Blogs

UMass Boston Receives Decarbonization Grant for Renewable Seawater Heating System

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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UMass Boston Summary UMass Boston received a $5.3 million grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to support the initial phases of its campus-wide decarbonization plan, accelerating plans to reduce on-campus greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas by 7,500 metric tons annually, starting in 2029. To achieve this reduction, UMass Boston will install a unique heating system that would not be possible on any other UMass campus: one which relies on seawater. Over the next several years, the university will expand this system, installing a set of three electric heat-shift chillers in the Central Plant to capture excess heat and ...
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Alfred University leads project to develop battery storage, microgrid control system

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Alfred University Summary Alfred University is partnering with clean-tech startup Ranial Systems Inc. to develop an artificial intelligence-assisted controller for power grid-scale battery storage, commercial and industrial microgrids, and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) integrations. The Advanced Power Grid Lab at Alfred University was launched in 2024 as part of a workforce development initiative that will prepare students for careers in the growing renewable energy industry. It is supported by a $466,853 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and $2.8 million in software licenses donated by GE Vernova. ...
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Data centre near Reading could heat 33,000 homes

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Reading Chronicle UK Summary A proposed data centre in Reading could generate enough surplus heat to warm up to 33,000 homes, according to a climate scientist. The intervention has prompted a response from Wokingham Borough Council leader Stephen Conway, who had an innovative suggestion - a so-called 'Local Heat Network'. Heat networks distribute heat or cooling from a central source, and deliver it to a variety of hospitals, shops, offices, public buildings and homes - and near the new data centre, a new Royal Berks Hospital might shortly be built. Continue Reading #News #DataCenter #DistrictHeating
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Boston Taps Salas O'Brien to Explore Waterway Clean Thermal Energy

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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ENR East Summary The Boston Green Ribbon Commission has taken a major step toward exploring the use of Boston Harbor and other local waterways as sources of affordable, clean and reliable thermal energy by selecting Salas O’Brien, a decarbonization and energy master planning firm, to lead the $500,000 analysis. Salas O'Brien has 5,000 employees, work on more than 500 geothermal projects across the U.S. and Canada, and roughly a dozen thermal energy network projects in the design phase or fully implemented, according to Brian Urlaub, a company principal and director of geothermal operations. “We're one of very few firms that has our own on-staff ...
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German Cities Continue Heat Planning Away from Fossil Gas

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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BRG Summary An analysis by Finanztip found that the largest German municipalities continue to prioritise heating strategies that reduce reliance on fossil natural gas despite changes to the country's Building Modernisation Act. The study found that all 16 cities assessed expect a significant decline in fossil gas use, with district heating planned for densely populated areas and heat pumps and other decentralised systems expected to serve less densely populated locations. At least ten cities are also considering the transformation or gradual reduction of existing gas infrastructure, while green gases such as hydrogen and biomethane currently play a limited ...
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Cheaper energy could be unlocked for more Nottingham homes as key decision made

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Yahoo! News Summary Cheaper energy that is better for the environment could now be unlocked for even more homes and businesses across Nottingham after a key decision was made. Nottingham's district heat network, the oldest and largest in the country, is currently powered by the burning of 186,000 tonnes of household waste at the Eastcroft Incinerator. At a planning committee meeting on Wednesday (July 22) councillors approved the building of a new bridge for pipes and wires, running over the railway and parallel to London Road, to increase capacity for the future expansion to these areas. "Securing the continued operation and future ...
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Why next-generation developments must be built as active energy system participants

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Business Review Summary What do Europe’s most advanced urban energy projects have in common? Integration. The most innovative projects no longer treat water, energy and infrastructure as separate systems. They operate as interconnected ecosystems where resources are continuously recovered, reused and optimised. Today, we see cities accelerating the transition from fossil-fuel-based systems towards diversified energy platforms that combine renewable energy, heat recovery, cogeneration, digital operation and local energy resources. A good example is the transformation of district energy systems in countries such as Poland and the Czech ...
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Empower building new 23,400 RT district cooling plant in Dubai

