A Tool Kit for the Climate Neutral Research Campus Energy Savings Performance Contracts, Energy Efficiency, and Combined Heat and Power Solutions
Robert Welch, Ameresco, Inc.
During this presentation, the speaker will explore how energy efficiency and on-site generation can provide huge impacts toward the climate neutrality goals for your campus. The program will include:
- Specific improvements for research facilities to reduce energy consumption
- Alternatives for onsite generation including:
- Wind, Solar, and Biofuels
- Combined Heat and Power
- Fuel Cells
- Various tools available for financing energy efficiency improvements, and on-site renewables including:
- Energy Savings Performance Contracts
- Utility Energy Services Contracts
- Enhanced Use Lease
- Power Purchase Agreements
- Renewable Energy Credits
- Guaranteed energy savings
- Lower operating costs
- Cutting carbon footprint up to 100 percent
- Increase energy security and system availability for critical applications
The unique operational requirements across a research campus have led to the implementation of system designs that maximize functionality, as well as health and safety parameters. However, these performance criteria have often given minimal consideration to energy or carbon factors. The speaker will discuss proven retrofit techniques to minimize energy utilization and carbon footprint while insuring health and safety requirements are fully supported.
The speaker will review numerous locations where on-site power generation has proven to be cost effective and ultra reliable for facilities across the United States. Additionally, the speaker will explore how waste heat from generation can be utilized to reliably cool your research campus.
Finally, the speaker will showcase technologies that can provide net zero energy options for data and communication centers today.
Biography:
Robert Welch has a track record of successful energy efficiency and renewable energy projects over the last 25 years. Mr. Welch brings the experience of how to lay out the best strategic plan, select the most appropriate technologies, and bring successful projects online. Mr. Welch's career efforts include over 1,000 solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, biomass combined heat and power, and nuclear installations. Mr. Welch's direct project experience includes work with the Tennessee Valley Authority, Duke Energy, Siemens, and KEMA.
Mr. Welch also offers 10 years of data center expertise and development of enterprise software applications. Mr. Welch's recent speaking engagements have included Sandia National Laboratories, Electric Power Research Institute, Montreux Energy Summit, and the Utility Wind Integration Group. Mr. Welch's educational credentials include Bachelor of Science degrees in physics and psychology from Vanderbilt University. Mr. Welch's Masters of Business Administration Studies was obtained from the University of Tennessee. Mr. Welch serves as a board member for the Association of Energy Engineers.