A study will soon be launched to evaluate the use how a thermal energy network can reduce extreme heat on subway platforms in New York City, while supplying heat to nearby municipal buildings during winter. This upcoming project was announced by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
The proposed geothermal network would capture, store and redirect excess heat that accumulates in?the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall and Chambers Street subway station complex to municipal buildings. Radiant cooling technology will absorb heat from the subway platforms and transfer it to geothermal boreholes drilled beneath Chambers Street. This excess heat will then be stored underground until it can be used for supply to nearby municipal buildings during winter.
The contract for the feasibility study is expected to be awarded this fall. Pending confirmation of geothermal feasibility, design work will begin in early 2027.
The Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station is one of the hottest in the subway system, with average temperatures reaching 96 ºF (35.5 ºC) during summer months. The Chambers Street was also selected for the project as it is one of the oldest in the subway system, and is due for revitalization of structures and facilities. The Chambers Street station is also advantageous as its abandoned center platform will allow the MTA to test the geothermal borehole technology without disrupting passenger areas.
“We now have an opportunity to do more than rebuild Chambers Street top to bottom. We can make our subway platforms cooler and more comfortable while putting wasted heat to work during the winter. That means lower energy costs, a more resilient subway system and a cleaner energy future for New York City,” said Mayor Mamdani.
“Working with Mayor Mamdani and the MTA, we are harnessing cutting-edge climate technology for a truly cool purpose: making our subway stations tolerable during the summer and heating critical city buildings during the winter,” added Governor Hochul.
The use of geothermal technologies to gather heat from subway platforms and underground parking areas has already been implemented in other parts of the world, including in Czechia, Spain, and Switzerland. Pairing this with a borehole energy storage system helps provide temperature relief to public spaces while storing excess heat which can then be utilized during the colder months. The proposed project in New York City demonstrates how a combination of existing and proven geothermal technologies can be used to provide green energy solutions to provide comfort and quality of life improvements to local communities.
