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Salas O’Brien to lead Boston-area thermal energy network study
Salas O’Brien will lead a multidisciplinary team evaluating how Boston’s waterways can deliver affordable, low-carbon heating and cooling for universities, hospitals, and other major institutions across the region.
Salas O’Brien has been selected by the Boston Green Ribbon Commission (GRC) to lead a multidisciplinary team evaluating the potential for a large-scale thermal energy network that uses Boston Harbor and nearby waterways to provide clean, reliable heating and cooling. The year-long feasibility study could help shape the future of decarbonization for universities, hospitals, and other major institutions across Greater Boston.
Known as BosTEN (Boston-area Thermal Energy Network), the initiative will explore using Boston Harbor, the Fort Point Channel, the Charles and Mystic Rivers, and the bedrock beneath them as renewable thermal energy sources. By connecting buildings through a closed-loop network, the system has the potential to lower emissions, reduce energy costs, and ease demand on existing gas and electric infrastructure.
Salas O’Brien will lead a team of engineering, planning, environmental, and financial specialists, including Sherwood Design Engineers, Synapse Energy Economics, Sasaki, GeoSource, and VHB. Together, the team will evaluate the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of the network while identifying opportunities to support Massachusetts’ transition to a cleaner energy future.
Advancing the future of clean energy
Thermal energy networks are gaining momentum across North America and Europe as communities seek more resilient, efficient ways to heat and cool buildings. Salas O’Brien brings extensive experience in decarbonization planning and thermal energy systems, with project work that includes utility-scale geothermal networks, district energy planning, and campus decarbonization strategies throughout the Northeast.
Over the next year, the team will analyze how much thermal energy can be sustainably captured, how it can be integrated into existing building systems, and which network configurations offer the greatest long-term value. The study will also examine policy, permitting, and investment considerations needed to bring the vision to life.
Funded by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center in partnership with the City of Boston, the study is expected to conclude in 2027. If successful, BosTEN could provide a scalable model for helping cities reduce emissions while delivering reliable, affordable energy for generations to come.
About the Boston Green Ribbon Commission
The mission of the Green Ribbon Commission is to accelerate the implementation of the City’s Climate Action Plan by convening, organizing, and enabling leaders from Boston’s key sectors. The City of Boston is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, even as the city grows. The GRC provides a forum for representatives of the private sector and the City to discuss, plan, and act on the opportunities, challenges, ideas, and requirements of preparing Boston for climate change. To learn more, visit www.greenribboncommission.org or follow us on LinkedIn.
About Salas O’Brien
Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and technical services firm focused on advancing the human experience through the built environment. Our team is engineered for impact®, helping clients solve complex engineering challenges with a focus on efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability, while advancing our team members through growth and opportunity. We are a top firm as ranked by Engineering News-Record and Consulting-Specifying Engineer, and we have appeared for over a decade on the Inc. 5000 list of North America’s fastest-growing private companies.
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