Skip to main content

Stanford University: a national leader in energy efficiency and carbon reduction

By

Gery was ending his last post proposing to share our discoveries and exploring the existing energy and food production alternatives.
So, as a neighbour of Stanford University, I heard that the University had just completed a transformational campus-wide energy system.  
Guess what? 
They used to have a 100% fossil-fuel-based combined heat and power plant (co-generation) and today University has replaced it with grid-sourced electricity and a first-of-its-kind heat recovery system.

The results are amazing :
  • Greenhouse gas emissions slashed by 68%
  • Fossil fuel use reduced by 65%
  • Water use on campus reduced by 15% 
This comprehensive Stanford Energy System Innovation (SESI) eliminates 150.000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually (the equivalent of removing 32.000 cars from the road every year.)  SESI combines an offsite, dedicated solar farm
producing 68 megawatts of clean renewable electricity via 150.000 high-efficiency photovoltaic panels; conversion of the heat supply of all buildings from steam to hot water; and an innovative heat recovery loop that captures nearly 2/3 of waste heat generated by the campus cooling system to produce hot water for the heating system. At its heart is a new Central Energy Facility that embodies the latest technological advances in heat recovery.  Heated and chilled water is stored in 3 massive water tanks totaling 6 million gallons (800.000 cubic meter). A patented technology developed by Stanford continuously monitors the plant's equipment, predicts campus energy loads, grid prices and weather, steering the system to optimal efficiency. The automated software also reviews its own performance.


I was also completely impressed by the design of the plant. It has been made to sensitively integrate into the surrounding campus, the overall architectural expression is one of lightness, transparency, and sustainability to express the facility's purpose.

Should you come around the corner, do not hesitate and go visit it. It's superb.  
PS: Expected energy savings to Stanford over 35 years is $425 million.

Google & Helmet provided by Stanford University ;-)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

By
Bike the World with the Sun: Go Big Gery and I have decided to bike a long-distance race, which is solar only. The Sun Trip: The Solar Bike Adventure The Sun Trip concept combines adventure, racing, cycling, and solar energy. Cycling represents freedom, discovery, and meeting locals while exploring the earth. While electric bikes have revolutionized the cycling world, they still have a limitation: autonomy. Solar bikes provide an answer: the sun. The range becomes infinite, and the energy produced is non-polluting. The Sun Trip concept is a race that tests the robustness, reliability, and efficiency of solar bikes and riders by sending them on routes around the world. Participants design a wide variety of prototypes that embark on adventures to determine the fastest. In summary, the Sun Trip is an innovative cycling race that combines technology, sustainability, and exploration. 🌞🚴‍♂️ The Sun Trip - Destination Sahara: 2024 marks the 5th edition of the Sun Trip (original format), wh...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hydrogen fuel cartridge .. let's power bikes ?

By
As "green" hydrogen production and storage has become an EU green deal central strategic axis, more and more innovative solutions emerge from academic and industrial players. Early this month, the Fraunhofer institute published an article presenting a prototype of what we can call "hydrogen power paste": hydrogen power paste (source : Fraunhofer institute) The principle behind is to create a magnesium hydride paste (whereas a high quantity of hydrogen is stored). When water is added to the mix, hydrogen gas is produced and can be used in a fuel cell to create electricity.  In the previously published article describing hydrogen fuel principles and applications, we mentioned that this H2 energy source was particularly suited for heavy transportation such as trains, trucks, or boats. This power paste concept is particularly interesting for light mobility or applications where there are no refill stations neither H2 storage tanks easily available. One can think of Hyd...
Post a Comment
Read more
By
3, 2, 1, ZERO Waste!!!   A company and a city in California, the perfect match to save the planet by making waste more valuable than ever.    Solena Group and Lancaster City are embarking on the production of greener-than-green hydrogen and will transform Lancaster City into the alternative energy capital of the world. The Lancaster plant will be ready to produce 11,000 kg per day. Working 24/7, 8,000 hours a year, the facility will be able to supply 3.8 million kg, the equivalent of 3,800 tons of green hydrogen per year.  This project will allow the Lancaster facility to become three times larger than any other green hydrogen supplier already in existence and with the advantage of using a method that will allow having clean hydrogen without going through methods that will increase the final price.   The primary material, which is waste, will be provided by the City of Lancaster. This project will allow the company to produce clean hydrogen from 40,000 tons...
Post a Comment
Read more