July 2023 Buyer's Share Report
RailSplitter Wind Farm provided the July 2023 Buyer's Share amounts by the hour, totaling 633.4 Megawatt hours.
The July 2023 Buyer's Share Report is attached below.
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RailSplitter Wind Farm provided the July 2023 Buyer's Share amounts by the hour, totaling 633.4 Megawatt hours.
The July 2023 Buyer's Share Report is attached below.
Illinois Solar Decathlon President Rachel Chen met with Marty Smith to discuss the possibility of having the current next solar decathlon home built at the hope village project. Marty discussed possibilities for a separated subdivision of homes. But the more likely option would be to construct a library or community building than a single family home. Either of these options would be more likely during the next building cycle for solar decathlon.
Attached is a signed MOU for the Bruce Nesbitt African American Cultural Center.
The following is an email conversation between Morgan White, Ahmed Hassan, and Johnathan Hasselbring.
On Jul 6, 2023 Morgan sent the following:
Hi Ahmed,
Thanks for sending another email! I meant to get back to you earlier, so thanks for the additional note.
Jon, can you provide information to Ahmed about the current status of the geothermal system at CIF, or connect him with the appropriate people?
Ahmed, please use this info to request the energy data access:
The Energy Billing System (EBS) is a web-based software application that offers utility cost and consumption by month, building, and meter. It allows users to view current and historic information, compare buildings, and see trends over time. It requires Blue-Stem authorization and users must request access from F&S.
Thanks!
Morgan
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Dear Morgan,
Thank you very much for the prompt response. Your contribution is highly appreciated.
Best Regards
Ahmed
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Hi Ahmed,
The geothermal system is in operation and coupled with a heat recovery chiller and radiant heating panels.
Geothermal provides about 75% of the heating and cooling needs for the building, with the heat recovery chiller and radiant panels supplementing the remaining 25%.
Please let me know what questions you might have, and I will gladly connect you with more members of the team.
Thanks,
Jon
RailSplitter Wind Farm provided the June 2023 Buyer's Share amounts by the hour, totaling 1,263.1 Megawatt hours.
The June 2023 Buyer's Share Report is attached below.
The trees look great!
RailSplitter Wind Farm provided the May 2023 Buyer's Share amounts by the hour, totaling 1,518.5 Megawatt hours.
The May 2023 Buyer's Share Report is attached below.
Hi Thurman,
A recurring topic that’s come up in our zero waste conversations has been the desire to track and display more metrics under the zero waste theme on the iCAP Portal. Grind2Energy data was one metric that was brainstormed, as it relates closely to our Zero Waste Objective 5.5, “Plan for organic waste.” Since Dining already tracks that data, it would be easy for us to get it up on the portal. Would this be something that you’d be in favor of us doing? If so, any input on how the data is displayed (by month, or annually)?
Thank you,
Daphne
Hi Daphne,
Fate has it that I will be seeing the Grind2Energy people tomorrow at the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago. I would like to see if this is something that can by automatically updated from our system. They may have some functionality for this and if not, it may be some thing they could create and would be a selling point for them. I will find out the possibilities. I would rather that this be auotmatic so that the data is always current and nobody can "drop the ball" along the way.
THURMAN ETCHISON
Assistant Director of Dining - Facilities and Equipment
RailSplitter Wind Farm provided the April 2023 Buyer's Share amounts by hour, totaling 2,058.2 Megawatt hours.
The April 2023 Buyer's Share Report is attached below.
UIUC's Yu-Feng Lin was featured on a "wired" article. Andrew Stumpf explains, "The authors did a simulation for a residential district in Chicago. They don’t provide much detail about the geology and hydrogeology that is the basis for the geotechnical model. In Chicago, aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) has yet to be used because groundwater is pretty scarce in the shallow subsurface and one would need to tap aquifers deeper in the bedrock. In the northern and western suburbs, the subsurface conditions in the glacial deposits is much better and I believe Kane County is looking into using the aquifers for a geothermal resource."
The article can be found at: https://www.wired.com/story/the-massive-batteries-hidden-beneath-your-fe...
UIUC newsletter: https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/32/64507332.html
The referenced article is attached.
RailSplitter Wind Farm provided the March 2023 Buyer's Share amounts by hour, totaling 3,037.7 Megawatt hours.
The March 2023 Buyer's Share Report is attached below.
There are a few examples of clean thermal energy in use on campus at this time. These include:
We could expand these types of energy systems...
Another option for clean thermal energy is biogas, which UIUC contributes to locally through the Grind2Energy system, which takes food waste from the dining halls to the Urbana-Champaign Sanitary District (UCSD). UCSD puts it through their anaerobic digester which captures the methane (a very strong greenhouse gas). Currently, that captured methane is used to run an electrical generator, which provides power to the UCSD facility. An alternative would be to upgrade the methane to pipeline quality and use the biogas a Abbott Power Plant on campus. This is an expensive option that would require a lot of coordination and funding.
