Co-Generation-Natural Gas, Heat and Electricity – The concept behind co-generation is to use natural gas as a fuel source, and convert it to electricity and useful heat. Both heat and electricity must be captured and used efficiently to make the system economically viable.

Brock’s 6.4 MW natural gas-fired generating plant produces power for a large percentage of the university’s needs. Each of these eight 1150 HP internal combustion engines produces 820 Kilowatts of electricity at 4160 volts turning a generator that produces electricity that is for campus power for lighting and equipment operation, building ventilation systems, operation of cafeterias, etc. As the generators produce power, for every 1 Kilowatt of electricity produced approximately 1.3 Kilowatts of heat is also generated for a total of up to 8.3 MW of heat. The recovered heat from the cogeneration engines is used to heat many campus buildings during winter, produce domestic hot water for most of the campus buildings. In the summer time, the recovered heat is converted by a Lithium Bromide Absorption Chiller to produce chilled water which is used for campus air conditioning systems.

Power, heat and cooling from the cogeneration plant is fed to a majority of the Main Campus buildings. The Cairns Family Health Bioscience Complex is provided with its own power, heating and cooling systems. Stand-alone heating and cooling systems are also provided for Plaza Building, Kenmore Center, Lowenberger and Earp Residences. On the satellite campuses, the buildings are provided with separate power feed, and each building has their own heating and cooling systems.