New York City to study thermal energy network for subway cooling

New York City officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul, have announced a feasibility study to implement a Thermal Energy Network (TEN) within the subway system. The project aims to address extreme summer temperatures on platforms, which can exceed 96 degrees Fahrenheit, by using radiant cooling technology.

The pilot program will focus on the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall and Chambers Street station complex in Lower Manhattan. The proposed system would capture excess underground heat and store it in geothermal boreholes 500 to 600 feet deep. This stored energy could then be repurposed during the winter to heat nearby municipal buildings, such as City Hall, potentially reducing energy costs and steam consumption.

The $800,000 study is expected to be funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. If the results are positive, design work could begin as early as 2027. This would mark the first application of such a transit-based thermal energy network in the United States. The initiative comes amid broader concerns regarding New York's aging power infrastructure and the impact of heat waves on public transit and energy demand.