This article, originally published in @theu, February 12, 2020, was written by Kate Whitbeck, Communications Manager, Sustainability Office
The Green Power Partnership Top 30 College & University ranking, released Jan. 27, 2020, lists the U as No. 8, with 49% of its energy supplied through geothermal and solar power purchase agreements. The U stands out among those listed for its use of geothermal energy. The Green Power Partnership Program—a voluntary EPA program—encourages green power use to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use.
“In terms of total kilowatt hours per year, the U is now second in the nation for largest long-term contracts among colleges and universities,” said Chris Benson, associate director of Sustainability & Energy in Facilities Management. “This accomplishment for our campus has been a collaborative effort across departments. We are committed to using sustainable energy at the U and this geothermal purchase brings campus that much closer to reaching our carbon neutrality goal before 2050.”
As of Nov. 1, 2019—through a partnership with Utah-based Cyrq Energy and Rocky Mountain Power—a geothermal plant in Nevada now supplies campus with 20 megawatts of geothermal energy and will do so the next 25 years.
With this contract and the power generated by existing on-campus solar projects, the U’s annual green power purchase rises to 161,671,969 kilowatt hours (kWh). This is the equivalent to powering almost 19,000 homes in Utah.
This is the first time in its history the University of Utah will receive over half of its electricity from clean renewable sources. Total carbon emissions will be reduced by 23%.
“We are very fortunate to have the support and expertise of Cyrq Energy and Rocky Mountain Power,” said Keith Diaz-Moore, interim chief sustainability officer. “Their expertise paired with our Sustainability & Energy Management team in Facilities have allowed us to reach this benchmark. Improving energy efficiency on our campus is an ongoing effort and the University of Utah is dedicated to identifying new opportunities and partnerships to meet its carbon neutrality commitments.”
Carbon neutrality
In April 2019, President Ruth Watkins signed the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments and joined UC3 (University Climate Change Coalition) renewing the U’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 and placing the institution on a path toward resilience and adaptation.
Reaching carbon neutrality is a complex process requiring a coordinated, multipronged approach. Steps include increasing the energy efficiency of existing assets, replacing targeted assets, in addition to ensuring that energy is coming from clean and renewable sources. The university is shifting away from the use of natural gas for heating systems in buildings and moving towards greater use of electricity.
When 100% of our electricity on campus is renewably sourced this creates the potential for zero-emission, carbon-neutral buildings.
Why geothermal energy?
Geothermal power plants harness heat that occurs naturally underground. The heat is pumped out of the ground in the form of hot water or steam and used to drive a turbine that generates electricity.
With all of its classrooms, labs, and healthcare facilities, the University of Utah needs power 24 hours a day. In Utah, most electricity is generated by natural gas and coal-fired power plants. Despite advances in technology, coal-fired power plants remain a significant source of air pollution and emissions. Solar and wind generated electricity are great alternatives but when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow, energy must be provided by other sources like coal. Geothermal energy produces a constant “baseload power source” with no gaps in energy production. For this reason, geothermal is an excellent complement to wind and solar.
“This visionary commitment to convert to renewable energy sets a valuable precedent for universities around the country,” said Nick Goodman, CEO of Cyrq Energy, the company providing the geothermal power for the University of Utah. “This groundbreaking project shows a significant dedication to geothermal energy, 100% renewable and green. Cyrq Energy is proud to be providing this renewable energy and helping the university meet its goals.”
To read more about the Soda Lake Geothermal Field and Plant, click here.
FAQS
What is geothermal energy?
Where is the facility?
What are the benefits of geothermal energy production?
Geothermal energy produces a constant “baseload power source” with no gaps in energy production. With all of its classrooms, labs, and healthcare facilities, the University of Utah needs power 24 hours a day. In Utah, most electricity is generated by coal-fired and natural gas power plants. Despite advances in technology, coal-fired power plants are still a significant source of air pollution and emissions. When the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining, renewable energy sources like solar and wind aren’t producing electricity and energy must be provided by other sources like coal. For this reason, geothermal is an excellent complement to wind and solar.
Does the University of Utah actually get the electrons?
