December 22, 2010 | Peter Morenus

Generating the University’s Energy Supply

Dan Smith, a boiler tender, at the cogeneration plant. The state-of-the-art facility is nearly three times as efficient as a conventional electric power plant. Photo by Peter Morenus

<p>UConn’s state-of-the-art cogeneration plant allows for the sequential generation of both electrical or mechanical energy and useful thermal energy from a single source. This means that over 80% of the fuel energy it generates can be harnessed, versus 33% from a conventional electric power plant. Dan Smith, a boiler tender, is shown at the controls of the plant’s turbines. Above and over his shoulder are large monitors showing economic models. Photo by Peter Morenus </p>
Dan Smith, a boiler tender, at the controls of the cogeneration plant’s turbines. UConn’s state-of-the-art facility allows for the sequential generation of both electrical or mechanical energy and useful thermal energy from a single source, so that more than 80 percent of the fuel energy it generates can be harnessed, versus 33 percent from a conventional electric power plant. Photo by Peter Morenus