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Project Updates for collection: Renewable Energy Projects

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  2. iWG meeting agenda March 30, 2016

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    2015 Illinois Climate Action Plan (2015 iCAP) [ARCHIVED]
    Illini Lights Out
    Wind Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
    Topical iCAP Teams
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam [ARCHIVED]
    Energy Generation, Purchasing, & Distribution (eGen) SWATeam [ARCHIVED]
    Agriculture, Land Use, Food, and Sequestration (ALUFS) SWATeam [ARCHIVED]
    Water and Stormwater SWATeam [ARCHIVED]

    see file

    Attached Files: 

  3. iWG meeting meeting March 30, 2016

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Topical iCAP Teams
    2015 Illinois Climate Action Plan (2015 iCAP) [ARCHIVED]
    Illini Lights Out
    Wind Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam [ARCHIVED]
    Energy Generation, Purchasing, & Distribution (eGen) SWATeam [ARCHIVED]
    Water and Stormwater SWATeam [ARCHIVED]
    Agriculture, Land Use, Food, and Sequestration (ALUFS) SWATeam [ARCHIVED]

    see file

    Attached Files: 

  5. Electrification Study discussion with F&S

    Associated Project(s): 
    Explore Options for 100 Percent Clean Campus Energy

    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: 

  6. BTUs and Costs of biomass vs Propane

    Associated Project(s): 
    Biomass use on Campus
    1. Propane contains 91,333 BTU’s per gallon @ current price of $0.7858 per gallon = $8.60 / MBTU
    2. 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

  7. Archived - previuos project description

    Associated Project(s): 
    Use Clean Power

    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.

  8. Archived info - previous project background

    Associated Project(s): 
    Use Clean Power

    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.

  10. Architecture Review Committee approval

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar PVs at Idea Garden

    The Architecture Review Committee (ARC) approved the concept for rooftop solar on the Idea Garden shed, per this description from F&S Engineer Kristine Chalifoux: "Engineering Design has been approached by the Illinois Extension about designing solar panels for the roof of the shed at the arboretum.  They would like to cover the room with panels and use batteries in the shed to store the power.  They would like to have a light on site, ability to use power tools, and possibly some heat during the winter.

    The panels would be approximately (depending on manufacturer) 3’x5’ and cover the entire south facing portion of the roof.  The roof has two slopes with a shallower slope at the front.  Both would be covered."

    ARC approved the request and concept of installing the solar panels on the roof of the shed providing that the integrity of the shed could support the installation. 

  11. Project status update

    Associated Project(s): 
    ECE Rooftop Solar PVs

    ECE rooftop solar project update:

    1) The original PO bought approximately 500 panels for $240,925.  This was funded with $100K from the DCEO grant, and $140,925 from the Student Sustainability Committee (SSC) funding. 

    2) The original funding plan was for a total project cost of $900,000.  It was made up of $225K from the SSC, $250K from DCEO, $100 from the Grainger Center for Engineering, and $325K from the department and college.  When DCEO cut the grant funding with the state budget crisis, the project stalled with just the initial purchase of panels completed.

    3) Current campus project implementation methodology requires this project to go through the Capital Programs process for installation of the panels.  ECE is seeking project funding and approval for the full installation.

    4) ECE has initiated a PO for the remaining 421 panels from a sole source vendor, at a discounted rate. 

  12. Process comment from F&S

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar PVs at Idea Garden

    Kristine Chalifoux provided this process information to Ava Heap: "The first step is to get approval from the Architectural Review Committee (ARC).  Without their approval, you will not be able to proceed with the project.  If you have any drawings or documentation of what you all want, please forward it to me.  If you do not, I can take a picture of the shed and put together a sketch to submit to them

    Once we have their approval, you can move forward with getting proposals.  All contractors who work on campus must be an approved vendor.  If installers you are talking to are not, they will have to partner with a contractor who is.  Most likely, this will be an electrical contractor, of which there are many locally.

    After you have proposals, you will need to submit them to us to review for conformance to University Standards.  We will review and comment on them."

  15. Presentation to USGBC student chapter

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 1.0
    General Meeting Monday: Morgan Johnston on the new UIUC Solar Farm

     

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    Come join us for our last general meeting! Morgan Johnston, Associate Director of Sustainability with UIUC's Facilities and Services, will discuss the new solar farm which has only recently been connected with UIUC's electrical distribution system. The solar farm, which is the largest array installed on any Big Ten University campus, is expected to produce 7.86 million kilowatt-hours per year, or approximately 2 percent of the average electrical demand for the Urbana campus.

    As always, food will be provided! The meeting will be next Monday, December 7th at 6pm in Newmark 2311

    Contact Dhara Patel at dhara.x.patel@gmail.com if you have any questions!

     

  16. Archived - previous project description

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 1.0

    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."

  17. Stevie Jay radio broadcast - tour open to public

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 1.0

    Morgan Johnston announced this morning on ESPNcu.com that the public are welcome to attend a tour of the Solar Farm Thursday after the Ribbon Cutting ceremony.  To attend the tour, be at the iHotel and Conference Center east parking area at 11am.  There is no parking available at the Solar Farm, and it will be very muddy, so the shuttle is the best option for attending the tour.

  18. Ribbon Cutting scheduled for Thursday

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 1.0

    Completion of the 5.87 megawatt Solar Farm is a historic moment for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and renewable energy generation on campus. An invitation-only ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the Solar Farm site on November 19 at 10:30 a.m. to recognize the accomplishment.

    University and campus administration, Facilities & Services staff, Student Sustainability Committee representatives, and project partners from Rockwell Financial and Phoenix Solar Inc. LLC are scheduled to be in attendance.

    The Solar Farm is expected to produce 7.86 million kilowatt-hours per year or approximately two percent of the average electrical demand for the Urbana campus. 

    The electricity which will be generated by the Solar Farm is a significant step in meeting long-term Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) targets and achieving carbon neutrality as soon as possible, and no later than 2050.

  20. Chicago Radio News

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 1.0

    A mention about the Solar Farm project (see submission below) will be read on Chicago radio (popular morning show) in September as a part of the university’s branding/marketing efforts.

    UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA - CHAMPAIGN

    Did you know the U of I is building a 20 acre Solar Farm on campus this year that will be one of the largest university solar arrays in the nation?   It will produce enough electricity yearly to power 700 typical U.S. homes.  Just another cool fact brought to you by the U of I.

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