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Landfill gas as an option for renewable gas
Associated Project(s):Upon inquiry from Morgan White, Mike Larson provided this update:
One additional website that may be of interest is the attached from the EPA.
https://www.epa.gov/lmop/project-and-landfill-data-state
Landfill gas is the most prevalent form of renewable gas that I am aware of. I asked Kinect about the use of biogas last year, and at the time they were not aware of anyone producing biogas and injecting it into the gas pipeline. Most installations that I am aware of are point of use applications. It costs quite a bit of money to pressurize the natural gas and inject it into the pipeline and the quantities are not huge, so most installations install a generator at the site and use the bio-gas to generate onsite. I am not an expert in this market by any stretch, but that is my general understanding of how it is used.
I will inquire again from Kinect, but I am not aware of any biogas being available to purchase, and as such I also do not know about the premium to purchase.
Mike Larson
Associate Director of Utilities Production, Facilities and Services
Inovateus Solar included Solar Farm 2.0 in their newsletter!
Associated Project(s):Please see the attached newletter, published by Inovateus Solar, that includes a piece on the University of Illinois' Solar Farm 2.0.
Attached Files:Additional solar installed with fourth floor offices
Associated Project(s):Additional rooftop solar was installed on the Business Instructional Facility (BIF) in summer 2019. The construction drawings called for 19 solar PV panels rated 200-360W, with microinverters, with a fixed tilt for each panel ranging from 21 to 40 degrees off the roofing surface.
September 2020 Buyer's Share Report
Associated Project(s):RailSplitter Wind Farm provided the September 2020 Buyer's Share amounts by hour, totaling 1,359.7 Megawatt hours. See attached file.
Attached Files:Senior project about Deep Direct Use (DDU) geothermal
Associated Project(s):Lauren Kumle, Tess Sobol, Jaboc Heglund, and Tommy Robey in CEE 493 - Sustainable Design Engineering Technology worked with Dr. Andy Stumpf in Fall 2020 on a Deep Direct Use (DDU) geothermal proposal for north campus.
Dr. Stumpf provided this information to the team in September:
If your team is interested, you might consider a different technology for geothermal energy at Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory. Specifically a deep direct-use (DDU) geothermal energy system (GES). I suggest this because I am not certain there is enough ground space at Newmark for a geothermal borefield like at CIF. The advantages of DDU GES is it requires fewer wells, and there would be enough thermal energy extracted to condition space in multiple buildings. Essentially, the DDU GES comprises extraction and injection wells (likely 2 of each needed) to access geothermal fluids (brine) from deeper bedrock formations. Under campus, one of the potential bedrock formations, the St. Peter Sandstone, lies at ~2,000 feet depth and contains an abundant amount of fluid at 78-82°F. When I last talked to Professor Liang Liu (who recently retired from College of Engineering), he was very interested in a study for DDU GES for the Engineering quad (south of Grainger library). So I think your findings from this type of system would be timely and more likely to be implemented.
My colleagues and I just completed a feasibility study of DDU GES for six agricultural research facilities on the South Farms (see summary paper attached).
The focus was on the deeper Mt. Simon Sandstone (lying at >6000 feet depth) because we were interested in extracting the hottest brine (110-130°F) since some of the farms needed to make hot water. They are not connected to the steam and hot/cold water energy system servicing the main part of campus, so propane and natural gas are the primary fuels. However, the St. Peter Sandstone would be an alternative… and this formation is also being considered for cooling buildings.
If you are interested in looking at DDU for the Newmark site, I can share the report with you. It should contain much of the information you need. Some of colleagues can help you with the life cycle costs and mechanical energy system analyses. Completing this project would also help researchers on campus compete for funding from DOE to complete tests wells which will be needed to validate your findings. DOE is very interested in developing DDU GES in non-volcanic areas of the US, especially for district-energy systems. Cornell University just received funding from DOE for a test well to develop a DDU GES on their campus, but they will most likely have to drill >15,000 feet into the Precambrian granite develop the system. They are looking to generate electricity with very hot water. https://eos.org/science-updates/exploring-by-boring-geothermal-wells-as-research-tools.
