New Haven Independent

Schools Have The Power

by Paul Bass | December 18, 2009 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Conte West Hills just went clean and green. The school will generate its own energy — and save the extra profit.

Conte’s basement was the scene Thursday afternoon of a ribbon-cutting for a new 75-kilowatt “cogeneration” power plant — as well as an unofficial mini-course on how schools can save money and help save the environment at the same time.

Conte is one of six schools at which New Haven is installing these “combined heat and power” systems. The others are James Hillhouse, Wilbur Cross, Career, Martinez, and the Sound School. (Five of the six have pools, which the systems will heat.)

The newly installed system uses natural gas to do two jobs at once — heat water for the school and produce the building’s electricity as a byproduct.

A Massachusetts company called Aegis Energy Services installed the stem and owns and runs it. It will sell both the hot water and electricity to the city. Because the system generates electricity for free, the company can sell it to the city for much less than United Illuminating (UI) can, and still make a profit.

School officials expect to save $830,000 in electricity costs over 10 years with the system. The system also runs at 85 percent energy efficiency, more than twice the typical 33 percent under the conventional system. It cuts down on greenhouse gases and carbon emissions.

The whole system avoids the cost and pollution involved in transmitting electricity across town.

“It’s a win-win for everyone,” declared Aegis General Manager Lee Vardakas. “The only entity that loses in this is the utility company. … We have to look beyond the interests of the utility companies. We have to look at the interest of the city and the taxpayers.”

Before the ribbon cutting, Vardakas showed off the spanking new “Aegen ThermoPower” behemoth (pictured) in the Conte basement. He offered a lesson in how the energy is produced, and how it fits into the climate change-era desire for cleaner and greener power generation. He said his company is open to delivering that lesson to actual classrooms of kids upstairs at Conte.

Click on the play arrow at the top of the story for a sampling of his lesson.

“School buildings have traditionally been heated by natural gas or oil-fired boilers,” Vardakas said. “Instead of putting natural gas into a boiler, we put natural gas into an engine, and get heat out of it … and get electricity as a byproduct. We’re getting two for the price of one.”

The new cogeneration plants are part of a broader effort by New Haven to cut energy costs and combat pollution, in conjunction with the $1.5 billion citywide school rebuilding program.

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Comments

Posted by: j | December 18, 2009 1:46 PM

Question...What happens in the Summer? Doesn't this thing need to be running 24-7 to make electricity?

Posted by: Peter Goldsmith | December 18, 2009 2:16 PM

Actually there is a pool inside the conte school to give a 365 day 24/7 load. The machine will run limited hours in the summer. A analysis was provided and the end savings result accounted for the lesser run time in the warmer months. The cost is born by Aegis energy and they share the savings dollars with the NHPS. Its a WIN WIN. Aegis Energy puts their money where their mouth is

Posted by: Jay | December 18, 2009 2:20 PM

The numbers are a little misleading- a typical fossil fuel power plant is about 50% efficient, but a heating plant is usually greater than 85%. So comparing a cogeneration plant isn't as simple as the quote in the article- "the system also runs at 85 percent energy effieicne, more than twice the typical 33 percent under conventional system." Still cogeneration systems are a very good way to reduce greenhouse gas emisisons and I applaude the city for trying this out.

Posted by: Charlie | December 18, 2009 3:45 PM

If the machine fails, UI still must be available to serve their electric needs.

Posted by: Diane M | December 18, 2009 4:09 PM

Not to mention the carbon emissions saved as a result of producing two forms of energy from a single fuel source.

Posted by: Al Carbone, UI | December 18, 2009 4:09 PM

The article, especially the headline, is a bit misleading. UI is not harmed by the installation of cogeneration units and, in fact, promotes this type of technology. Let's be clear though, no type of system "generates electricity for free" as this manufacturer states. UI no longer generates electricity for customers (deregulation allows for all customers to purchase it from alternate suppliers) but we do provide the infrastructure to back up systems such as this when they ultimately come off-line for maintenance or failure.

Thanks, Al Carbone, UI Corporate Communications

[Note: The original headline was, "Sorry, UI."]

Posted by: what | December 18, 2009 4:16 PM

I'm confused. If the school is generating the electricity for free, why are we paying these folks for electricity? When can we eventually cut out the middle man?

Posted by: Uncle Egg | December 18, 2009 4:33 PM

UI does not generate electricity and does not profit from it.

Posted by: Bruce | December 21, 2009 11:14 AM

This is an ideal application for a cogen plant. Great news. It seems that the operation of this plant will be determined by heating load, so it is only generating electricity when the system calls for heat. It is not really generating anything for "free", just using more of the available energy that would normally be wasted. Certainly the equipment costs more than a standard boiler, so there is some trade off.

Jay, 50% is not typical for fossil fuel power generation. I am pretty certain that the national average for power generation is somewhere in the mid-30s. GE has some large (500,000KW) advanced technology turbines that are rated at 60%. A "micro turbine" such as this produces less than 100KW and typically generates electricity at 25-35% efficiency (without cogen).

Schools Have The Power

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