University of Connecticut
OP-9: Clean and Renewable Energy

In 2011, working with the CT Center for Advanced Technologies (CCAT), UConn has developed a Renewable/Sustainable Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) that identifies and assesses target locations for the installation of 12 demonstration-scale renewable and sustainable energy projects on campus. These technologies include solar (PV and thermal), wind, geothermal, biomass/biofuels and fuel cell technologies. http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/energy/resp.html A 400kW natural gas- derived, hydrogen-powered proton exchange membrane fuel cell was installed in April 2012 on the Depot campus. This combined heat and power fuel cell system delivers both electrical power and available thermal energy on-site to satisfy much of the Depot campus building energy needs - turning potential waste into useable energy and achieving system efficiencies that are well in excess of two times that of 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 ConEd, which is a backup should the fuel cell work improperly. This problem may be fixed, however, if the plans to create a microgrid for Depot Campus are executed (UConn had obtained a grant from CT DEEP to fund the microgrid). 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/ http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/energy/fuel-cell.html Two 3.3kW photovoltaic solar arrays are installed on the Depot Campus and an 8.28kW array is on top of the Reclaimed Water Facility. http://news.engr.uconn.edu/exploring-solar-energy-at-uconn.php The fuel cell and solar array are both on University property, but are owned and maintained by an outside company. UConn purchases the power from this company through a power purchasing agreement (PPA).

UConn participates in the ConEdison Solutions GREEN Power Program, in which the University agrees to purchase 18 percentage points more renewable energy than what the CT Renewable Portfolio Standard mandates that year. Electricity is only purchased when UConn cannot supply all of the necessary power from our Co-Generation Central Utility Plant. 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 retro commissioning and retrofitting (energy efficiency) projects at the Storrs campus. UConn’s Office of Environmental Policy also purchases RECs for the winning dormitory of their annual water and energy conservation competition, EcoMadness. The number of RECs purchased is equal to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions prevented as a result of the energy competition. http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/engagement/ecomadness.html