District Energy - 2005 First Quarter

plant was matched; and

( 3) a biomass boiler at this small Mid western campus would see a more consistent load, resulting in larger savings, if steam was used to generate chilled water in the summer instead of electricity.

Key to the analysis was recognizing the end use of electricity and comparing options to achieve that end, rather than restricting the focus to electric power generation. At Morris, steam produced with biomass provided operating cost advantages for both heating and cooling of the campus. To improve biomass boiler operating stability by leveling the production rate of thermal energy, the University is considering thermal storage; to mitigate emissions issues, it is also looking at biomass gasification in lieu of combustion for this project.

Minnesota expects biomass to be part of its energy portfolio, and the University of Minnesota is contributing to that effort by providing leadership through research and application of energy technology that are most likely to prove useful to its rural communities. The University is currently

evaluating vendor proposals for supplying equipment for the project with the assistance of HGA and Barr Engineering. The project is targeted for completion in FY 2006.

Leigh Harrison, P.E., principal engineer at HGA, serves as the company’s director of engineering, bringing a diverse array of engineering skills to client projects. He has gained extensive experience in engineering project management for large-scale advanced technology facilities. Harrison can be contacted at lharrison@hga.com.

Doug Maust, P.E., principal, HGA Architecture Engineering Planning, has 25 years’ experience in the industry and has been responsible for the design of large and small engineering systems projects around the world. Maust spent five years as vice president, development, for a district energy company and has been an active member of IDEA for many years. He recently completed a term on its board. He is responsible for delivering HGA’s analysis and design services to institutional and corporate clients. He may be reached at dmaust@hga.com.

Eric Stadsvold, P.E., industrial engineering at HGA, has 15 years’ experience in industrial and mechanical engineering. His responsibilities include analysis and design of material-handling systems, material and information flow and process optimization for a number of Fortune 500 companies. Stadsvold holds a bachelor of science in industrial engineering and management from North Dakota State University. His email address is estadsvold@hga.com.

Joe Witchger, P.E., serves as senior mechanical engineer at HGA. During his 23-year engineering career, Witchger has been responsible for the design and troubleshooting of HVAC systems, steam, hot water and chilled-water plants. A member of ASHRAE, his education includes a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame, various grad-uate-level courses and four years in the Navy Nuclear Power Program, where he supervised the operation and maintenance of a shipboard nuclear-powered steam plant. He can be contacted at jwitchger@hga.com.