Located twenty miles west of Akron, Ohio, Medina City School District recently searched for an environmentally friendly way to power and heat its only high school and reduce utility costs. After examining several options, the district selected a combined heat and power (CHP) system from the Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG subsidiary MTU Onsite Energy.
Fueled by natural gas, the company’s Series 400 CHP system will simultaneously produce electricity and heat from a single energy source by capturing normally wasted heat. The CHP unit will offset more than one million kWh of purchased electricity per year, saving an estimated $82,944 annually in electrical costs. The system also recovers heat from its exhaust and jacket water system. The heat recovered will be 747,000 Btu per hour, which will be used to offset the heating costs associated with the Medina High School facility, ultimately helping to double its overall energy and efficiency.
“Wind and solar power seem like obvious choices when looking for renewable energy solutions, but when we dug deeper we found that combined heat and power systems have been a proven technology for more than 100 years,” said John Burkhart, director of business affairs, Medina City School District. “Environmental responsibility is important to us and to our students, and implementing this energy-saving solution reaffirms that commitment.”
Designed to increase energy efficiency and decrease emissions, the compact Series 400 CHP system produces 128 kWe and generates electricity and heat from natural gas. Through the process of cogeneration, CHP systems offer businesses significant cost-savings and can be used for a large number of applications in addition to schools, including farming operations, hospitals, university campuses and manufacturing facilities.
“Medina High School supports a student body of more than 2,500, and for a school of that size the MTU Onsite Energy CHP system proved to be the best choice for efficiency while achieving the highest return on investment,” said Tom Drake, gas power systems sales, W.W. Williams. “Environmental and fiscal responsibility are key factors for our customers and renewable energy solutions like the Series 400 CHP system helps them meet their goals.”
Medina City School District learned about the advantages of a CHP system from Brewer-Garrett, its long-time mechanical engineering firm. After being commissioned to conduct an analysis that focused on renewable energy including wind and solar, it was recommended that Medina officials select a combined heat and power (CHP) system from MTU Onsite Energy. The Series 400 CHP system will be supported locally by W.W. Williams, an authorized MTU Onsite Energy Gas Systems distributor.
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