No, the electrons produced are delivered to the regional electric power grid. The University of Utah has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA), which from an accounting perspective, means the university is buying these electrons. All buildings, organizations, companies, municipalities and cities receive electrons from the electrical grid that is closest to their physical location. However, because new renewable energy is being provided to the grid, less energy from other non-renewable sources like coal needs to be produced. As a system, this means fewer greenhouse gases are emitted. Power plants are held accountable for every electron generated to make sure that it correlates to the usage of the customer.
What is a power purchase agreement?
A power purchase agreement (PPA) is a legal contract between an electricity generator (provider) and a power purchaser (buyer). The university has entered into a 25-year PPA with Cyrq Energy to purchase 20 megawatts (MW) of power that offsets approximately half of the electricity used by the University of Utah. This is actually a three-way contract that includes our partners at Rocky Mountain Power.
Why is this power purchase agreement (PPA) significant?
This purchase agreement will reduce the university’s carbon emissions by 23%. This is the first and largest long-term geothermal power purchase agreement for an educational institution such as the University of Utah, a tier-one research institution and hospital with significant electricity needs.
Who are the partners and what are their roles?
Rocky Mountain Power continues to be a vital partner for the University of Utah as the regional utility that provides all of the electricity to the University of Utah Campus. RMP owns and maintains the infrastructure that transmits power throughout the State. Rocky Mountain Power also ensures that the university experiences no interruptions in power and continues to deliver electricity from other generators within its network.
CYRQ Energy is a developer, owner and operator of geothermal plants in the western United States. They own and operate the Soda Lake Plant in Fallon, Nevada which is generating the power purchased by the University of Utah.
Is geothermal energy more expensive than electricity produced by other means?
Yes, by a negligible amount. However, this PPA guarantees the University of Utah a long-term source of renewable energy at a fixed rate. If the price of coal or natural gas rises in the future, this PPA will help insulate the university from a rise in electricity costs.
Where does this place the U in terms of rankings?
Is this related to the U’s research in geothermal energy or the Utah FORGE project?
No, the Cyrq plant is not related to the Utah FORGE project. Utah FORGE is a U.S. Department of Energy-funded project based in Milford, Utah, that is developing and testing innovative geothermal energy technology with the goal of expanding application across the U.S. Click here for more information from the DOE website.
The experimental Utah FORGE project is implemented by the Energy & Geoscience Institute (EGI) at the University of Utah. EGI is recognized worldwide as a leader in geothermal science and as a center of excellence. EGI has conducted more than $800 million in geoscience and engineering research in oil and gas, geothermal, and carbon management since 1972.
What happens if the plant shuts down or has technical problems?
There will be no interruption in service to the University of Utah if the Cyrq plant shuts down for routine maintenance or repairs. Because there are many sources of back up electricity that can supply power to the grid, single plant shutdowns do not have any direct impact on the overall electricity supply. Rocky Mountain Power has an adequate supply of power to continue uninterrupted service to compensate for routine shutdowns.
Do geothermal power plants cause earthquakes?
Any underground activity, such as drilling new geothermal wells or pumping water out of a well has the potential to create small seismic events. During the first year or two, new wells can experience small seismic events of magnitudes around 1.0, typically not felt at the surface. This is a result of the pressurized water flowing in new patterns. The Soda Lake Geothermal Field has been online for 30 years and is well-studied and closely monitored. Safety procedures are in place to minimize the seismic impact of geothermal energy production.
Do geothermal power plants pollute groundwater?
The water used in the closed loop system pumped in and out of geothermal wells is not drinkable. Geothermal power plants are designed to return the water to the ground without the addition of any chemicals or pollutants so as not to introduce contaminants into geothermal aquifers.
Media Contacts
Keith Diaz Moore | interim chief sustainability officer and dean, College of Architecture + Planning
Office: 801-585-1766 diazmoore@utah.edu
Chris Benson | sustainability & energy associate director, Facilities Management
Office: 801-414-1258 chris.benson@utah.edu
Shawn Wood | communications specialist, University of Utah Communications
Office: 801-585-9244 shawn.wood@utah.edu