The Future of Heating: Evaluating Options for Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island

Abstract

Natural gas service to Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island is currently being supplemented by trucked-in liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet peak winter heating demand due to a pipeline capacity constraint. Projections to 2024 show gas demand increasing while pipeline capacity to the island remains constant. The majority of gas usage is directed to space heating, and therefore reducing the island’s space heating needs could bring gas consumption back in line with pipeline capacity. To prioritize solutions, a custom evaluation tool was constructed and technological solutions were evaluated over seven categories: time horizon, serving capability, costs, return, environment, regulatory environment, and stakeholder support. The results of this analysis show air- and ground-source heat pumps along with district heating systems as the most impactful and feasible technologies overall. These strategies were then divided into short-term and long-term options. Short-term recommendations include the deployment of electric air- and ground-source heat pumps. Long-term strategies include the deployment of geothermal district heating or seawater-based district energy based around large usage customers within population-dense areas.