Briefing: UMass Medical Power Boost

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The University of Massachusetts Medical School is preparing to open a state-of-the-art research building later this year, which will require plenty of energy to operate. Last week, the school accepted a $5.6-million energy efficiency rebate from National Grid that will help pay for energy capacity upgrades at the cogeneration plant that provides power to the campus.

It was the largest grant ever given by National Grid under the state's 2008 Green Communities Act, which, among other things, authorizes ratepayer charges to fund energy efficiency projects.

Why is National Grid giving the school money?

The utility's president, Marcy Reed, said UMass's long history of energy-efficiency efforts makes it a deserving recipient of the funds, which will cover 12 percent of the $47-million upgrade. The overall price tag is part of the $400 million in funding for construction of the Sherman Center.

National Grid said its customers saved 363 million kilowatt-hours of energy in 2011, enough to power approximately 30,000 average homes for a year.

What does the expansion entail?

A 14,000-square-foot expansion at the cogeneration plant will house a gas-fired, 7,800-kilowatt jet turbine, which will spin a shaft attached to a generator to produce electricity. The turbine will produce "enough energy to provide for a small town," said John Baker, associate vice chancellor of facilities management at the medical school.

A heat recovery steam generator attached to the turbine will drive existing generators and compressors that make chilled water for building cooling systems. UMass said the efficiency gained through using the gas turbine in the place of oil-fired boilers will actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions, despite the 7.5-megawatt increase in maximum electric output.

Will it meet all of the campus's power needs?

Almost. The increased capacity will help generate nearly all of the steam and chilled water needed in the approximately 3 million square feet of buildings on campus. And it will meet most of the electrical demand, the school said. The school will get the rest of its power from the grid.