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- Associated Project(s):Attached Files:
Our Budding Biomass Boiler
Associated Project(s):Developing and implementing new alternative energy sources is essential to ending the era of fossil fuels and extreme carbon emissions. The more alternative energy sources available, the more potential there is for eradicating fossil fuels as the main energy source. Numerous different innovations have developed within the last few decades because of the massive increase in technology efficiency, and the U of I has taken the initiative to implement many of them. These strides toward alternatives increased after the university committed to cease using coal at Abbott by 2017. The replacement of this power will require as many alternatives available as possible in order to meet the growing need.
Biomass energy is a great example of how the University of Illinois is converting to more renewable energy sources. Biomass can be used to create energy because it contains stored energy from plants that have absorbed energy from the sun through the process of photosynthesis. When biomass is burned, this stored energy is released as heat.
In the Spring of 2014 the SSC funded, Field to Fuel: Biomass Heating on Campus. This project involved purchasing and installing a biomass boiler at the Energy Farm, in order to heat a research greenhouse using Miscanthus that is grown on the Energy Farm. The new biomass boiler arrived in early December, and installation is nearing completion!
This project is exciting because it is the first biomass energy initiative on campus, and it will work to meet the carbon emission caps that are outlined in the Illinois Climate Action Plan. Additionally, with this project, they hope to demonstrate the feasibility of biomass on campus, engage and familiarize faculty and staff personnel with the design, installation, and operation of such systems with a view to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy production on campus, support the education and training of students, and create awareness in the larger community about alternative energy sources. The ultimate hope for the project is that a successful pilot will pave the way toward expanded use of biomass heating on our campus and greatly reduce our campus greenhouse gas emissions.
Niharika Kishore is working on developing a rooftop solar RFP for design
Associated Project(s):Today, Morgan Johnston met with Niharika Kishore to discuss the rooftop solar iCAP objective. Niharika is going to review the work already done, in the iSEE solar box folder, and draft a proposal for getting the engineering design work done for a set of building. She will be working towards meeting the FY20 on campus generation goal of 12,500 MWh/year, and possibly additional installations for FY25.
vegetation control to begin in June
Associated Project(s):Phoenix Solar’s maintenance contractor, Bay Four, has hired Rubilia, LLC to perform the vegetation control, starting June 8, 2016.
Art and Design Building solar design
Associated Project(s):A group of seniors completed the attached report for the Art and Design Building, for rooftop solar. They recommended a flexible solar material, with micro-inverters. The Art and Design department is interested in working with a student in the fall to seek funding for the rooftop solar from the Student Sustainability Committee.
Attached Files:EBS metering note for solar arrays
Associated Project(s):In the Energy Billing System (EBS), there are meters for solar energy on campus. In BIF, 3D stands for electricity delivered and 3R stands for received (the energy the arrays use when not generating).
MSTE lunch presentation on renewables
Associated Project(s):Morgan Johnston gives a MSTE Friday Lunch presentation called "Renewable Energy at the University of Illinois".
Biomass Boiler ICECF grant approved
Associated Project(s):The ICECF biomass boiler grant was approved!
Archived - previous project description
Associated Project(s):Construction of a 5.87 megawatt (MW) Solar Farm on campus is under construction, after university and state officials approved power purchase and land lease agreements with Phoenix Solar South Farms, LLC.
Once installed, the Solar Farm will be one of the largest on-site university arrays in the country, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency statistics, producing 7.86 million kilowatt-hours per year, or approximately two percent of the electrical demand for the Urbana campus in fiscal year 2015.
Facilities & Services Executive Director Al Stratman said, “We are very pleased to see this long awaited agreement completed and signed, so the installation can begin. This unique and challenging project was only made possible through the dedication of many people working together and focused on achieving our renewable energy goals.”
In 2008, the chancellor signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, pledging to be carbon neutral by 2050. As a part of this commitment, specific goals for energy conservation and renewable energy were outlined in the 2010 Illinois Climate Action Plan. The Solar Farm will contribute toward the renewable energy used on campus for at least twenty years.
"The Solar Farm represents the success of numerous efforts, including those made by the many hard-working students committed to advancing renewable energy and environmental sustainability,” said Amy Liu, chair of the Student Sustainability Committee. “Its construction will be a historic project and a source of great pride for campus."
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The 20.8 acre solar farm, to be located along the south side of Windsor Road between First Street and the railroad tracks, was first approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees in November 2012.
idea for floating solar panels
Associated Project(s):Japan is now implementing floating solar farms, on large bodies of water. The water keeps the panels cooler than ambient temperature, so they are more efficent.
Solar construction info
Associated Project(s):Professor Scott Willenbrock shared this link with photos from the installation of solar on his home. http://www.newprairieconstruction.com/solar-panel-installation.
Possible Electrification Study under discussion
Associated Project(s):A group of faculty, students, and staff are looking into the options for an Electrification Study for campus. This would be a study that goes through the formal "Feasibility Study" process at F&S, starting with a "Qualifications Based Selection" or QBS.
FYI - Indy Airport Solar Array
Associated Project(s):the Indy airport solar array is 17.5 MW AC.
iWG meeting agenda March 30, 2016
Associated Project(s):see file
Attached Files:iWG meeting meeting March 30, 2016
Associated Project(s):see file
Attached Files:Consultation group meeting
Associated Project(s):Dr. Emily Heaton from Iowa State will be talking about the biomass project at Univ. of Iowa.
Time : April 1st, 12-1pm.
Location : iSEE conference room 358. National Soybean Research Laboratory 1101 W Peabody Dr, Urbana, ILElectrification Study discussion with F&S
Associated Project(s):Ben McCall, Morgan Johnston, Scott Willenbrock, and Mike Larson met with Ted Christy and Jim Sims to discuss the process for an Electrification Study. Ted provided the attached document that needs to be completed in order to move forward. Additionally, Ted indicated that attachment a is the most pertinent. He said, "This statement would tell us what, from your perspective you hope to receive at the end of this study for it to be considered successful. It doesn’t need to get into detail. A paragraph or two in your own words to provide general description is very helpful. On the other hand, don’t feel like you need to limit this item, many departments submit a several page document. This information is used by the Planner to develop a scope statement that you will need to sign off on before we seek project approval."
Attached Files:BTUs and Costs of biomass vs Propane
Associated Project(s):- Propane contains 91,333 BTU’s per gallon @ current price of $0.7858 per gallon = $8.60 / MBTU
- Miscanthus contains 14MBTU’s per ton @ proposed price of $50/ton = $3.57/MBTU
Propane is 2.4 times more expensive to burn to achieve the same amount of thermal energy.
~Mike Marquissee, F&S Utilites and Energy Services
Archived - previuos project description
Associated Project(s):Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides, waves and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Carbon mitigation efforts need to introduce substantial amounts of clean, renewable energy. Possibilities include wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass, as well as off-campus renewables. Investing in renewable energy research and technology can contribute to a reduction in emissions on our campus so that we can meet our future goals. The U of I will satisfy at least 5 percent of all its electrical energy needs through renewable energy generation systems by 2015, and add more renewable energy sources during the future.
Archived info - previous project background
Associated Project(s):Renewable energy can supply a considerable amount our energy needs. It also creates many public benefits, including environmental improvement, increased fuel diversity and economic development benefits. Renewable energy produces no anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and reduces some types of air pollution. It also reduces dependence on imported fuels, which increases our national security. Renewable Energy is a secure, local and inexhaustible resource that can also result in lower fuel bills and heating system-running costs.