Networked geothermal pilot project to be built in Boston, MA
Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (soruce: Roman Eugeniusz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Carlo Cariaga
26 Jan 2024
The city of Boston, Massachusetts will be implementing the first networked geothermal pilot project in a public housing community in Dorchester.
The first networked geothermal pilot project in the city of Boston, Massachusetts will be built at the Franklin Fields Apartments in Dorchester. The project was announced by Mayor Michelle Wu along with the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) and utility company National Grid.
The project design is set to start in early 2024 and construction activity will commence by 2025. The system will consist of geothermal boreholes, a pumphouse for ground source heat pumps in BHA property, and a horizontal distribution loop. In addition to replacing the current gas boiler loop for heat, the geothermal system will also provide in-unit cooling, thus eliminating the need for inefficient window air-conditioners.
The BHA will invest federal Capital Fund Program resources to support electrification of the heating and domestic hot water equipment within the buildings including retrofits, electrical upgrades, and replacement of appliances and heating equipment. National Grid will develop the geothermal network leading to the building’s exterior, and both parties will collaborate on complementary energy efficiency investments funded by the state’s energy efficiency programs.
“We want to be a city where the benefits we are bringing when it comes to energy efficiency and green energy are not just around being able to check off boxes and hit goals, but that we are able to empower and support the people in our community who make it possible for Boston to do everything that we do. Every Boston family deserves a home that is affordable, safe and healthy,” said Mayor Michelle Wu during the announcement.
“Our partnership with National Grid is an exciting opportunity to showcase geothermal technology as a fossil-fuel-free alternative for multifamily housing, while also improving resident quality of life by providing 129 BHA families with efficient, state-of-the-art heating and cooling,” added Kenzie Bok, Administrator of BHA.
“Key to transitioning away from fossil fuels is to develop and expand reliable alternatives. Networked geothermal has significant potential to be a solution, especially for larger buildings and campuses, and this partnership will allow us to demonstrate that and bring the benefits of the clean energy future to the Franklin Field community, today,” further said Lisa Wieland, President of National Grid New England.
Before the end of 2023, the US Department of Energy with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory published a study on the potential of large-scale geothermal heat pump deployment in decarbonizing buildings and the power grid.
Source: National Grid
