This project will investigate thermal energy storage as a means to improve the efficiency of a typical CHP system. When complete, it will consist of a thermal storage unit paired with a typical CHP system. The innovative system will supply electricity and heating to the physical education building. Preliminary estimates indicate that the CHP and thermal storage system will provide an annual energy savings of 10,000 MMBtu (million British thermal units) and an annual greenhouse gas reduction of 550 MTCO2e (metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions).
The project is supported by a $1 million award from the Israel - U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation Energy Program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Israel’s Ministry of Energy, and the Israel Innovation Authority. The BIRD Foundation matches U.S. and Israeli companies and researchers in technology related work and offers funding for promising projects that have commercialization potential, ability to lead to energy savings, and a significant impact on the environment.
The installation will serve as a demonstration project for innovative thermal energy storage technology in New York. The collaboration is one of many projects deployed as part of New York State's Energy Storage Roadmap that includes energy storage targets of 1,500 MW by 2025-the equivalent electricity demand of one-fifth of all New York homes.
"Our microturbine will directly pipe low emission exhaust gas into a Brenmiller bGen zero carbon thermal storage unit so that it can extract and store the heat until it is needed. The system represents an alternative to battery storage with potentially greater discharge durations," said Darren Jamison, Capstone Turbine president and chief executive officer. "This new groundbreaking thermal energy storage unit is designed to shift large amounts of energy over long periods of time, thereby providing an effective solution over other technologies when grid-scale energy storage of long duration is required.”
RSP Systems, Capstone's exclusive distributor in New York and Connecticut , secured the order for the C200R microturbine that will be utilized in a CHP application. The innovative cogeneration system will be installed to support the college's physical education building, displacing the aging district heating loop in the central heating plant and providing baseload electricity, which is projected to save the State University of New York about $100,000 per year while reducing the facility's carbon footprint.
“RSP Systems is proud to have been selected as the prime mover for the cogeneration and thermal storage project at SUNY Purchase. Thermal storage improves a CHP system's efficiency and effectiveness while enhancing its sustainable performance and hardens a facility," said Cory Glick, president of RSP Systems. "In addition, this project is an example of our shift to provide CHP-based hybrid solutions for our clients that can also benefit from adding battery storage, solar energy, and new technologies into their green energy and back-up power solution toolbox."
