $2 million to upgrade their district chilled water plants with piping upgrades, variable frequency drives on large motors, improved instrumentation, and sophisticated computer optimization software. This project improved equipment and controls at the Vicinity chilled water system located in Baltimore. Optimum Energy LLC provided the engineering and optimization software that is the heart of the efficiency project.
The upgrade has improved the plant’s overall electrical efficiency by over 20%, saving over 5 million kWh/yr. In addition to the green improvements at the facility, this upgrade increased system reliability and redundancy.
“Vicinity is proud to invest in our existing energy infrastructure today to provide our customers with a more sustainable, resilient option to heat and cool their buildings,” said Mat Ware, Senior Vice President for Vicinity’s South region, including Baltimore. “While we work to decarbonize our systems across the country, driving energy efficiency is critical for the communities we serve.”
Vicinity Energy centrally produces and distributes steam, hot water, and chilled water to over 30 million square feet of building space in Baltimore. More than half of the steam delivered to Baltimore customers is generated through zero carbon, non-fossil fuel-based renewables, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 30,000 tons annually, or the equivalent of removing about 11,000 cars from Baltimore’s roads. The company also recently announced the purchase of 100% carbon-free electricity to run its Baltimore heating and cooling operations, eliminating up to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions from cooling operations and 90% of emissions from the electricity used for heating operations.
“We are proud to support Vicinity through Maryland’s EmPOWER Maryland program and support their focus on energy efficiency, which helps to power a cleaner and brighter future for our customers,” said Alexander Núñez, BGE’s senior vice president of governmental, regulatory, and external affairs. “By partnering with forward-thinking companies like Vicinity we are able to bring the State of Maryland closer to its decarbonization goals. This sizable investment from Vicinity shows what we can accomplish when we work together and highlights the power of the EmPOWER Maryland program, which has helped customers reduce their average electric use by 19% since the program began in 2008.
This announcement comes on the heels of recent developments by Vicinity Energy to decarbonize its district energy systems across the country. Vicinity is on track to fully electrify its steam generation in Boston and Cambridge and introduce innovative technological advancements into its operations, including electric boilers, industrial-scale heat pumps, and molten salt thermal energy storage.
In 2022, the company kicked off its electrification plans by deconstructing a steam turbine at its Kendall Facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts. An electric boiler will be installed in its place, and will begin supplying eSteam™ to customers in 2024. The company’s other locations across the country will undergo similar electrification processes in the coming years.
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 Contact
Vicinity Energy
Sara DeMille
Marketing and Communications
857-955-5073
sara.demille@vicinityenergy.us
Decarbonizing building heating
In this panel with the New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC), Vicinity’s Chief Customer Officer Jackie Bliss joined experts to discuss how big buildings, campus installations and whole neighborhoods can migrate to clean forms of heating.
White paper: Revolutionizing urban sustainability
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White paper: Revolutionizing urban sustainability
We’re amid an energy transformation driven by a mounting global crisis: climate change. Across the world, we are experiencing more extreme weather events due to accelerating levels of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigating carbon in the production and distribution of energy is now just as critically important as our society’s ever-growing need for energy itself. It’s clear that we need resilient, reliable and agile energy solutions…now.
District energy systems, like Vicinity’s, are uniquely positioned to take advantage of existing infrastructure in conjunction with critical technological advancements to cost-effectively decarbonize quickly. This white paper highlights the benefits of district energy in a decarbonizing world, specifically how electrifying district energy can help urban centers rapidly and affordably achieve city and state carbon reduction goals.
Learn more about how the electrification of district energy systems can help U.S. cities achieve building decarbonization.
Fill in the details below for immediate access to the white paper.
In this white paper, you'll learn:
Our plan
Details on Vicinity’s multi-pronged strategy and execution plan, including our specific electrification plans and how this strategy will be applied to Vicinity’s systems nationwide.
Leading examples
Examples from other European cities that are leading the way in district energy electrification and driving carbon emissions reductions.
How we can work together
Why public-private partnership is so critical to achieving expeditious and successful decarbonization outcomes.
Electrification progress in action
The electrification of our Kendall Square facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts is well underway, with the installation of our first 42MW electric boiler.