Doing a rough calculation, I think constructing a DDU GES would be of similar cost to a shallow borefield with 50-100 wells. The DDU GES would be much more efficient since you are directly using the heated brine and not trying to conduct heat in the ground. The payback period would be much quicker since it will be servicing more than one building.
On 9/25/2020, Lauren, Tommy, and Jacob met with Dr. Stumpf. He provided the following update:
I had a meeting with Lauren Jacob and Tommy today about their design project. I suggested they look at a DDU system that would heat/cool 4 buildings (Newmark, DCL, Uni High, and Siebel Center). I guess the number of buildings will depend on the amount of energy that can be extracted from the geothermal reservoir. I also suggested they look at the shallowest reservoir, the St. Peter Sandstone. As part of their analysis, they indicated there is a need for building level energy use data.
Solar Farm 2.0 construction update from Sushanth Girini at F&S
Associated Project(s):The Solar Farm 2.0 construction is on schedule to be in service by 1/28/2021. Currently the project is installing approximately 4,400 posts in ground for the panel foundations. One of key objectives is to complete the Golden Row* by end of this month. Once the golden row is completed, inspected, and approved, the construction will be in full force to reach completion. The university is scheduled to perform routine inspections and capture all the underground equipment GPS points for reference. A recycling plan is in place, and the project is coordinating with F&S Transportation to collect the recyclable waste. The installation of a utility switch on the east side of the farm is complete.
Procurement: We have received all the racking equipment and about 80% of the solar panel on site. Transformers and inverters are scheduled to be delivered by end of Oct 2020.
~by Sushanth Girini, management engineer at F&S Utilities and Energy Services
* Golden Row - is a single row of solar panel constructed by the construction crew. Once the project make sure all the connections are good and row is as per design, it gets approved. It's like a start of what's coming. Like a movie trailer!
August 2020 Buyer's Share Report
Associated Project(s):RailSplitter Wind Farm provided the August 2020 Buyer's Share amounts by hour, totaling 731.2 Megawatt hours. See attached file.
Attached Files:Site visit with ISU VR Tour creators
Associated Project(s):Sol Systems and F&S hosted visitors from Illinois State University today, to initiate development of a Virtual Reality tour of Solar Farm 2.0. The intention is to develop a walking path that will be repeated by the camerawoman at four key timeframes this fall: post installation, tracker installation, module installation, and electrical installation.
Report on renewable energy for American colleges
Online camera to watch construction progress
Associated Project(s):Check out this online camera of the Solar Farm 2.0 site: https://app.oxblue.com/open/inovateus/northerncardinal.
Now we can watch it progress from our computer screens!
Fun times, Morgan
Solar PVs online
Associated Project(s):The P V’s are installed and are on line. The building number is 0374.
~Jerry Lauderdale, F&S
New Prairie Media article on solar farm 2.0
Associated Project(s):See attached article from a Solar Farm 2.0 interview with Morgan White.
Attached Files:Archived info - previous project description
Associated Project(s):Construction of a new 54-acre, 12.1 megawatt (MWdc) Solar Farm has been approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees as the sole member of Prairieland Energy, Inc. Referred to as "Solar Farm 2.0," the new utility-scale array will be located north of Curtis Road, between First Street and Dunlap Avenue in Savoy. Solar Farm 2.0 will produce approximately 20,000 megawatt-hours per year (MWh/year), nearly tripling the university’s existing on-site renewable energy generation. Completion of this project will then grant the University of Illinois with the title of being the third-largest user of renewable power generated on-site for all higher education facilities in the entire country.
Project Inception
In April 2017, the Energy Sustainability Working Advisory Team (SWATeam) recommended that to increase our campus’ generation of solar power, either an extension should be built onto the original Solar Farm or additional solar panels be installed across campus rooftops. From there, the idea of Solar Farm 2.0 was born. In November of that same year, the Sustainability Council approved the concept of this new solar farm, and a site selection was completed during spring 2018.
