GreenerU’s Vice President of Planning attended the Decarb New York 2024 Summit on September 19 and brought back some key takeaways about technologies, financing, and successes at higher education institutions across New York.
At the Decarb NY Fall 2024 Summit, held at Fordham University, higher education facilities personnel gathered with industry experts to explore solutions to the decarbonization challenges facing higher education. Geothermal energy, also known as ground-source heat pumps, is among the most promising of these solutions.
The summit discussions emphasized the importance of long-term planning, proper financing, and innovative drilling techniques. Here are some insights that institutions should consider when embarking on a geothermal project.
Data collection and planning are essential before breaking ground on any geothermal project. At one upstate New York university, geothermal systems installed in two major buildings have thrived mainly because of the careful data collection beforehand. This university’s energy noted during the summit that understanding seasonal load balancing and future energy needs is crucial for optimizing system design. Their experience is a valuable reminder: the more data you collect—on heat recovery opportunities, annual rejection rates, and system performance—the better equipped you are to make informed decisions about wellfield sizing and campus-wide integration.
It is equally important to think holistically about the project’s context. As this university’s system demonstrates, geothermal projects should not be designed in isolation but as part of a larger, interconnected campus strategy. When planning multiple building systems, it’s critical to consider how they will interact over time and share resources efficiently.
Financing remains a key challenge in developing geothermal systems, especially in higher education. Institutions such as a Manhattan-based university, which presented their geothermal project at the summit, offer valuable lessons. Their project, currently underway, is financed through a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Subterra Renewables. This financial model allows this university to avoid upfront costs by having Subterra own and operate the system.
That said, finding the right financial approach requires patience and flexibility. Their journey was not straightforward, and it involved careful negotiation to comply with IRS regulations, particularly around private-use restrictions on bond-financed buildings. As this school’s director of facilities engineering pointed out, long-term financial commitments, like the PPA, require “very patient capital.” For universities exploring geothermal, working closely with utility partners like Con Edison and leveraging incentives from programs like NYSERDA can provide the financial backing necessary to move forward.
Urban campuses face unique challenges when implementing geothermal energy. Limited space for drilling boreholes can be a significant barrier, but innovative techniques like Celsius Energy’s pyramid-shaped drilling methodology offer potential solutions. At the summit, Celsius shared their experience with an urban project in Framingham, Mass., where their inclined drilling approach reduced the surface impact to just a small portion of a parking lot. For institutions in dense urban areas, such as New York City, these innovations make geothermal more accessible, minimizing disruption and saving space.
One of the most important takeaways from the Decarb NY Fall 2024 Summit was the need for a holistic approach to geothermal projects. As panelists emphasized, success doesn’t come from simply installing the technology: it’s about integrating it into a larger sustainability strategy. This involves proper planning and financing, and building the right team.
At GreenerU, we understand the importance of detailed planning when implementing complex energy systems like geothermal. Collecting data early and often ensures that these systems perform efficiently and meet a campus’s long-term needs. Contact us to talk about planning for complex energy infrastructure changes.
The discussions at the NYC Decarb Summit made it clear that while promising, geothermal energy requires careful consideration of financing, appropriate drilling techniques for densely built campuses, and long-term planning. GreenerU is committed to helping institutions navigate these complexities, providing the expertise and guidance necessary to implement successful geothermal solutions. By learning from examples like the ones presented at the Decarb NY Fall 2024 Summit, we can continue to support decarbonization efforts across higher education.
Look for opportunities to attend an upcoming Decarb Summit near you, including in Washington, D.C. (December 3, 2024), Boston (December 12, 2024), and New York (January 15, 2025). More details are available here: https://www.decarbsummits.com/summits