The Environmental Protection Agency honored two Department of Defense facilities for achieving emissions reductions and energy savings with their Combined Heat and Power systems at the 25th Annual IDEA Campus Energy Conference in Arlington, Va. Here are the details.
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center
The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center is located at the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command in Twentynine Palms, Calif. The center maintains its electricity and thermal energy needs with a solar combustion turbine generator that produces up to 7.5 megawatts of electricity and utilizes turbine exhaust to produce hot water that provides heat and domestic hot water to its many buildings. This allows the center to use 24 percent less fuel than a conventional energy supply system and to avoid about 19,700 metric tons of CO2 emissions each year. Annual energy costs from the use of the cogeneration plant are reduced by $5.8 million, the EPA reported.
In addition, the center's electric supply system has "black start" capability, preventing disruption of power from summer lightning strikes. The base is currently developing a micro-grid that will allow it to maintain power even in the case of grid outages.
US Army Garrison, Fort Bragg
At the 82nd Airborn Division Combined Heat and Power Plant at Fort Bragg, N.C., 18 percent less fuel is consumed than a conventional energy supply system, the EPA reports. The system used is avoiding emissions equal to that from the electricity of more than 1,500 homes each year and is saving the base about $1 million annually.
Powered by a 5 megawatts combustion turbine-generator, the system produces 27,000 pounds of steam each hour, which is used to provide heat and hot water to 10,000 soldiers, their families, and civilian base employees. An absorption chiller is also utilized, supplying cold water for air conditioning.
The Conference
According to the International District Energy Association, more than 630 people are attending the annual Campus Energy Conference. IDEA, with a membership of 1,500, serves as an information hub for the energy industry and combined heat and power industries. CHP systems are a focus of this year's events, with the opening panel featuring a discussion on the reliability, efficiency and cost benefits of them. Panelists included an architect who is planning to install an 18 MW CHP facility at the U.S. Capitol. Representatives from the Department of Energy, the EPA and executives from Cornell, Princeton, Texas A&M and the University of North Carolina were also on hand.
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