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Solar
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solar thermal district energy: st paul leads the nationDistrict Energy St. Paul consistently positions itself as a flagship model for energy integration. Historically, this has included integrating multiple district technologies, from hot water heating to biomass-fueled cogeneration. In 2011, District Energy St. Paul delivered another U.S. first, integrating large-scale solar thermal. District energy and solar thermal are well-suited allies, delivering high-efficiency solutions for domestic hot water and space heating. Integrating these proven technologies brings greater efficiency to our systems. The District Energy Solar Thermal Project was made possible through the Department of Energy (DOE) Solar America Communities program in partnership with the City of Saint Paul and the City of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Division of Energy Services. The City of Saint Paul secured a $1 million DOE Market Transformation grant to match $1.1 million in funding from District Energy St. Paul. Preliminary design began in December 2010 and District Energy selected Saint Paul’s TKDA to assist with design and engineering. TKDA is a successful industry leader in design, architecture and planning services for projects in commercial, industrial and government sectors. Planning required careful site consideration. The Saint Paul RiverCentre met the technical requirements for installation, with additional panel structural considerations for wind, ice, and snow loading. The RiverCentre is an ideal host because of its proximity to District Energy’s facility, street level visibility, visitor traffic, and their effective leadership in sustainability for the convention and hospitality industry. Panel selection was crucial to maximize the $2.1 million budget and 30,000 square feet of roof space. After panel selection and final design, local contractors Sheehy Construction, Pioneer Power, and What have we learned? The system started up on March 15th, 2011. In 3 months of operation, the system has out-performed expectations during available solar production hours. Commissioning will continue throughout the next 9 months, maximizing seasonal performance. Site Characteristics: Design planning should look for minimal roof penetrations or conflicts, opportunities to coordinate with a new roof or roof pending replacement, and seek proximate mechanical rooms and available pipe chases. Project Financing: Payback may be faster for ground-standing installations that minimize structural investments. Adoption of thermal energy standards, similar to North Carolina and Arizona, could also greatly increase the financial viability by opening the market to purchase thermal renewable energy credits. Collector Technology: Previously, the U.S. market has been primarily focused on smaller, residential collectors for residential pool heating and domestic hot water. Since its initiation, this project has prompted four U.S. manufacturers to explore large-scale thermal applications. More information will be shared as the system is optimized. Over a dozen other cities and universities have already inquired about developing similar projects and will rely on this system’s experience to lead the way. District Energy St. Paul is thrilled to be part of such a groundbreaking project and is excited to see how this model will advance energy through integration. Learn more at www.solarsaintpaul.com or www.districtenergy.com. Interested parties can contact Project Manager Nina Axelson or Project Engineer Ray Watts through outreach@districtenergy.com. |
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