Tallgrass partners with University of Dayton and AES Ohio to launch groundbreaking waste heat-to-power facility
From left to right: Janice Tran, CEO, Kanin Energy; Justin Campbell, VP Power and Transmission, Tallgrass; Andy Horner, EVP Business and Administrative Services, University of Dayton; Tom Raga, President, AES Ohio (Photo: Business Wire)
In a move to support sustainable energy goals, Tallgrass, in partnership with the University of Dayton and AES Ohio, has announced a long-term agreement to develop a new waste heat-to-power facility.
Once operational, this facility will capture heat from existing processes to generate decarbonised power, which AES Ohio will purchase to meet the energy needs of the University of Dayton.
The facility represents the first large-scale waste heat application in the U.S. in nearly a decade to produce energy that nearly matches usage on an hourly basis. It is projected to meet 100% of the University of Dayton’s power needs and reduce its carbon emissions by 71%.
Justin Campbell, Vice President of Power and Transmission for Tallgrass, discussed the potential community impact of the project:
“This is a real opportunity to deliver immediate results that positively affect the community. We are evaluating similar projects across our other assets and potentially third-party sites, where energy that would otherwise be wasted can be used to produce decarbonised power for local communities. This can play an integral role in the energy transition.”
The collaboration between Tallgrass and Kanin Energy, which has spanned over three years, has been instrumental in developing this project. It not only aims to fully offset the university's electricity consumption but also significantly cut its carbon emissions.
Rick Krysiak, Vice President for Facilities Management and Planning at the University of Dayton, commented on the project's alignment with the university’s sustainability goals:
“In our Marianist tradition of being good stewards of our resources, we identified and pursued this sustainability solution that reduces environmental impacts while supporting an equitable and prosperous University of Dayton, now and into the future. We believe this solution will help us achieve our energy goals.”
Alongside the environmental factors, the initiative is also set to provide valuable educational and research opportunities for students, preparing them for future careers in the clean energy sector.
The facility is planned for Fayette County, Ohio, with construction expected to start later this year and completion targeted for the fourth quarter of 2025. Tallgrass will manage the construction, ownership, and operation of the waste heat to power facility, connecting it to an existing compressor station on the Rockies Express Pipeline.
Janice Tran, CEO of Kanin Energy, emphasised the economic and environmental benefits of the technology:
"This project is an example of how heavy industry can economically decarbonise," says Janice Tran, CEO, Kanin Energy. "We view waste heat to power as a key tool for industry to achieve near term emissions reductions using proven technology."
Tom Raga, President of AES Ohio, spoke about the significance of the collaboration in meeting sustainability goals:
“This agreement takes us one step closer to bringing innovative energy solutions that will fundamentally change our energy future. It enables us to collaborate on clean energy projects to help customers reach their sustainability goals.
“AES Ohio understands the challenges our customers face and designs solutions that create a stronger, more resilient energy system. Today’s partnership is one step in bringing clean energy solutions that will support our community’s energy future and help our customers reach their sustainability goals.”
