This presentation by Shane Stennes, Director of Sustainability at the University of Minnesota, was given at the MnSEIA Midwest Gateway to Solar Conference on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 and details solar installation and procurement across the organization.

1. Solar Advancement for Schools and Institutions
Shane Stennes, Director of Sustainability, University of Minnesota
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
MnSEIA – Midwest Gateway to Solar Conference

2. About the University of Minnesota
• Minnesota’s Land-Grant
University
• 67,000 Students
• 26,000 Employees
• $3.8B Budget
2

3. Sustainability is Across the Mission
3

4. Operations Sustainability Priorities
Clean Energy
Water
Stewardship
Food
Systems
Materials
Management

5. •24 Million GSF
•80,000 people/day
•It’s cold and hot
•Lots of labs and a
hospital too
640,000 MT CO2 in 2008
~350M kWh/annually

6. 2011 Climate Action Plan
Emissions
Reduction Goal
50% by end of 2020
More info at:
z.umn.edu/CAP
17%
18%
36%
7%
21%
1%
Identified CO2 Reductions
Recommissioning
SB2030
Smart Labs
Space Optimization
Combined Heat and
Power
Windows
Zilch, None, Nada - from Renewables (in 2011)

7. SE Steam Plant
7%
Xcel
93%
2013
Twin Cities Electric Portfolio
7

8. Renewable Energy Opportunities
• Community Solar
• On-Site Solar
• Renewable*Connect
8

9. Renewable Opportunities Assessment
• Stakeholders
– Energy Management
– Finance and Accounting
– Controller
– Debt Management
– Legal Counsel
– Facilities Management
– Tax Office
– Real Estate
– Parking
– Exec Leadership/Governance
• Approach:
– Stakeholder responsive
assessment
– Consultant supported
– Internal champion
• Purpose:
– Financial Feasibility
– Risk Assessment

10. Renewable Portfolio Milestones (Official Story)
Fall 2015:
Hired Solar Consultant;
SUN Delegation Formed
Nov – Dec 2015:
Stakeholder Meetings
January 2016:
Consultant Report on
Community Solar
March 2016:
Consultant Report on
On-Site Solar; Issued
community solar RFP
October 2016:
Contracted for 2 MW
Community Solar
November 2016:
Issued On-Site Solar
RFP
January 2017:
Selected On-Site Vendor
March 2017:
Issued 2nd Community
Solar RFP
June 2017:
Contracted for 22.5 MW
Community Solar
July 2017:
Contracted for Green
Tariff Program
November 2017 (?):
Contracts Executed for
On-Site Solar

11. Renewable Portfolio Development (Unofficial Story)
11
Time
Progress

12. SE Steam Plant
7%
Xcel
93%
2013
Community Solar
14%
Renewable*Connect
5%
On-Site Solar
1%
CHP / SE Steam
44%
Xcel
36%
2018 (projected)
The Power of a Diversified Portfolio
12

13. Homogenous vs. Diversified Portfolio – Carbon Impacts
Homogenous
Source Carbon Intensity
(MT CO2e/MWh)
Percent of
Supply
Grid Electricity 0.649 100
Diversified
Source Carbon
Intensity (MT
CO2e/MWh)
Percent of
Supply
Grid Electricity 0.649 37%
Utility Green Tariff 0 5%
Combined Heat and
Power
0.516 44%
Community Solar
(REC’s swap)
0 11%
Community Solar (no
REC’s)
0.649 3%
Weighted Average 0.487
Decreased emissions
per unit by 25%

14. For more information contact
Shane Stennes
Director of Sustainability, University of Minnesota
stennes@umn.edu
612-626-2588 (office)
612-619-2462 (cell)