Renewable Energy at The University of Iowa

The UI's Environmental Portfolio

Combined Heat and Power System - The University of Iowa’s main campus and the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics complex are served by a large district energy system. District energy involves production of steam, electric power, and chilled water at central utility plants for distribution to buildings through a network of underground pipes and electric cables. The University of Iowa Power Plant, located at the corner of the Iowa River and Burlington St., is a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility. Fuels burned at the Power Plant include coal, natural gas, and oat hulls. The plant co-generates about 30-percent of the total electric power needs and produces all the steam energy used throughout the campus and hospital facilities.

CHP, also known as co-generation, is an efficient, clean, and reliable approach to generating power and thermal energy from a single fuel source. CHP is not a specific technology but an application of technologies to meet an energy user's needs. CHP systems achieve typical effective electric efficiencies of 50% to 70% — a dramatic improvement over the average efficiency of separate heat and power. Since CHP is highly efficient, it reduces traditional air pollutants and carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas associated with climate change, as well.

The University of Iowa is a member of the CHP.

Biomass Fuels - The UI Power Plant has pioneered a unique and innovative source of biomass fuel. A partnership with Quaker Oats Cedar Rapids Plant provides an economical, environmentally friendly source of fuel, oat hulls. The hulls are a by-product of the cereal making process at Quaker. They are trucked to the Power Plant and co-fired with coal in the circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler.

The energy produced from oat hull combustion replaces energy that would have been generated by burning coal. The oat hulls are biomass, and burning biomass does not result in new CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. When the oat plant grew, it absorbed CO2 from the atmosphere and released oxygen (photosynthesis). When the plant matter is burned, atmospheric oxygen is used in combustion and CO2 is released back into the atmosphere. However, when fossil fuels (such as coal and oil) are burned the CO2 they release adds to the global inventory of CO2, because the carbon in the fuel came from underground, versus the atmosphere.

What is the total tonnage of biomass burned per year? In CY2005, 37,000 tons of oat hulls were burned and in CY2006 this increased to 40,855 tons.

What is the % of biomass burned in Boiler 11? In CY2005, oat hulls accounted for 37% of the fuel heat input into Boiler #11 and 49% in CY2006

What is the total University output in biomass? 40,855 tons of oat hulls consumed were in CY2006 and accounted for 13.8% of the University's total purchased energy (fuel and electric). The oat hull energy only consumed 3% of the University's purchased energy expense in CY2006.

How much of Quaker Oats oat hull production does the UI consume? The UI currently consumes 40% of Quaker Oats total oat hull production.

How does the cost compare to coal? The UI pays for the oat hulls delivered to the main plant at a cost of about 1/2 that of an equivalent amount of coal.

How does the energy output of oat hulls compare to coal? Oat hulls have an energy content of 7,000 Btu/lb. Coal used in Boiler 11 has an energy content of 10,900 Btu/lb.

See how the University of Iowa has reduced its green house gas emissions with the oat hull (biomass) project. UI CO2 Footprint


Carbon Exchange - In August 2004, The University of Iowa was the first Iowa-based commercial entity to join the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX).  The University of Iowa is one of only five public Universities that belong to CCX.

CCX is North America's only, and the world's first, greenhouse gas emission registry, reduction, and trading system for all six greenhouse gases (GHG). CCX is a self-regulatory, rules-based exchange designed and governed by CCX members. Members make a voluntary but legally binding commitment to reduce GHG emissions. By the end of Phase I in December 2006, the University was required to reduce direct GHG emissions 4 percent below its baseline (average of 1998-2001 emissions).  The University has now entered CCX Phase II, which extends the reduction program through 2010; and will require all members to reduce GHG emissions another 2 percent, for a total of 6 percent below baseline by the end of 2010.

In order to meet our emissions reduction target for 2003, the first year of Phase I, The University of Iowa purchased 2,000 tons of carbon credits from Iowa farmers through the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) program.  Since the first year, the University has exceeded its GHG reduction target.  This is possible because of the oat hull biofuel program.  Oat hulls are burned as fuel and displace coal.  The oat hull fuel is GHG neutral, and reduces the University’s overall GHG emissions.  The University now has an excess of carbon credits in its CCX account. 

As a result of the UI's oat hull project, during CCX Phase I, the University displaced 82,400 tons of coal with 131,000 tons of oat hulls.  This resulted in a GHG reduction of 203,000 tons of carbon dioxide.  


Exploring New Energy Sources - The University of Iowa is continually looking for ways to conserve energy and utilize renewable energy sources.

Current projects in the investigative or planning stages:


Wind Energy: The University of Iowa is exploring the possibilities of developing wind energy at or near the UI campus.  This includes collecting wind velocity data at multiple sites and partnering with our utility providers, the College of Engineering and others to define what a project might look like. More details...

Hydroelectric capabilities: The Power Plant was built in the 1920s and enclosed an existing hydroelectric facility. The hydroelectric facility continued to generate power until the 1960s, when the unit was shut down and the equipment removed. However, the structural portion of this facility is still inside the Power Plant and would support installation of hydroelectric generation equipment. An initial study has confirmed that it would be possible to restore hydroelectric generation to the Power Plant. We would expect about 500-KW of renewable energy would be generated from a restored hydroelectric generator.

Biomass alternatives: A number of biomass fuels are being studied. The success of the oat hull burning project has resulted in much favorable publicity regarding the University’s biomass fuel program. We are continuing to evaluate additional sources and types of biomass for use in the Power Plant.

Expand steam capabilities: The steam production capacity of the Power Plant needs to be increased in the near future. We are evaluating the possibility of installing a solid fuel furnace to produce steam using biomass fuels. This would substantially increase the percent of renewable energy in the University’s purchased energy portfolio.

Want to find out more about renewable energy at the UI or support renewable energy technologies, contact us. For a list of Sustainable Practices at the UI, click here.