Duke Energy, Duke University partner on innovative power project

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) and Duke University today announced a partnership that will lead to cleaner and more efficient power for the university and the surrounding community.

Under a proposed 35-year agreement and subject to approval by the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC), Duke Energy Carolinas proposes to own, build and operate a 21-megawatt (MW) natural gas combined heat and power (CHP) facility on the Duke University campus in Durham.

If approved, the plant would use the waste heat from generating electricity to produce thermal energy and steam needed for the university, making it one of the most efficient generating assets in the Duke Energy generation fleet. The electric power would be put back on the Duke Energy electric grid to serve the university and nearby customers.

"This project will provide a cleaner and more diverse energy mix for the community and provide the value of thermal energy for the university," said David Fountain, Duke Energy North Carolina president. "The innovative approach provides multiple benefits to a large customer like Duke University and is a cost-effective generation asset for Duke Energy and our customers in North Carolina."

In addition to 21 megawatts of power, the facility would be capable of producing roughly 75,000 pounds per hour of steam, which would be sold to Duke University for heating water among other things. The CHP facility would be connected to an existing Duke Energy substation located on the campus, which serves the university and its medical center as well as other customers.

"This partnership will provide value for Duke University and will accelerate our progress towards climate neutrality," said Duke University's executive vice president Tallman Trask III.  "By combining steam and electricity generation systems, we can increase efficiency and reduce our overall consumption by millions of units of energy each year, and have a positive effect on the community at large."

By displacing the current electricity mix and boilers currently serving the university, the project would lower energy-related carbon dioxide emissions at Duke University by about 25 percent. In the future, the project could also be used to isolate the critical loads on the campus, providing a method to increase reliability to hospitals and clinics as additional grid back up.

Duke Energy Carolinas will file with the NCUC for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the project. If approved, the project – around $55 million – is expected to come online in 2018.

Duke Energy and Duke University are separate organizations – both with a connection to noted businessman James B. Duke (1856-1925).

About CHP

Sometimes referred to as cogeneration, CHP systems generate electricity and useful thermal energy in a single system. Heat that is normally wasted in conventional power generation is recovered -- avoiding the losses that would otherwise occur. CHP systems are more efficient than doing the same tasks with separate systems.

"Advancements in the technology make this type of system attractive to other large customers with similar power and related-energy needs," added Fountain. "We are excited to offer this service."

About Duke Energy

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a S&P 100 Stock Index company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. 

The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online destination for stories about remarkable people, innovations, and community and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and insights into the future of energy.

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About Duke University

Duke University consistently ranks among the leading institutions of higher education in the world.  Duke educates 6,500 undergraduate and 8,500 graduate and professional students in ten schools and colleges, and has more than 160,000 alumni. While Duke's campus is situated on nearly 9,000 acres in Durham, the university's reach includes partner institutions in Singapore, China and many other countries.  With more than 36,000 faculty and staff in the university and health system, Duke is the second-largest private employer in North Carolina.

Contact: Randy Wheeless, Duke Energy  Office: 704.382.8379 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 [email protected] Twitter: @DE_RandyW

Contact: Alison Jones, Duke University Office: 919.681.8052 [email protected]

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SOURCE Duke Energy