District Energy St Paul Inc

Programs: District energy services:district energy st. Paul is a non-profit utility providing energy services to downtown saint paul, mn. The core heating network serves nearly 200 buildings in the central business district and across the river to a secondary area of commercial, light industrial, and residential development. The cooling network serves over 100 buildings in the central business district. The customer base includes higher education, hospitals, fortune 500 companies, residential apartments, condos, and townhomes, as well as hotels, entertainment, and sports venues. District energy st. Paul is the largest hot-water district energy system in north america and is recognized globally as a leader in integrated and dynamic energy services. Since the installation of the hot water system in 1983, this system has incorporated district cooling, thermal storage, solar thermal, and biomass-fired combined heat and power. During 2017 the district energy team continued their work to improve the efficiency of the system while maintaining the highest standards of reliability. One example of this was in cooling services. With additional system controls and a revised operational strategy, the team operated the two thermal storage tanks on the system simultaneously for the first time. This approach shifted more electricity costs to off-peak rates, saving money for our customers. The team also completed a three-year metering upgrade project. The investment in new metering technology enables district energy to better manage efficiency of the overall all system and to supply one-minute data directly to our customer's building automation systems. The organization continues to work hard to increase cyber security for our information systems, thereby protecting overall system reliability. The system grew this year by bringing five (5) new customers online, adding seven (7) new customer contracts, and extending contracts to thirteen (13) buildings. The fiscal strength of our business was validated this year when standard & poor's affirmed the a-/stable rating district energy originally received in 2013. District energy continues its long tradition of customer support and education through working directly with customers as well as hosting events focused on technical solutions. Our team is continuing to plan for the system's transition off coal, and at the end of 2017 began working on a system master plan to evaluate growth opportunities as well as new technology integration.

operations & management services:ever-green energy st. Paul is responsible for the operations and management of multiple energy systems and operations in saint paul, mn, including district energy st. Paul (desp), st. Paul cogeneration (spc), and environmental wood supply (ews). These three entities work together to help use local tree waste (biomass) to generate heat and electricity for a low-carbon energy solution for local customers. This use of tree waste for fuel has become even more critical in 2017 as the spread of emerald ash borer and gypsy moth have increased in the region and our processing and combustion process lessens the burden on local communities to dispose of affected trees and brush, while also utilizing it for a high-efficiency energy source. From processing at ews, to production at spc, to distribution of renewable energy to saint paul through desp, ege st. Paul is helping to promote and deliver locally-derived energy solutions. As the city of saint paul continues to promote greenhouse gas reductions, climate change resilience, and energy efficiency, our organizations are working through these public-private partnerships to move our systems forward.