Our customers
We help organizations of all sizes—from hospitals to hotels to municipalities—use and manage energy more efficiently, sustainably, and strategically.
Now is the time to triple down on renewables
District energy and its importance to a greener future
In this interview with Capital Analytics, Chief Customer Officer of Vicinity Energy Jackie Bliss discusses why district energy will be crucial to decarbonization efforts, as well as the current status of women leadership in the energy and utilities sector.
How century-old ‘district energy’ networks can help decarbonize cities
Vicinity Energy Recognized for Industry Growth by the International District Energy Association
TORONTO, June 7, 2022 – Vicinity Energy has been recognized by the International District Energy Association (IDEA) for the growth of its services in Baltimore, Boston, and Cambridge.
The annual award highlights industry growth, recognizing the district energy systems with the largest total number of buildings and building area in square feet committed or recommitted to district energy service by IDEA member systems. In the “Number of Buildings Committed” category, Vicinity’s Boston-Cambridge system received the Gold award, and its Baltimore system received the Bronze award. The company was also recognized for “Total Building Area Committed,” with its Boston and Cambridge system and Baltimore system winning the Silver and Bronze awards, respectively.
With a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Vicinity is actively working towards electrifying its district energy systems in Boston and Cambridge, with its other districts to follow.
The company’s multi-pronged decarbonization and electrification plan includes the installation of innovative technologies such as electric boilers, industrial-scale heat pumps, and thermal batteries. As a key part of this strategy, Vicinity Energy announced the launch of eSteam™, the first-ever carbon-free energy product powered by renewable energy.
“We are honored to be recognized by the IDEA community and value the trust that our long-term and new customers have in our teams. We are excited about the opportunity to continue district energy’s long history of innovation to propel our cities towards a clean energy future,” said Brian Mueller, chief development officer for Vicinity Energy. “We are especially thrilled that the decarbonization efforts we are making at our central facility in Cambridge, Mass. will immediately affect all the buildings we serve in lowering carbon emissions in our neighborhoods and cities.”
To read more about Vicinity’s district energy systems and its commitment to innovation and the environment, click here.
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 Contact
Vicinity Energy
Sara DeMille
Marketing and Communications
857-955-5073
sara.demille@vicinityenergy.us
Vicinity Energy Keeps Baltimore Aquatic Life Cool With Clean Chilled Water Agreement
BALTIMORE, November 3, 2021 – Vicinity Energy, owner and operator of the nation’s largest portfolio of district energy systems, announces that it has extended its contract with the National Aquarium for an additional 20 years.
The historic National Aquarium in Baltimore is home to hundreds of different species of plants and animals, all of which require specific air and water temperatures. To support its cooling needs, the Aquarium recently extended a 20-year contract with Vicinity Energy for chilled water services, used in space cooling and to regulate temperatures in its exhibits. Since 2001, Vicinity Energy has been providing 1,250 tons of district chilled water to the National Aquarium, which hosts 1.2 million people each year. Vicinity is also a proud annual contributor to the Aquarium, supporting the institution’s efforts to educate visitors and help protect Chesapeake Bay aquatic habitats.
The Aquarium, and all of Vicinity’s Baltimore customers, will now benefit from a greener district energy system than ever before. This summer, Vicinity completed a major energy efficiency project, involving equipment and controls improvements, that is expected to reduce Vicinity’s overall electricity consumption by over 17%. This upgrade is also expected to increase system reliability and redundancy.
Vicinity Energy centrally produces and distributes steam, hot water and chilled water to over 30 million square feet of building space in Baltimore. More than half of the steam delivered to Baltimore customers is generated through zero carbon, non-fossil fuel-based renewables, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 30,000 tons annually, or the equivalent of removing about 11,000 cars from Baltimore’s roads. The company also recently announced the purchase of 100% carbon-free electricity to run its Baltimore heating and cooling operations, which will eliminate up to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions from cooling operations and 90% of emissions from heating operations.
This announcement comes on the heels of several other recent moves by Vicinity Energy to green its district energy systems, including the incorporation of renewable biogenic heating oil, as it continues on its path to net zero carbon emissions.
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 Contact
Vicinity Energy
Sara DeMille
Marketing and Communications
857-955-5073
sara.demille@vicinityenergy.us
