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Description

This session, presented by industry-leading experts at Vicinity Energy and the City of Philadelphia, examines why district energy systems are a powerful resource for rapidly decarbonizing cities at scale and explores key results from the longstanding partnership between Vicinity and the City. Vicinity's district energy system serves seven city buildings with 99.9% reliable steam for heating, domestic hot water, and humidification. District steam is a powerful solution for critical facilities requiring year-round, reliable energy service, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which uses steam humidification to preserve priceless art pieces. The City of Philadelphia aims to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 (from 2006 levels) and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. To support the City in meeting this goal, Vicinity’s steam service helped the city avoid 6,775 tons of carbon emissions in 2023 — the equivalent of removing 1,355 cars from the road.

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Learning Objectives

At the end, participants will able to:

1. Understand the importance of district energy systems in rapidly decarbonizing cities, focusing on the partnership between Vicinity Energy and the City of Philadelphia.
2. Analyze key results and successes achieved through the collaboration between Vicinity Energy and the City of Philadelphia, highlighting measurable impacts on carbon reduction and energy efficiency.
3. Learn about the technologies used to electrify district energy systems, achieve net zero carbon emissions, and rapidly decarbonize customers' buildings. Learn how the city is evaluating decarbonizing buildings, which are responsible for over 70% of carbon emissions in Philadelphia.
4. Evaluate the potential for the evolution and scalability of district energy systems in other urban contexts, considering factors such as infrastructure requirements, regulatory frameworks, and community engagement strategies.