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TCAAP Energy Integration Resiliency Framework <br />Brief <br /> <br /> <br /> 8 <br />Microgrid – There is an opportunity to implement and demonstrate “next generation” electricity grid <br />technologies that will help achieve the TCAAP energy vision, including development of a microgrid <br />connected to a CHP plant. It will be important for Xcel Energy, the MNARNG, and the JDA to develop a <br />plan to expand the scope of the CHP plant and develop a microgrid for the broader area as TCAAP <br />development proceeds. <br />Low-Temperature District Energy System <br />The residential neighborhoods planned for the TCAAP site present <br />a unique and highly visible opportunity to leverage low-grade <br />energy from the treated groundwater as an energy supply for the <br />neighborhoods, distributed via a low-temperature district energy <br />system. This energy would be sufficient to meet the heating and <br />cooling needs of the Hill and Creek residential neighborhoods of <br />TCAAP, with approximately 3 MMBtu/hour of excess capacity <br />available for additional TCAAP buildings. <br />For the proposed system to be successfully implemented, it would <br />need to be constructed as the first homes are being built, so that service can be provided from the <br />outset of development. To optimize the economic benefits of the system, every home in the selected <br />neighborhoods should be constructed with a heat pump HVAC system and be connected to the <br />proposed system. This would provide the most financeable, cost-effective implementation plan, and <br />also maximize energy efficiency for TCAAP. <br />One important advantage of a low-temperature district energy system is the reduction of greenhouse <br />gas emissions. Comparing emission rates between traditional heating ventilation and air-conditioning <br />(HVAC) systems and the proposed low-temperature district energy system in the Hill and Creek <br />neighborhoods shows carbon dioxide emissions are could be reduced by almost 30% or 310 tons <br />CO2/year. <br />Implementing a low-temperature district energy system in the residential neighborhoods of TCAAP can <br />deliver several benefits to the site and stakeholders, including the following: <br /> An energy system that is more energy efficient than traditional heating and cooling systems. <br /> Reduced fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions. <br /> Competitive, stable costs of energy for homeowners. <br /> Xcel Energy could avoid installing gas pipe in the neighborhoods <br />The available energy <br />from the treated <br />groundwater can serve <br />all of the TCAAP homes <br />with a lower-cost energy <br />source that reduces GHG <br />emissions by ~30%.