Green

Veolia Marks Completion of “Green Steam” Project

Veolia's $112M  "Green Steam" project includes a 7,000-foot steam pipeline extension that allows Veolia to export more "Green Steam" from its recently-acquired Kendall Station combined heat and power plant (pictured here) - minimizing environmental impact to the Charles River and reducing the carbon footprint of Boston and Cambridge.

Veolia’s “Green Steam” project

Boston Veolia North America, an operator and developer of efficient energy solutions,  commemorated the $112 million investment in its Boston-Cambridge district energy network. The “Green Steam” project, which includes the completion of a 7,000-foot steam pipeline extension and planned reconfiguration of the recently acquired Kendall Station combined heat and power plant, allows Veolia to export more environmentally friendly thermal energy from Kendall Station — minimizing environmental impact to the Charles River and reducing the carbon footprint of Boston and Cambridge. Veolia’s investments will bring multiple benefits to energy consumers by increasing capacity, reliability and overall system efficiency.

“Green Steam” is an innovative environmental solution that captures and reuses heat that was previously lost to the environment. The increased efficiency reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 475,000 tons annually, the equivalent of removing 80,000 cars annually from the road and is directly responsible for nearly 6% reduction of non-transportation carbon emissions for both cities. Additionally, “Green Steam” infrastructure improvements support sustainable development in Boston and Cambridge by increasing the LEED ratings of buildings that tie into the system.

Some of the benefits of Veolia’s new steam pipeline connection and planned reconfiguration of Kendall Station:

  •  Supports sustainable development of Boston and Cambridge by reducing the cities of Boston and Cambridge greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding 475,000 tons of carbon per year that would have otherwise been generated through conventional means – a nearly 6% reduction of non-transportation carbon emissions for both cities.
  • Created green jobs: The project supported 147,500 man hours (welders, pipe fitters, insulators) that resulted in $21 million in labor costs.
  •  Represents a $112 million investment by Veolia and its partners into improving the Boston-Cambridge system; Veolia’s total investment is $168 million since 2008.
  •  Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 475,000 tons annually, the equivalent of removing 80,000 cars from the roads.
  •  Eliminates thermal pollution from the Charles River ecosystem, decreasing the temperature of the river and thereby protecting the marine inhabitants of this precious natural resource.
  •  Improves air quality: By utilizing cleaner burning, domestically available fuel sources and taking into account Veolia’s infrastructure improvements and cogeneration assets, Veolia has reduced its NOx and SO2 emissions by approximately 36% and 61%, respectively.