Universities at home and abroad save with thermal energy storage

February 26, 2015

Colleges and universities consume quite a bit of power thanks to a long list of power-hungry facilities, from research labs to food courts. According to a report released by Research and Markets, 4-year universities consumed, on average, nearly 10,000,000 total kilowatt hours of energy per full-time student in the 2010-2011 school year alone. Compare that to the 11,000 total kilowatt hours used in the average American home and it's no surprise that universities across the world have gone through great lengths to make facilities more efficient and minimize operating costs. One cost reduction strategy that has been used to great effect is thermal energy storage.

In fact, College Planning and Management noted that lack of energy storage is a major factor holding the nation back from more renewable energy production. The resource also emphasized that many campuses are in a uniquely ideal position to integrate energy storage because campus decision-makers are already familiar with smart metering and microgrid technology that could supplement new thermal energy storage projects.

A quick look at the many universities taking advantage of thermal energy storage reveals just how versatile and effective the technology can be for campuses.

Phase changes lead to serious savings
Thermal energy storage is distinguished by the use of transfer mediums like water to store and distribute energy for heating or cooling. Large amounts of energy can be stored and released as mediums change phase from solid to liquid and liquid to solid. Some universities take full advantage of this phenomenon by investing in technology that incorporates phase changes into its energy storage process to provide flexible control of when to use energy and reduce operating costs.

Ireland's Dundalk Institute of Technology PJ Carroll building, for instance, uses state-of-the-art ice storage tanks to maximize the amount of renewable energy that can be used onsite, said GreenSource. This ice, or stored energy, is then melted throughout the day as a means of cooling the campus when there is excess electricity from the campus wind turbines, ensuring 96 percent of the building's electricity demand is met by onsite power. Using another phase change technology, the University of Birmingham uses a cryogenic system to change air between its liquid and gas states and store energy in the form of liquid for later use. While these systems employ very different technology, both provide their respective university campuses with a more effective way to store, consume, and conserve energy.

Campuses enjoying the financial perks of energy storage
By installing thermal energy storage on a college campus, schools gets the opportunity to earn back their investment while keeping electricity costs to a minimum. For example, Distributed Energy reported that thermal storage will provide $38,000 in monthly savings for the 378 acre University of Arizona campus by providing a night-time load for the campus' cogeneration plant. Initially the tanks reduced cooling costs by half a million dollars, but with subsequent phases of more energy storage and other efficiency measures the savings are even more significant. The thermal storage system also provides extra cooling capacity to meet cooling loads for the next day, providing the University added flexibility during equipment downtime for scheduled chiller and turbine repair and maintenance.

A similar thermal storage installation at the 760 acre Florida Gulf Coast University saves $300,000 annually which amounts to 40% off the cost to air-condition the campus. Chabot-Las Positas, a 240 acre community college in California with LEED Platinum credentials, cuts costs utilizing thermal energy storage as well. Like the projects in Arizona and Florida, the community college shifts energy demand by using less expensive night-time energy. As a result, the college saves $200,000 annually. The prevalence of energy storage in use at schools across the country and abroad reflect just how versatile and effective thermal energy storage is for the university setting. Similarly designed venues like business campuses can also save big by integrating energy storage into daily operations.