University of Montana, Combined Heat and Power Microgrid

The steam used on the University of Montana’s campus originally was generated by natural-gas-fired boilers within the historic Central Heating Plant building. Cushing Terrell conducted a feasibility study looking at the benefits of replacing one of the existing boilers with a combined heat and power (CHP) system that would improve steam production and allow the university to provide electric power for campus use with no net export of power back to the utility electrical grid. 

The project was approved, is currently being constructed, and will update the existing central steam plant to produce approximately five megawatts of electric power generated from combustion turbines and a two-stage steam turbine, while simultaneously recovering the heat to produce steam to meet the campus heating load. This new district energy/central plant system will help manage the flow of energy across the campus. 

The system is configured to operate in island mode and supply power to the campus in the event of a utility grid failure. The CHP plant aligns with the campus’s sustainability driven master plan with future solar PV system implementation and other future renewable power production resources. The resulting plant fuel conversion efficiency is significantly greater than obtaining power from the grid and fuel separate, which reduces the production of greenhouse gases. Additionally, the combustion turbines have the capability to utilize renewable biogas or hydrogen (zero carbon) in the future as they become available.

Cushing Terrell is working with McKinstry as part of the design team for the University of Montana combined peat and Power project.