Energy Off-the-Grid in Austin; New Plant Powers Hospital and Majority of Phase I Development
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October 2007
Mueller, a Catellus development in Austin, Texas, is home to the newest technology available in efficient and environmentally friendly power generation. The hospital system and Austin Energy collaborated on a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility, which is providing power for the Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas and many Phase I facilities at Mueller.
 | | Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas will be powered by a Combined Heat and Power facility that will provide additional power to the Mueller development. |
CHP technology creates electricity, but unlike other generators, it retains one element discarded by other generators: heat. In standard power plants, heat produced during the generation of electricity is lost to the environment, making most power plants only 33% efficient. A CHP system reprocesses the heat, which is used to produce steam, hot water, heating, dehumidification or cooling. Because it captures heat, a CHP system operates with 60 – 80% efficiency. CHP systems also produce fewer toxic emissions, making them a much cleaner source of power than standard power-grid generators.
The 4.3 MW CHP at Dell has been operating since 2006 and supplies steam, chilled water and electricity to the hospital. Dell's CHP will work in parallel to Austin's power grid. Sophisticated sensors will detect any problems with the Austin power supply and seamlessly disconnect from it, relying solely on the CHP.
Dell's CHP system has recently received two accolades. Combine Cycle Journal honored the CHP with its 2007 Pacesetter Plant Award. Keep Austin Beautiful, a local affiliate of the Keep America Beautiful program, singled out the CHP with its 2007 "Industrial Leadership" award for the facility's positive impact on the community.
Innovation and green development are ingrained in the Mueller airport redevelopment project in Austin, Texas. Catellus is master developer for the 700-plus acre development, which includes such pioneering facilities as Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas and more green retail development than in any other project in the country.
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