Energy Renewal Plan projects

The UW has set a goal of funding 100% of the Energy Renewal Plan using external sources. The primary funding source is expected to come from the state legislature, using proceeds from greenhouse gas allowance auctions as outlined in the Climate Commitment Act. As projects are completed, the University will also seek reimbursement through state, federal, and utility incentive programs, forming a potential rolling source of funding.

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Projects | Risks

Decarbonization projects

The following table describes a summary of individual projects included in the Power Plant Decarbonization plan.

Project #	Project Name	Project Description	Funding and Completion	Cost (in millions)
Equipment Renewal	Existing Boiler Replacements		To be funded: 2029, 2031, 2033 Complete: 2030, 2032, 2034
Equipment Renewal	Existing Chiller and Cooling Tower Replacements
P-1	Convert Campus Cooling Water system to year-round operation	The project discontinues the seasonal operation of the Power Plant Campus Cooling Water system (and use of the Campus Cooling Water loop as a source-sink loop in winter). Reprogramming will be required at buildings that currently use Campus Cooling Water as a source or sink in winter. Addition of a wide array of additional metering/monitoring coupled with retro-Cx is recommended to daylight any potential hydraulic issues that may result. Some campus buildings are put into "winter" mode which partially opens the Campus Cooling Water valves to protect the coils from freezing. Another method of protection will be required.	To be funded: 2027 Complete: 2029	$5.3 m
P-2	Power Plant add Chiller-8 and Cooling Tower-14	The project will add Chiller-8 in the planned expansion space adjacent to existing Chiller-7, and add the associated cooling tower cells above, adjacent to Cooling Tower-13 (serving Chiller-7), and Campus Cooling Water pump and condenser water pumps in the mezzanine level between chillers and towers	To be funded: 2031 Complete: 2034	$20.7 m
P-3	West Campus Utility Plant Chiller-5 and Cooling Tower-5	Install owner furnished chiller (W Chiller-5) in the West Campus Utility Plant. Provide associated Cooling Tower and set of two primary pumps.	To be funded: 2025 Complete: 2028	$12.7 m
P-4	West Campus Utility Plant Annex	Construction of a 23,600 square foot extension of the existing West Campus Utility Plant to the south of the existing building. The extension consists of a basement, ground level, and two additional stories above grade.	To be funded: 2025 Complete: 2030	$55.7 m
P-5	Campus Cooling Water system Thermal Energy Storage Tank	Provide new Thermal Energy Storage system and Facilities Services building to the north of the existing Power Plant facility. Provide new diesel engine generators to supply Thermal Energy Storage pumps.	To be funded: 2025 Complete: 2029	$77.8 m
P-6	Primary Heating Water Thermal Energy Storage Tank	Provide new Primary Hot Water Thermal Energy Storage tank on the existing foundation provided during P-5.	To be funded: 2029 Complete: 2032	$17.6 m
P-7	West Campus Utility Plant Heat Recovery Chillers and Cooling Towers	This project includes (3) nominal 1500-ton heat recovery chillers and (2) nominal 1750-ton cooling towers at the West Campus Utility Plant. The heat recovery chillers are located in the new West Campus Utility Plant Annex, and the cooling towers are located on the roof of the existing West Campus Utility Plant. Project also includes associated piping, pumping, controls, and electrical infrastructure.	To be funded: 2029 Complete: 2032	$139.6 m
P-8	Power Plant Heat Recovery Chillers	This project includes (4) nominal 2000-ton heat recovery chillers and (2) nominal 2000-ton cooling towers at the Power Plant. The heat recovery chillers are located in former boiler 3 and 5 areas and the cooling towers are located on the roof above. Project also. includes associated piping, pumping, controls, and electrical infrastructure.	To be funded: 2031 Complete: 2035	$173.2 m
P-9	Campus Cooling Water Header and Secondary Pumping System	This project reconfigures the Campus Cooling Water header to segregate loads from generation equipment, relocates all loads to the distribution side of new secondary pumps.	To be funded: 2025 Complete: 2029	$13.0 m
P-10	Power Plant Primary Heating Water System	The project adds steam-to-hot water converters to the Power Plant to provide hot water to the new distribution network as the first stage of hot water system conversion. The project includes the secondary hot water distribution piping and pumps.	To be funded: 2027 Complete: 2031	$12.7 m
P-11	Power Plant Electric Boilers and Emergency Generator Heat Recovery	Project includes the installation of (3) 6-MW electrode boilers and associated equipment; including electrical feeders and panels, feedwater skids and steam-to-water heat exchangers; and plate and frame heat exchangers at each of (5) diesel gensets.	To be funded: 2033 Complete: 2037	$73.2 m
P-12	West Campus Utility Plant Electric Boilers	Project includes the installation of (3) 6-MW electrode boilers and associated equipment; including electrical feeders and panels, feedwater skids, and steam-to-water heat exchangers.	To be funded: 2033 Complete: 2036	$22.1 m
P-13	West Campus Utility Plant Generators	Install two 2 MW diesel engine generator with weather protective enclosure and sub-base UL2085 fuel tank located on the existing West Campus Utility Plant roof.	To be funded: 2031 Complete: 2034	$8.1 m
P-14	Power Plant Controls Upgrades	The project will upgrade the PLC-based control system serving the Power Plant to provide full automation of existing equipment and to fully automate future equipment anticipated.	To be funded: 2025 Complete: 2028	$4.6 m
E-1	UW Substation	The project consists of constructing a new electrical substation that would serve as the main source of electric utility power from Seattle City Light (SCL) for distribution to the campus. The new substation is focused on reliability and will be used to feed new loads associated with the Energy Renewal Project, existing electrical infrastructure, and future campus expansion.	To be funded: 2025 Complete: 2030	$34.4 m
E-2	Power Plant Ring Bus and Express Feeders	This project installs a new set of express feeders from the West Receiving Station to the power plant to expand electrical capacity and increase redundancy. The project decommissions the Seattle City Light transformer at the East Receiving Station. The project installs new medium voltage switchgear for new mechanical loads at the power plant, thermal energy storage system, and lake-interface pump house.	To be funded: 2025 Complete: 2029	$14.1 m