Another strong option is a micronuclear reactor, which is being studies by the Grainger College of Engineering faculty and researchers. This system could be integrated with the existing steam distribution system and provide ghg-free energy to campus.
On January 30th, the Zero Waste iCAP team met to discuss final thoughts on the finished tailgate recycling recommendation, the feasibility of a large scale composting program on campus, and current work with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Meeting minutes are attached.
A representative from the News-Gazette reached out to Steve Breitwieser with questions regarding Abbot Power Plant:
Please also see the attached spreadsheet with data on steam supplied buildings.
Hi Kathy,
Abbott Power Plant generates all district heating and almost 275,000
megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity each year using a high-efficiency
cogeneration process, which simultaneously produces both steam and
electricity. When the campus load for heat is highest during the
winter months, the plant, along with the two utility-scale solar
farms, provides almost all the electricity that the campus needs,
with the remainder coming from wind energy that is imported onto the
campus grid. Throughout the year, Abbott's sustainable cogeneration
process supplies approximately
85 percent of the total energy demand (steam and electricity) for the
Urbana campus, which includes almost 50 percent of the overall electricity usage. The electricity not generated at Abbott, from
on-site solar arrays, or acquired through a wind power purchase
agreement is purchased through Prairieland Energy, a corporation
solely owned by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. More
information about utilities production is available at https://fs.illinois.edu/services/utilities-energy/production.
Happy Holidays!
Steve B.
--------------------------------------------
Hi, Steve. As I'm assembling this week's column, I have several
follow-up
questions:
Can you clarify what's meant by "district heating"?
Does most of the steam generated by the cogeneration process end up
heating some of the older buildings on campus? (I spent 20+ years in
Mumford Hall and remember the sounds the pipes made at certain times of year.)
Any idea of approximately what percentage of the campus' interior spaces are still heated with ssssssteam heat?
I took a look at the website you mentioned, and have a couple of questions
about that: What does UES stand for? And the website says, "During low
campus demand for both heat and air conditioning, Abbott typically
burns natural gas. During the winter months, when the campus heat load
is highest, a combination of both coal and natural gas is necessary."
Is that information still accurate? (I thought the coal scrubbers were
no longer in use on campus...?)
If it's not possible to get answers to me this week, that's OK; I can hold the item for next week.
Thank you,
KR
---------------------------------------
Hi Kathy,
I'll follow up on these in greater detail when everyone returns next week.
UES is the acronym for the Utilities & Energy Services division that is within Facilities & Services. District heating is referencing the process used to distribute steam from Abbott to campus facilities through underground pipes.
Steve B.
---------------------------------------
Mike/Dave,
There were a couple of follow of questions to this media inquiry from the NG before the break. Can you help clarify the highlighted sections by Wednesday with any additional information? For the interior spaces question, let me know if you can explain that more precisely – on our website we say “More than 250 campus buildings use the steam produced at Abbott for their heating.” The UMP also indicates: From discussions with U of I staff, approximately 85% of the campus condensate is returned to APP (if that would be something to note from a process standpoint along with an explanation like below).
Abbott uses gas turbines, natural gas-fired boilers, and coal fired boilers, recovering reject heat from electric generation to help produce steam. The plant pipes steam underground across campus to provide buildings with space heating, domestic hot water, sterilization, and more. Once used, the steam condenses into water and returns to the plant where it is recycled and reused.
I could respond to the fuel item with what we have said previously…
When the campus load for heat is highest during the winter months, natural gas and coal are utilized to meet the significant energy demand. The coal-fired
boilers are also a part of research efforts, primarily related to carbon capture technology. Additionally, maintaining fuel flexibility provides the university operational reliability and the ability to respond to market factors for purchased utilities.
Thanks for helping out with some more detail on this one.
Steve B.
-----------------------------------------
Mark/Dave,
Do you guys or maybe steam distribution know approximately what percentage of campus buildings are still on steam heat?
Thanks
David Hardin
------------------------------
I have not seen a list. We will ask Steam.
When time allows maybe we could add a column to note the steam yes or no. Hmmmmm Elizabeth stated Keith Erickson had a list and she recalls some sort of building database that listed utilities per building such as steam, electricity from Abbot or Ameren, gas etc. It would be nice to find this.
Dave
---------------------------------
Mike/Frank,
Are you guys aware of the list/database Dave referenced below and if so where it is located?
Thanks
--------------------------------
David,
I would think that EBS would provide a list of building that are served with steam, based on the meters in EBS.
Tony and/or Kate,
Can you clarify/confirm how many buildings on campus are served with steam from EBS? The email string below indicates that the Util. Master Plant said over 250 buildings are served by steam from Abbott. Is that still the case?
Mike Larson
------------------------------
According to EBS, there are 175 active steam meters. Some buildings have multiple meters so there would be fewer buildings than that.
Thanks,
Kate Brewster
------------------------
Anthony should be able to run a query that will give us an exact number from our last billing cycle.
