Service

Hot water district heating delivered to customers year-round for space heating, domestic hot water and industrial process use

Provider

District Energy St. Paul Inc., an independent, non-profit company

Distinction

It is the largest, most successful hot water district heating system in North America

Customers and building area served

More than 180 buildings (30.7 million square feet) and 300 townhomes in the downtown Saint Paul area, including the Capitol Complex, West Side Flats and the Phalen Corridor

Location

Hans O. Nyman Energy Center; 76 Kellogg Boulevard West; Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102-1611

Production capacity

Combined heat and power plant, four gas/oil-fired boilers, two coal/gas-fired boilers, backup plant and mobile boiler: total 289 megawatts thermal (987 million Btu per hour); also 860-kilowatt, turbine-driven generator

Fuels used

Wood waste, natural gas, low-sulfur Eastern coal, and fuel oil

Distribution system

105,600 feet of twin supply and return piping running from Hans O. Nyman Energy Center east to the Phalen Corridor, north to Empire Builder Industrial Park, west to United Hospital, and south to Concord Street

Customer demand

168 megawatts current billed demand; normalized annual sales of 302,000 megawatt-hours

Combined heat and power(CHP)

The simultaneous production of heat and electricity, doubling a plant's efficiency. A CHP plant adjacent to District Energy produces 25 MW of electricity for the local utility and 65 megawatts of thermal energy for our customers.

Historical background

1983: Hot water district heating system construction begun; first heating customer served;

1985: Initial construction completed; extension to Mount Airy housing complex;

1986: Extension to Empire Builder Industrial Park;

1987: New name, District Energy St. Paul, adopted;

1993: System of the Year Award from the International District Energy Association; first district cooling customer served;

1995: Recognized by Inc. magazine and MCI as one of the top 40 customer-focused companies in the nation; named Company of the Year by the Greater Saint Paul Building Owners and Managers Association;

2001: Plant cited as a model of energy efficiency, diversity and affordability by President George W. Bush

2002: Pipe extensions across the Mississippi River (West Side Flats), east of Interstate 35E and along the Phalen Corridor

2003: Combined heat and power plant operational, managed by District Energy affiliate; expanded service to residential market within downtown St. Paul; celebrated 20 years of service.

2004: Engineering Excellence Award for the design and construction of the 10th Street chiller plant

2005: Environmental Initiative Award for operation of a biomass-based CHP plant

2006: Inspiring Efficiency Innovation Award for District Energy's "Green Energy Program"