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Con Edison Steam

The world’s most iconic steam district heating network: the Digital Twin guiding Manhattan towards 2050

Short-term operational efficiency, strategic vision and technical feasibility on a single platform.
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The challenge

In the heart of Manhattan, Con Edison operates one of the largest and oldest steam distribution networks in the world: 170 km of pipework serving landmark buildings such as the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Stock Exchange, Macy’s and the World Trade Center. The steam powers heating, hot water, air conditioning, sterilisation and humidification. Amid today’s energy transition, the infrastructure must balance service continuity, operational efficiency and ambitious decarbonisation targets set for 2050. Con Edison’s challenge is ambitious: optimise steam generation in the short term while charting a concrete roadmap towards climate neutrality by integrating new low-emission technologies.

How we create value

Since 2022, Optit has been a strategic partner to Con Edison.

After analysing the existing digital systems, we built a complete Digital Twin of the steam network on our enterprise platform, OptiEPTM: the solution simulates complex scenarios and optimises steam generation, improving operating margins and cutting emissions.

At the same time, working alongside an international consultancy, we supported the Steam Decarbonization Project by simulating the integration of heat pumps, electric boilers and long-duration thermal storage systems, paving the way to full decarbonisation by 2050.

Strategic vision and technical feasibility come together in a fact-based, progressive operational roadmap.

Impact

  • A complete Digital Twin of Manhattan’s steam district heating network.
  • Potential emissions reductions of several percentage points identified from the very first case study, with no infrastructure investment required.
  • A decarbonisation roadmap to 2050 built on low-emission technologies.
  • Greater visibility into operating margins and energy transition scenarios.
The world’s most iconic steam district heating network: the Digital Twin guiding Manhattan towards 2050