B-1	Chiller Replacements - South of Pacific	Remove building chillers and cooling towers (where applicable) and provide Campus Cooling Water service to provide cooling from the Campus Utility Plants.	To be funded: 2035 Complete: 2039	$7.6 m
B-1	Chiller Replacements – Central	Remove building chillers and cooling towers (where applicable) and provide Campus Cooling Water service to provide cooling from the Campus Utility Plants.	To be funded: 2035 Complete: 2039	$12.7 m
B-1	Chiller Replacements – North	Remove building chillers and cooling towers (where applicable) and provide Campus Cooling Water service to provide cooling from the Campus Utility Plants.	To be funded: 2035 Complete: 2039	$7.4 m
B-8,9,10	Building Primary Heating Water Conversions - Central Campus West Tunnel	Scope of work will include extension of piping from connection of utility tunnel to building or direct-bury. Low difficulty buildings have existing hot water distribution systems with no steam distributed through the building. Work will be limited to the mechanical room space and extension of new hot water from tunnel/site. Scope of work will include extension of piping from connection of utility tunnel to building or direct-bury. Moderate difficulty buildings have existing hot water distribution systems to room/zone-level terminal units and steam distribution to air handling unit coils or steam process loads. Work will extend beyond the mechanical room to each air handling unit steam coil being replaced. Scope of work will include extension of piping from connection of utility tunnel to building or direct-bury. High difficulty buildings have existing steam distribution systems to room/zone-level terminal units and steam distribution to air handling unit coils. Additionally, steam process loads may exist and require replacement. New heating water systems where none previously existed will be installed. Expansion of existing mechanical room space or new mechanical rooms converted from storage or other unused space will be required. Work will extend beyond the mechanical room to each air handling unit steam coil being replaced and to every room level steam device.	To be funded: 2033 Complete: 2036	$71.6 m
B-8,9,10	Building Primary Heating Water Conversions - Central/Lower Campus	Same as above	To be funded: 2037 Complete: 2040	$85.9 m
B-8,9,10	Building Primary Heating Water Conversions - East Campus	Same as above	To be funded: 2031 Complete: 2034	$10.3 m
B-8,9,10	Building Primary Heating Water Conversions - North Campus	Same as above	To be funded: 2029 Complete: 2033	$49.7 m
B-8,9,10	Building Primary Heating Water Conversions - South from Power Plant	Same as above	To be funded: 2027 Complete: 2030	$99.3 m
B-8,9,10	Building Primary Heating Water Conversions - South from West Campus Utility Plant	Same as above	To be funded: 2035 Complete: 2039	$42.7 m
B-8,9,10	Building Primary Heating Water Conversions - West Campus	Same as above	To be funded: 2027 Complete: 2030	$2.9 m
B-6	Energy Metering	Scope of work involves the installation of new electric, chilled water, and steam flow meters and integrating them with the PI System for enhanced data collection, monitoring, and analysis.	To be funded: 2027 Complete: 2029	$10.1 m
B-11	Satellite Steam Plants	This project includes scope descriptions for construction of new satellite 185psi steam plants and distribution piping to connect to steam process loads. These new steam plants will serve existing process (non-heating) loads that need to remain on steam after the campus steam service is decommissioned. These are three separate, individual projects that should be priced separately.	To be funded: 2027 Complete: 2031	$71.2 m
S-1	Lake Water Interface	Scope of work includes construction of the pump/heat exchanger facility, on-shore and offshore piping, and CHW piping to/from the Power Plant.	To be funded: N/A Complete: 2033	$169.4 m
S-2	Sewer Heat Recovery	Construct a new Sewer Water Heat Recovery Equipment Building sewer water wet well, sewer main piping intercept, and all interconnecting piping.	To be funded: N/A Complete: 2032	$67.1 m
D-C-1	Central Campus Piping	Reuse existing tunnels and create new direct bury routing to install piping for new Primary Heating Water and Campus Cooling Water systems, serving the central portion of campus north and east of Drumheller Fountain, as well as south to Pacific Street.	To be funded: 2033 Complete: 2037	$109.6 m
D-C-2	Central Campus Piping West Tunnel	Reuse existing tunnels and create new direct bury routing to install piping for new Primary Heating Water and Campus Cooling Water systems in the Central Campus West Tunnel between the Power Plant and the West Campus Utility Plant.	To be funded: 2037 Complete: 2040	$92.7 m
D-N-1	North Campus Piping	Replace High/Low Pressure steam and pumped return systems with Primary Heating Water system, serving north campus.	To be funded: 2029 Complete: 2033	$105.4 m
D-S-1	West Campus Utility Plant to South Campus Piping	Reuse existing tunnels and create new direct bury routing to install piping for new Primary Heating Water and Campus Cooling Water systems, serving the area of campus below Pacific St. and served by the West Campus Utility Plant.	To be funded: 2027 Complete: 2031	$55.6 m
D-S-2	Power Plant to South Campus Piping	Reuse existing tunnels and create new direct bury routing to install piping for new Primary Heating Water and Campus Cooling Water systems, serving the area of campus below Pacific St. and served by the Power Plant.	To be funded: 2035 Complete: 2039	$79.8 m
D-W-1	West Campus Piping	Reuse existing tunnels and construct two new tunnel sections to install piping for new Primary Heating Water and Campus Cooling Water systems, serving west campus from the West Campus Utility Plant.	To be funded: 2025 Complete: 2030	$93.6 m
D-W-2	Sewer Heat Recovery Piping	Create new direct buried routing from CP-8 to new sewer water heat recovery facility.	To be funded: 2025 Complete: 2029	$10.5 m
D-E-1	Piping from Power Plant to East and SE Campus	Reuse existing tunnels and create new direct bury routing to install piping for new Primary Heating Water and Campus Cooling Water systems, serving the southeast area of campus near the UW Medical Center.	To be funded: 2031 Complete: 2036	$78.4 m
S-3	Air Source Heat Pumps	Construct a new Air-Source Heat Pump Equipment Building and yard, and interconnecting piping to/from the Air-Source Heat Pump system to the Power Plant. This scope of work is an alternate in lieu of the Lake Water Interface Project (S-1).		$92.1 m (2024 dollars)
S-4	Geothermal System	Construct a new Geothermal Equipment Building, closed-loop geothermal field, and interconnecting piping to/from the geothermal system to the Power Plant. This scope of work is an alternate in lieu of the Lake Water Interface Project (S-1).		174.9 m (2024 dollars)

