The University of Alabama currently operates two interconnected central thermal energy plants which generate hot water for campus heating and chilled water for cooling for parts of campus. Over the years, the capacity of the two central thermal energy plants has been expanded, along with the service area, to provide efficient and reliable heating and cooling to many buildings on the campus. The proposed Campus Energy Delivery Optimization and Efficiency Project is an initiative to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the system and to continue the service area expansion based on the University’s Energy Master Plan. Focus on financial benefit and return of the work, both operating and capital expenses; performance of the system throughout the life cycle; consideration of total life cycle cost; and system resiliency and consistency of operation, while ensuring exceptional service to campus, were all key considerations of evaluating the initiatives and the plan.

The Tutwiler Energy Plant is connected to the East Quad and Shelby Energy Plants. These 3 energy plants operate as one large central energy plant. The 3-plant system has a total of 16 chillers with a capacity of 17,600 tons of chiller capacity. The system provides chilled water to 49 buildings, with an addition 12 buildings to be added in near future. Without these 3 central energy plants UA would have approximately 110 individual chillers spread out around campus – creating noise issues and distracting from the aesthetics of our beautiful campus. Tutwiler Energy Plant has ultra efficient magnetic bearing chillers which will provide significant energy savings to UA. The 3-plant central energy system generates an energy savings of more than $900,000 / year as compared to the energy cost of operating individual chillers at each building. The central energy plant system provides an annual maintenance cost avoidance of approximately $1,250,000 as compared to the cost of operating individual chillers. The central energy plant system provides a capital cost avoidance of more than $27 Million.