MAN Energy Solutions and Vicinity Energy have officially partnered to advance urban decarbonisation with what it believes is a pioneering heat pump project in Boston, USA. The partnership hopes its combined efforts will further help provide a role model for decarbonisation in the United States by redefining urban energy systems.
The partnership builds on an agreement announced in April 2023, under which the two companies outlined plans to develop a low-temperature source heat pump system for steam generation in district energy applications. MAN will supply a 35 MW industrial-scale steam heat pump to Vicinity’s Kendall Station facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The heat pump system will harness thermal energy from the Charles River. This approach will replace fossil fuel-based systems, delivering high-pressure, decarbonised steam − branded as ‘eSteam’ − to customers connected to Boston’s existing district energy network. By 2028, the river-source heat pump complex is expected to become the largest installation of its kind in the USA, emphasising its role as a model for clean energy innovation in urban environments.
Kevin Hagerty, president and CEO of Vicinity Energy, said: “The strong customer demand for carbon-free district energy reflects the urgency of transitioning to sustainable solutions. District energy electrification is an efficient, economic pathway to decarbonise cities, and this project represents a pivotal step toward that goal.”
