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Energy Farm
4110 South Race Street
61802
Urbana
, IL
United States
Illinois
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Projects at this location
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
| Agrivoltaic Research Solar Array at Energy Farm |
The Energy Farm brought new life to a 15 kwh Solar array that was originally on the Building Research Council building which was demolished. These 3 arrays are now an agrivoltaic research site located on the Energy Farm. A live dashboard of the array displays real time energy information. These arrays were used in 2023 to test row cropping, but as of the 2024 season have been utilized for consumer crops like tomatoes and kale. |
| Geothermal Battery at Energy Farm |
The Prairie Research (PRI), Student Sustainability Committee (SSC), Facilities & Services (F&S), Illinois Water Resources Center (IWRC), Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), and the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES), and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) gathered on Feb. 27, 2023, to break ground on installing an underground thermal battery (UTB) at the Energy Farm in Urbana, IL. |
| Geothermal at Gable Home |
The Solar Decathlon House at the Energy Farm, called the Gable Home, is now equipped with a horizontal loop geothermal energy system. The loop is 3/4 inch. |
| Let It Flow |
Rain is a blessing and a curse on our research farms. We cannot grow a crop with out it but when it comes in excessive quantities has a destructive result on University farms. Our farms are intertwined too so as water flows downhill it passes from one department farm to the next. This project looks to redesign the Energy Farm waterway and install a waterway on the Animal Sciences farm to the west so that water flow can be channeled to the Embarrass River in a more direct and environmentally sound path. |
| Geothermal at the Energy Farm |
Campus is exploring options for retrofitting Energy Farm with Deep Direct Use (DDU) geothermal energy. |
| CornCrete |
In April 2017 three faculty members received $14,522 from the University Research Board to conduct preliminary investigations surrounding crop residue as a building material at both small and large scale. The results of those initial investigations proved very positive. This project primarily strives to turn corn stalks into a building project. Students have assisted Associate Professor Mark Taylor, from the School of Architecture throughout the project, giving students research and professional development opportunities. |
| Geothermal Test Well at Energy Farm |
The main objective is to provide comprehensive scientific data and analysis to help our community on evaluating the potential of using ground source heat pump system in a large scale as part of campus green energy policy. |
| Biomass Boiler at the Energy Farm |
For many years, the UI has grown significant quantities of biomass plant products at the Energy Farm on South Farms. There have been a few preliminary attempts to identify a post-research use for this material, including the cancelled Vet Med Combined Heat and Power (CHP) project and a study of the compatibility with existing boilers at Abbott Power Plant. Meanwhile the biomass material continues to be stockpiled at the Energy Farm. This project is looking to convert the existing (and future) biomass from the Energy Farm into power for the on-site Energy Farm facility. |
| Illinois Solar Decathlon |
Who We Are
Illinois Solar Decathlon is an interdisciplinary registered student organization with over 60 undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. We compete in the international, Department of Energy-sponsored Solar Decathlon Build and Solar Decathlon Design competitions. Illinois Solar Decathlon is comprised of an executive board, a build competition team, a design competition team, and a concept team, which fosters skills and knowledge development for younger organization members. |
Projects
SSC Projects
- ACES Farm Drainage Assessment
- Agrivoltaics on the Energy Farm
- Agroforestry for Food - Irrigation Initiative
- Biomass Boiler Upgrades to Ash Handling System
- Element House at the Energy Farm
- Energy Farm LED Lighting and Occupancy Sensor Upgrade
- Energy Shaft for Geothermal Exchange at the UIUC Energy Farm
- Expansion and Increased Utilization of Biomass Heating at the Energy Farm
- Field to Fuel-Biomass Heating on Campus
- Gable Home - Permanent Location
- High Resolution Geothermal Profiling
- Let It Flow (Control the Flow)
- Woody Polyculture Work Study
Project Updates
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4/10/2025Making good progress on the four rows of solar at the Energy Farm. Today, the AC power was officially turned on. Nextracker is supposed to be onsite on Monday to commission the trackers. That will allow Plant Science folks to till...
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12/10/2024The Energy Team met on Tuesday, Dec. 10th, from 3:30 - 4:30 PM. We reviewed the occupant engagement program’s progress, discussed final steps for solar rooftop project proposals, and provided updates on energy efficiency recommendations. A...