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Zawya Summary Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), the world's largest district cooling services provider, has awarded a contract for the construction of a new district cooling plant in the Al Sufouh 2 area in Dubai with a cooling capacity of 23,400 refrigeration tons (RT). The project underscores Empower’s commitment to supporting Dubai’s rapid urban growth and meeting the increasing demand for sustainable, high-efficiency district cooling services. The company confirmed that construction has commenced as planned under the direct supervision of Empower’s in-house projects team, with completion expected in the third quarter of 2027. ...
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HT Materials Science Recognized by BloombergNE

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Business Wire Summary HT Materials Science (HTMS), a global leader in advanced heat-transfer solutions, is announcing a series of industry recognitions and commercial milestones that reflect the growing urgency for energy efficiency solutions at scale. Maxwell™ fluid additive is installed directly into existing closed-loop hydronic cooling systems, requiring no equipment replacement, no facility downtime, and no major capital outlay. It improves heat transfer performance in the existing cooling water loop. Additional deployments include district cooling facilities operated by Tabreed, data center infrastructure with Ericsson in Italy and Spain, and ...
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How District Energy Puts Carbon Neutrality Within Reach for Higher Education

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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School Construction News Summary Over the last two decades, colleges and universities have done serious work on climate. Many have cut emissions, purchased renewable electricity, upgraded lighting and controls, and improved building performance. They have also set bold targets to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, 2035 or 2040. Higher education understands its role as a laboratory for innovation and leadership. And yet, in facilities meetings across the country, a familiar moment is playing out. Someone puts the original decarbonization roadmap on the table and says, “We need to revisit this.” That’s not a failure of ambition. It’s a reflection ...
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Drilling starts for second geothermal heating plant in Potsdam, Germany

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Think GeoEnergy Summary Drilling has started for the second geothermal heating plant in Potsdam, Germany, implemented by local utility EWP with technical advisory by GFZ.Drilling has started for a second geothermal heating plant in Potsdam, Germany, to be located in the Potsdam Süd region at the site of an existing combined heat and power plant. The drilling work is expected to last until the end of 2026. Following the commissioning of the first geothermal heating plant in Heinrich-Mann-Allee, local utility Energie und Wasser Potsdam (EWP) now aims to explore the potential for geothermal heating in the HKW Potsdam Süd site. The first of several drilling ...
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Letter of intent brings residual harbour heat one step closer to the Netherlands’ Glass City

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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AIPH Summary Linking a Dutch heat network to an underground pipeline carrying residual heat from industries based at the Port of Rotterdam, could allow residual heat to be used not only to heat homes and businesses across South Holland but also greenhouses in the Netherlands’ Glass City, Westland. For the Dutch glasshouse sector, this could eventually provide a supplementary heat source alongside geothermal energy. By signing a letter of intent, the municipalities of Westland and Midden-Delfland, the heat network Warmtenetwerk Westland, the cooperative of geothermal heat users, Infraco Westland, the industry body for energy transition, Energieregio Rotterdam ...
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An old-school geothermal giant rides the tech’s newfound popularity

By District Energy posted 5 days ago
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Canary Media Summary Ormat Technologies, the 61-year-old geothermal firm that completed the nation's first enhanced geothermal system demonstration in 2013, is expanding into next-generation geothermal technology as surging data center demand reshapes the economics of clean baseload power. The company is developing new enhanced geothermal pilots with SLB and Sage Geosystems, while also receiving expedited federal permitting approvals for new conventional projects in Nevada, as the Trump administration accelerates energy development on federally managed lands where over 90% of identified U.S. geothermal resources are located. Fervo Energy's IPO in May, which ...
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Geothermal research bill gets fast-tracked in House