In the summer of 2018, after discussions with our neighbors in Savoy, the Chancellor’s Capital Review Committee approved the location, and a request for proposals was initiated. Different vendors from across the nation submitted proposals and various designs for this new solar farm, with nineteen submissions in total. By May of 2019, Sol Systems of Washington, D.C. was chosen to complete the project. A twenty-year contract was negotiated, and the overall project is on track to be completed by the end of 2020.
Project Overview
Sol Systems will be responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance for Solar Farm 2.0, and like Solar Farm 1.0, the Urbana campus will use all the generated power. The $20.1M contract is anticipated to save the university $300,000 in the farm’s first year compared to electricity purchased from the wholesale MISO market. Prairieland Energy will buy the solar energy at a fixed rate of $45.99 per MWh, while the University of Illinois will receive the associated renewable energy certificates (RECs) and the right to claim the use of clean energy.
Pollinator Habitat
Other innovative features of Solar Farm 2.0 include the incorporation of a pollinator habitat located beneath the panels. Indigenous plants will be planted throughout the farm to welcome local and migratory birds and insects. Specifically targeted towards butterflies and bees, Solar Farm 2.0 will be a welcoming environment for wildlife, as well as being a demonstration site for meeting the requirements of the Pollinator Friendly Solar Site Act. A landscaped buffer will also be included in the final design of Solar Farm 2.0, creating visual screening of the solar panels along the south edge of the farm bordering Savoy.
Chicago's Renewable Energy Resolution
Associated Project(s):BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this thirteenth day of March 2019, commit to transition to 100% clean renewable energy community-wide beginning with 100% renewable electricity in buildings by 2035 and complete electrification of CTA's bus fleet by 2040;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we commit to ensuring that community-wide power will come from the generation and storage of clean, renewable energy from solar, wind, and geothermal sources with an emphasis on new and local resources; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the City of Chicago will develop a transition plan by December 2020, which will outline key strategies, set progression milestones, develop a timeline for reaching an equitable clean energy transition, and further opportunities to create a 100% clean, renewable energy future community-wide, as well as addressing issues including but not limited to...
(see file)
Attached Files:The Day After Tomorrow: Following Advancements of the New U of I Solar
Associated Project(s):CUYSS Team|8/5/2020
The Youth Climate Justice Forum presents this podcast series in which we will be trying to find ways for all of us to continue to work for climate justice during and after the coronavirus crisis. This week, Caroline and Grace interview Morgan White, Director of Sustainability at University of Illinois Facilities and Services. They are currently working to construct the University’s newest solar farm, building upon what they learned from their last solar project.
July 2020 Buyer's Share Report
Associated Project(s):RailSplitter Wind Farm provided the July 2020 Buyer's Share amounts by hour, totaling 779.9 Megawatt hours. See attached file.
Attached Files:Collaborating with ISU to develop Virtual Tours
Associated Project(s):Matt Hagamann from Illinois State University (ISU) is leading a team to develop a Virtual Tour of the University of Illinois Solar Farms. In a July 2020 email, he explained:
"Our project is funded through the Illinois Science & Energy Innovation Foundation, whose goal is to "address the human and community sides of energy and the electric grid," in our case through energy literacy programs. Our current programs reach up to 25,000 students each year, but we're working on some digital resources which we hope will expand our impact.
The digital project I would like to collaborate with your office on is a virtual reality project, where we expose students to technology, sustainability, and careers through an immersive experience. We're targeting both a full VR experience as well as a more limited experience designed for smartphones.
Our goal is to help students explore someplace they wouldn't normally have access to, in this case a solar farm. After recording some footage using a 360-degree camera, we can let students explore that environment, read some virtual signage, then "tap" some workers on the shoulder in order to learn more about their job."
Plans for a virtual solar farm tour
Associated Project(s):Morgan White (F&S) and Mathew Hagaman (ISU) are collaborating on a virtual solar farm tour, funded through an ISEIF grant being coordinated by Mr. Hagaman at ISU. The virtual tour is starting with Solar Farm 1.0, with a site visit on 7/30/2020.
June 2020 Buyer's Share Report
Associated Project(s):RailSplitter Wind Farm provided the June 2020 Buyer's Share amounts by hour, totaling 1892.7 Megawatt hours. See attached file.
Attached Files: