University of Connecticut
OP-8: Clean and Renewable Energy

The University’s Cogeneration facility uses natural gas , with ultra-low sulfur fuel oil (ULSF) as a back-up fuel source, to fire three Solar Taurus 70 combustion turbine generators to produce electricity. Waste heat from the turbines is used to produce high pressure steam,which is then used in a steam turbine generator to produce additional electricity. The steam turbine exhaust or reduced steam is supplied to internal plant use, to provide Chilled Water via the three York absorption chillers or to the campus distribution network. The network reduces the steam to low pressure 65 psig for building heating and kitchen service. The core university obtains 100% of its electrical needs from this facility. Buildings not in the core campus (such as the Depot Campus) are connected to the CT Light and Power grid with a minimum of 25% of electricity purchased from renewable sources. Working with the CT Center for Advanced Technologies (CCAT), UConn has developed a Renewable/Sustainable Energy Strategic Plan that will facilitate the installation of up to six different types of distributed generation on our campus, including solar (PVand thermal), wind, geothermal, biomass/biofuels and fuel cell technologies. Additionally, a 400kW natural gas powered proton exchange membrane fuel cell was installed in April 2012 on the Depot campus. This combined heat and power fuel cell systems deliver both electrical power and available thermal energy onsite to satisfy two building's energy needs - turning potential waste into useable energy and achieving system efficiencies that are well in excess of 2x the typical electric grid. This fuel cell is classified as a Class I Renewable Energy source by the State of Connecticut and it generates Class I Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). The fuel cell supplies heat to 2 of the buildings on campus, but it supplies 100% of the energy to the Depot campus. It is currently linked to CL&P, which is a backup should the fuel cell work improperly. This problem should be fixed, however, once the plans to create a microgrid for Depot Campus are put in place. Depot Campus is the largest consumer of Storrs Campus' energy needs not covered by the cogeneration facility. Demand on the Depot Campus will eventually surpass the 400k production of the fuel cell, but this increase in demand will be quelled by improvements in energy storage and the addition of wind turbines on the roof tops of the Depot Campus. UConn is currently working with companies to develop prototypes of the wind turbines. The fuel cell is currently being used to educate the state and faculty about better management of energy at the municipal level (http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2012/04/uconn-commissions-fuel-cell-power-plant/). This installation of a fuel cell is also paired with the installation of a hybrid photovoltaic power system (solar power). Designed by Dr. Peng Zhang, this power system is meant to meet the additional rising energy demand of the depot campus (http://news.engr.uconn.edu/exploring-solar-energy-at-uconn.php).

The steam turbine exhaust or reduced steam is supplied to internal plant use, to provide Chilled Water via the three York absorption chillers or to the campus distribution network. The network reduces the steam to low pressure 65 psig for building heating and kitchen service.

UConn actually generates Class III RECs under the state Renewable Portfolio Standard law, based on the operation of its cogeneration facility. The REC income is then invested in retrocommissioning and retrofitting (energy efficiency) projects at the Storrs campus.

Note: UConn’s cogeneration facility is classified as a Class III Renewable Energy source by the State of Connecticut and it generates Class III Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). A co-generation facility produces 100% of the main core campus's electricity needs, while the remainder (for CY 2011, 12%) is purchased from CL&P with a renewables agreement of 25% minimally produced from sources considered renewable. *** The University’s Cogeneration facility uses natural gas, with ultra-low sulfur fuel oil (ULSF) as a back-up fuel source, to fire three Solar Taurus 70 combustion turbine generators to produce electricity. Waste heat from the turbines is used to produce high pressure steam, which is then used in a steam turbine generator to produce additional electricity. The steam turbine exhaust or reduced steam is supplied to internal plant use, to provide Chilled Water via the three York absorption chillers or to the campus distribution network. The network reduces the steam to low pressure 65 psig for building heating and kitchen service. The core university obtains 100% of its electrical needs from this facility. Buildings not in the core campus (such as the Depot Campus) are connected to the CT Light and Power grid with a minimum of 25% of electricity purchased from renewable sources. Working with the CT Center for Advanced Technologies (CCAT), UConn is in the midst of developing a Renewable/Sustainable Energy Strategic Plan that will facilitate the installation of up to six different types of distributed generation on our campus, including solar (PV and thermal), wind, geothermal, biomass/biofuels and fuel cell technologies. Additionally, a 400 kW methane powered hydrogen fuel cell was installed in April, 2012 on the Depot campus. It is estimated that this fuel cell will supply roughly 80% of the electricity and heat energy needs for our Depot Campus, the largest consumer of Storrs Campus' energy needs not covered by the cogeneration facility. http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2012/04/uconn-commissions-fuel-cell-power-plant/

Figures came from energy dashboard maintained by Facilities and Operations for the 2011 calendar year. This year we are legally obligated to purchase 14% of our electricity 15% of which comes from clean and renewable sources.