By District Energy posted 5 days ago
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E&E News Summary The House will fast-track legislation this week to support research on geothermal technology, which has emerged as one of the most popular energy sources on Capitol Hill. The chamber will vote on an amended version of H.R. 8790 , the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, from Reps. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) and Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), which would direct the Department of Energy to research and commercialize new geothermal energy systems. The bill passed the House Science, Space and Technology Committee earlier this year with an amendment to fortify “supercritical” geothermal wells that can produce more energy ...
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Countries Leading in Waste-to-Energy Innovation

By District Energy posted 5 days ago
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Analytics Insight Summary Waste-to-energy is gaining ground fast as an alternative to landfill disposal. Non-recyclable waste goes in, while electricity, heat, or fuel comes out. Modern plants use advanced technologies such as incineration, gasification, pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion to recover energy from waste. Sweden has one of the most successful waste management systems in the world. Recyclable materials are sorted first. What remains goes to waste-to-energy plants. Around 50% of household waste becomes electricity and district heating. Swedish plants work so efficiently that local waste alone cannot meet demand. Denmark has incorporated ...
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Urban Heat Recovery Centre Brings Energy Innovation to North Vancouver

By District Energy posted 5 days ago
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Newswire Summary Lonsdale Energy has begun construction on a new Urban Heat Recovery Centre in the City of North Vancouver. Backed by a $17.5 million grant from the federal and provincial governments through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, CleanBC stream, this project introduces an innovative way to serve the community. Daily activities like showering, washing dishes, and doing laundry send large amounts of warm water down the drain. Lonsdale Energy captures and recycles that lost heat, then uses industrial heat pumps to boost it to a higher temperature. This provides 6 MW of reliable, low-carbon heating capacity through the community ...
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University of Kentucky $580 Million Central Utility Plant Project Reaches Financial Close, Supported by NORESCO

By District Energy posted 5 days ago
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Orrick Summary Kentucky Infrastructure Partners achieved financial close for the University of Kentucky’s approximately $580 million Central Utility Plant (CUP) project, marking a major milestone in the university’s long-term infrastructure modernization strategy and paving the way for full-scale construction and implementation. NORESCO, one of the largest energy service companies in the U.S., helps institutions modernize critical infrastructure, improve operational efficiency and meet evolving energy demands. Kentucky Infrastructure Partners is the consortium delivering the project, which includes developers Plenary Americas and Walsh Investors, design-builders ...
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New report showcases CU Boulder's ongoing commitment to sustainability

By District Energy posted 5 days ago
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CU Boulder Today Summary The 2025 University of Colorado Sustainability Report (PDF) was published in June 2026 and showcases advances in climate action across the entire University of Colorado system, including the Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver and Anschutz campuses. The report highlights milestones including the continuing modernization of district energy plants, geothermal feasibility studies and the addition of a 1.1-megawatt East Campus solar array and a 5-megawatt off-site solar installation beginning in 2026. Continue Reading #News #MemberNewsIDEA #UniversityofColoradoBoulder
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More ‘deadly’ heat is on the way: Can Europe’s waterways cool us down and replace air con?

By District Energy posted 5 days ago
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Euronews Summary Europe’s next heatwave is already building over the Atlantic, as the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that more “deadly weeks may still lie ahead”. While air conditioning has been proven to save lives during periods of extreme heat, the EU says it is not a “long-term solution”. This is because air con systems are energy-intensive, often straining Europe’s already stretched grid and increasing the risks of blackouts, and drive-up greenhouse gas emissions. Air con also contributes to the urban heat island effect – which is where hot air that gets dumped outside gets trapped in a city’s infrastructure, such as concrete ...
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Statement by H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, on Union Pledge Day 2026

By District Energy posted 5 days ago
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Albawaba Summary “Union Pledge Day is a timeless national occasion that commemorates a pivotal moment in our history, marking the foundations of the United Arab Emirates. It embodies the wisdom of the Founding Fathers and their steadfast belief that unity is the cornerstone of building a strong and prosperous nation capable of transforming aspirations into tangible achievements. On this occasion, we reaffirm that the UAE’s journey, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, continues ...
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