Regards,
Tony
-----------------------------
As of our last EBS billing the count is 147. I have attached the file that supports this number for your reference.
Regards,
Tony
------------------------------
Below is an email exchange between Jim Sims and Tom Keller:
Mike or Tom,
The EMT is discussing the advantages of converting building heating systems from steam to hot water with steam distribution. Would one of you be able to clarify this benefit?
Thanks,
Jim
---------------------------
Jim,
Hot water is more efficient than steam because it is easier to control. This also adds comfort to the occupants. Steam can be easier to leak and it is hotter, so there are some small safety concerns. Steam tends to be a bit noisier than hot water. Hot water can be easier to maintain than steam.
There are quite a few other reasons. This is why hot water heating systems have become the industry standard.
Thanks,
Tom
-----------------------------
EMT,
I asked Tom Keller and Mike Halm to provide some feedback regarding the advantages of hot water versus steam within buildings. Please see Tom Keller’s response below for our information. Please let me know if we would like for Tom would like to further explain “quite a few other reasons” or his primary benefits listed below.
Thanks,
Jim
From: Stumpf, Andrew J
Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2023 7:37 PM
To: Rubin, Joshua ; Mies, Tim ; Lamb, Jeremy ; Klein, Bradley Dean
Cc: Lin, Yu-Feng ; Weckle, Amy Lorraine; White, Morgan
Subject: UTB at the Energy Farm
Hi folks,
Here is an update. Dom and Todd worked to get half of the hole grouted today and now wait until tomorrow morning to see if the battery floats, or not. Theoretically it should not, but we will see. They will start up again at 8 am if anyone is over that way. Xiaobing and Tony have gone back to Tennessee.
Best,
Andy
RailSplitter Wind Farm provided the February 2023 Buyer's Share amounts by hour, totaling 2,675.4 Megawatt hours.
The February 2023 Buyer's Share Report is attached below.
Michigan Sate University shared some lessons learned from implementing solar car ports on their campus.
I was contact by some colleagues withy Future Earth – Taipei (https://futureearth.org/about/who-we-are/international-offices/taipei-global-hub/) for a potential webinar series. I suggested them to think about campus sustainability actions as a living laboratory and they are very intrigued by this idea. They asked me to suggest speakers and I am thinking about Jack, Morgan and Andy. So, I would like to ask if you are interested. Some of their previous talk can be found at https://www.facebook.com/futureearth.org/. All the communications and activities will be between 6pm-11pm CST due to time difference. I am happy to have more discussion if you are interested.
Presenters:
Ms. Morgan White, https://fs.illinois.edu/resources/newsroom/2021/10/14/white-named-acting-director-of-the-f-s-capital-programs-division
Mr. Jack Reicherts, https://studentengagement.illinois.edu/student-sustainability/ssc/team/reicherts/
Dr. Andrew Stumpf, https://directory.illinois.edu/detail?userId=astumpf@illinois.edu&widgetId=15
Dr. Ping-Yu Change, https://scholars.ncu.edu.tw/en/persons/ping-yu-chang
Dr. Jui-Pin (Rubin) Tsai, https://www.bse.ntu.edu.tw/member?teacher_id=48&page=1
Dr. Yu-Feng Forrrest Lin, https://directory.illinois.edu/detail?userId=yflin@illinois.edu&widgetId=15
Cheers,
Yu-Feng F. Lin
Director
Illinois Water Resources Center
Principal Research Hydrogeologist
Illinois State Geological Survey
Clinical Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research Professor
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
I was contact by some colleagues withy Future Earth – Taipei (https://futureearth.org/about/who-we-are/international-offices/taipei-global-hub/) for a potential webinar series. I suggested them to think about campus sustainability actions as a living laboratory and they are very intrigued by this idea. They asked me to suggest speakers and I am thinking about Jack, Morgan and Andy. So, I would like to ask if you are interested. Some of their previous talk can be found at https://www.facebook.com/futureearth.org/. All the communications and activities will be between 6pm-11pm CST due to time difference. I am happy to have more discussion if you are interested.
Presenters:
Ms. Morgan White, https://fs.illinois.edu/resources/newsroom/2021/10/14/white-named-acting-director-of-the-f-s-capital-programs-division
Mr. Jack Reicherts, https://studentengagement.illinois.edu/student-sustainability/ssc/team/reicherts/
Dr. Andrew Stumpf, https://directory.illinois.edu/detail?userId=astumpf@illinois.edu&widgetId=15
Dr. Ping-Yu Change, https://scholars.ncu.edu.tw/en/persons/ping-yu-chang
Dr. Jui-Pin (Rubin) Tsai, https://www.bse.ntu.edu.tw/member?teacher_id=48&page=1
Dr. Yu-Feng Forrrest Lin, https://directory.illinois.edu/detail?userId=yflin@illinois.edu&widgetId=15
Cheers,
Yu-Feng F. Lin
Director
Illinois Water Resources Center
Principal Research Hydrogeologist
Illinois State Geological Survey
Clinical Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research Professor
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign