MACA's plan for 100% decarbonization of the MIT campus by 2035
Winner of the EnergyTech University Prize for Geothermal Technologies
On February 28, 2024, MACA requested MIT to set a goal of 100% decarbonization by 2035, conduct a third-party review of our campus decarbonization plan by appropriately qualified experts, commit to a pilot project to demonstrate feasibility, and enter into dialog on the campus decarbonization options.
MACA's “Innovative Plan to Cost Effectively Decarbonize MIT’s Campus” achieves a 100% decarbonized MIT campus by 2035". The plan implements available, proven technology, enabling cost-effective enhancements of the existing campus, avoiding purchase of carbon offsets, minimizes risk of disruption to campus operations due to shallow drilling, with an estimated cost of $250M, or $175M if Federal IRA funds are included.
MACA's technical plan is for an “Advanced District Heating and Cooling System with Active Exhaust Energy Recovery & Ground Coupled Thermal Storage”. It includes 100% renewable energy power, recycling of laboratory exhaust, “active” ambient loop for chilled water, thermal batteries for grid energy, capturing of “free energy” from campus, and minimization of cost for operations.
