Comments on: New microgrid to boost electric utility cost savings and energy resilience

By: Ed Lehman

Ed Lehman — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:36:46 +0000

David,
In response to your final question, there is presently a student-initiated solar project that is being designed and we hope implemented yet this Spring and early Summer that will place additional solar panels on two building roofs. EMU does not have enough real estate or appropriate building roof surface to install solar capability to match the 1500 KW generator capacity of this microgrid project, which is “right-sized” for the electric demand-response function it was designed for, and gives the university power loop a backup power source for those times when the local utility experiences an outage.

By: David Lapp Jost

David Lapp Jost — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 18:31:40 +0000

I’m curious, are there public statistics for the cost and payoff time of this installation? I have to say, it’s disappointing to me to see EMU investing what must be vast sums in what is effectively a natural gas power plant. Aren’t we concerned about climate change? Aren’t we concerned about the theft of indigenous land (Standing Rock), the desolation of farmland, and the iron-fisted rule of energy companies that extract natural gas? Aren’t we concerned about the reality that natural gas producers pour money into the war chests of establishment and particularly right-wing politicians that have no interest in a positive climate future?

This seems like an investment that is locking EMU into an unsustainable and irresponsible power source for decades. Perhaps it’s slightly better than coal-fired Dominion energy, and I’m open to the idea that this could be a money saver, but really, why not more solar?

By: Luke Drescher

Luke Drescher — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 23:32:52 +0000

Good to see EMU doing great steps in conservation and sustantibility.

By: Ed Lehman

Ed Lehman — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 17:29:13 +0000

Denton,
You are right, it would be good if there were a good way to recover some of the heat that is a byproduct of electrical generation from these generators. EMU is interested in and participates in this type of energy recovery/savings whenever it is viable financially. The approved location for the generators is a bit remote in this case to efficiently transfer the heat to where it could be used in a CHP type application. Also, the anticipated generator run time per year would increase the payback period of the heat recovery investment substantially. Thanks for responding. It is good to hear from you and know of your interest in this project.

By: Denton Yoder

Denton Yoder — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 16:32:47 +0000

Is there any effort to utilize heat produced from these generators? Often a byproduct of electric generation is the need to exhause heat which can easily be a 15% of your energy byproduct. If the heat can be utilized in any way, it can save additional energy.

By: John

John — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 15:19:03 +0000

Great, Ed. Keep up good work you all are doing!

By: Eldon Kurtz

Eldon Kurtz — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 14:19:04 +0000

So glad to see EMU continue to lead in conservation, innovation and collaboration. Thanks to the entire team who pushed through the challenges to get this project done.