Cogeneration Systems for University Campuses

Clean & Resilient Power for Campuses with CHP Systems

Universities must balance a great demand for reliable power with a commitment to reducing their carbon footprint. They have an obligation to the students and staff to provide an extensive campus energy infrastructure that is dependable and flexible to create an opportunity for academic exploration. Universities are looked to as leaders in sustainability, setting an example for what is possible in green energy.

The Role of Cogeneration Systems

CHP can be that right-sized solution that provides firm baseload power with carbon emissions reductions near 30-50% compared to energy from the grid. Universities have a consistent power load that often parallels the thermal load for hot water, heat, and cooling on campus, allowing CHP to operate continuously with high efficiency. The recaptured waste heat of the CHP is delivered back into the campus HVAC system, generating more useful energy than the grid would from the same amount of fuel. This increase in efficiency also results in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs. CHP is one of the most efficient ways to produce power at universities and one of the most resilient when facing natural disasters.

During Superstorm Sandy, NYU’s CHP system powered the campus microgrid and kept the lights on and hot water running. CHP created an island of light and power in lower Manhattan during one of the worst hurricanes to hit the city in decades.

NYU campus (circled) powered during Superstorm Sandy utility outage.

Projects

In 2016, TEDOM installed two Cento M260 CHP systems with indoor sound enclosure at Sheridan College in Brampton, Ontario. This installation is part of a ten-year energy master plan and the CHP purchase was in year five of this plan. The college took a sensible approach and reduced load throughout the campus first by adding energy monitoring, LEDs and VFD pumps. The CHP installation is an educational showcase. It operates independently from the grid and feeds a district hot water loop, so redundancy was the key driver for the two units.