Risks

The following matrix identifies some of the risks and challenges to implement the power plant decarbonization plan.

Risk/Challenge	Risk Type	Description
Lake Water Permitting	Regulatory	The Lake Water Interface will involve several different stakeholders and permits. Opposition from even a single stakeholder has the potential to derail the project. Initial estimates suggest a nearly 15-year timeline for permitting alone.
CCA Repeal	Financial	The Climate Commitment Act faced a repeal attempt via a ballot initiative in the 2024 election. While the initiative was unsuccessful, the threat of a future repeal attempt remains.
Direct Buried Pipe Routing	Financial	Underground obstacles can add unforeseen costs during the distribution phase.
Building Conversion Work	Logistic/Financial	The cost of building conversion is typically challenging to estimate and may deviate from initial projections.
Escalation	Financial	Escalation costs are difficult to estimate due to the lengthy project duration (>10 years).
Cost Estimate Accuracy	Financial	Cost estimates are based on pre-concept design information. More detailed design development may result in higher costs.
IRA Funding	Financial	The IRS has yet to interpret many of the provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, which may result in deviations from initial cost estimates.
Federal Funding	Financial	There is uncertainty around future federal funding that may be available for this project.
In-Lake Construction	Community	Construction projects will have temporary impacts on surrounding communities, which may draw opposition.
Public Response	Community	The total cost of the Power Plant Renewal Project is significantly higher than past projects.
Sewer Water Building Locations	Planning/Financial	Locations for the buildings and systems of the Sewer Water Heat Recovery project are not finalized. All potential locations come with unique challenges.
WCUP Expansion	Planning	Expansion of the West Campus Utility Plant is not yet approved. The necessary installation of heat recovery chillers and other equipment are dependent on this expansion.
UW Substation	Planning	The Northlake Building site has the lowest Lost Development Opportunity of any locations considered for the construction of a new substation. The University and Seattle City Light have not yet approved the Northlake Building site for the substation.
Direct Buried Pipe Installation	Campus Operations	Direct-buried pipe installation will impact the flow of students and staff during construction activities. Temporary road closures are also anticipated.
Piping in Tunnels	Campus Operations	Reuse of utility tunnels is a complex undertaking that may result in temporary utility outages in certain buildings.