Stanford University - Stanford, USA​

October 24, 2023

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About Stanford University

Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI) project represents a transformation of university energy supply from a 100% fossil-fuel-based combined heat and power plant to grid-sourced electricity and a more efficient electric heat recovery system.

Challenges

  • Stanford University sought to radically reduce its
    energy, fossil fuels, and water consumption.
  • They needed to replace an end-of-life gas-fired
    trigeneration plant.

Solutions

  • Johnson Controls OpenBlue technologies deployed to deliver reduced energy and water use in the central plant
  • Key features of the CHC system include:
    • Large heat recovery chillers (heat pumps)
    • Replacing steam production and distribution with hot water
    • Both hot and cold water thermal energy storage
    • Advanced “model predictive control” energy management software

Results

  • Increased system efficiency with 6% more heat recovery
  • 17% reduction in peak energy demand - 7.3 MW (35.9 MW vs 43.2MW)
  • This combined with the energy use savings translated to ~$500,000 per year (10%) in cost savings vs highly efficient, modern plant baseline
  • Reduced campus greenhouse gas emissions by 68% (and growing)
  • Reduced domestic water use by an additional 15%
  • Saved $459 million over Business as usual case over next 35 years

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