September 11, 2024
Three geothermal drilling rigs arrived on upper Science Hill last month to begin constructing a borefield that will support a new Thermal Utilities Plant for the Upper Science Hill Development (USHD). All rigs are operating, and the project team estimates the drilling work will continue through summer of 2026.
Currently positioned in Lot 22, the rigs are using directional drilling technology—an advanced approach for operating in contained areas. Directional drilling uses vertical and inclined angles that creates a smaller footprint at the top of the borefield and a larger footprint at the bottom. This will allow for more efficient use of available land and space and ensure the work is confined within Yale’s campus perimeter.
The Thermal Utilities Plant will be constructed at the northeast corner of Science Hill, where Pierson-Sage Parking Garage currently stands. Once complete, it will provide electrified thermal energy to meet more than half of all the heating and cooling needs for existing and future buildings on upper Science Hill.
More specifically, the plant will serve the heating, cooling, alternate power, and fire protection needs of the planned Physical Sciences and Engineering Building (PSEB), the Chemical Safety Building, Wright Lab Addition, and the Advanced Instrumentation Development Center (AIDC). It will also eliminate the need to reserve space for energy sources in PSEB and avoid adding capacity to the existing campus power plants and steam distribution system.
The existing buildings that will be supported by this new plant include the Yale Science Building, Sloane Physics Laboratory, Sterling Chemistry Laboratory, Kline Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Research Building, and Bass Center.
Benefits of the Thermal Utilities Plant on upper Science Hill
The arrival of the rigs on campus marked another major step forward in meeting Yale’s ambitious sustainability and climate action goals. Some of the top benefits include:
- Aligns with Yale’s sustainability and climate action goals
- Provides critical heating and cooling capacity for PSEB by balancing the thermal loads across buildings on Science Hill and its geothermal well field
- Supports the Upper Science Hill Building Complex, Chemical Safety Building, and six existing laboratories on Science Hill
- Total energy use on Science Hill is projected to be 20 percent lower, with more than 50 percent of energy use as zero-carbon-ready
- With this thermal plant, Yale’s central campus could reduce its emissions by 15 percent
Considering campus life and our community
Minimizing disruptions to campus life and the surrounding community is a top priority for the USHD project team. Comprehensive measures have been taken to address sound and vibration in the work area, including vibration monitoring stations onsite and employing techniques to minimize noise.
Top image: Geothermal drilling rig mobilization, photo by Yale Facilities
Second image: Cross-directional drilling graphic, courtesy of Yale Facilities