Cogeneration facility complete at Soutbridge Innovation Center

Courtesy/Franklin Realty Advisors The Southbridge Innovation Center

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A cogeneration facility at the 150-acre Southbridge Innovation Center expected to provide over 70 percent of the project’s energy needs has been completed.

The facility was built by Trane Commercial Systems, a division of Ingersoll Rand, based in Ireland.

The former off-line electric power plant was transformed into a cogeneration facility to provide power to the 1.2 million-square-foot property consisting of 14 buildings and the Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center.

Other building uses include offices, manufacturing, distribution, education and data storage. Remaining vacant buildings are slated for laboratories and residential uses.

The 1.1-megawatt combined heat and power system will utilize cogeneration equipment form GE Jenbacher and the latest in high-efficiency chilled water systems made by Trane.

The Innovation Center has been updated with the latest in building automation systems, manufactured by Trane.

According to Chip Norton, president and founder of property owners Franklin Realty Advisors, said the completion of the facility marks the next phase in bringing the former manufacturing facility back to life.

The project represents a $5.6-million investment with financing from Middlesex Savings Bank and MassDevelopment.

“This project demonstrated a huge vote of confidence in our future, and the viability of industry growth in Central Massachusetts’ commercial and industrial businesses,” Norton said in a statement.

Manufacturer Metalogic Industries is the newest tenant of the center to make use of the new updates.

“Metalogic Industries is excited to be moving to Southbridge and growing with the community,” owners Tom Kokosinski and Michael Salame said in a statement. “We look forward to building relationships within the town and revive the manufacturing prowess that the area is known for.”