University of California, Irvine
IN-3: Innovation 3

The UC Irvine Field Laboratory marries the strengths of an internationally recognized energy research program with the campus’ award-winning energy management platform to better understand tomorrow’s energy infrastructure. This innovative partnership was solidified in 2011. It combines innovative strategies for energy efficiency, energy management, and self-generation with research that positions the campus as one of the nation's most advanced field laboratories for community energy generation and utilization, and microgrid technology.

The partnership is led by the Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) in The Henry Samueli School of Engineering in collaboration with Facilities Management, and campus Environmental Planning and Sustainability. One of the greatest benefits of the program has been the opportunity for both facilities staff and researchers (faculty and students) to work together and share knowledge. Through this collaboration, facilities staff are gaining a better understanding of how systems interact, and this has resulted in increased central plant efficiency and reduced costs. More importantly, the Field Laboratory provides a platform for academic research using the campus’ infrastructure as a living laboratory to study the deployment of distributed generation, emerging photovoltaic and fuel cell power generation technologies, electric vehicle charging, and demand response. The campus energy manager attends biweekly meetings with students and faculty and then passes along action items to Facilities Management. Central Plant and Building Systems staff provide regular access to systems and data, and regularly communicate with the research team.

As a test bed for new technologies, the campus is afforded the opportunity to install and use additional generation, transportation, and monitoring equipment long before adoption by the wider market and generally at low or no cost. In 2012, for example, the partnership resulted in the installation of Amonix 110 kilowatt, dual-axis tracking, concentrated photovoltaic solar panels. These panels provide renewable green power to the campus at no cost and provide a research platform for inverter technology and distributed generation. Facilities Management worked with APEP to site, manage and install these panels, with no additional costs accruing to the research grant that made the installation possible. Simultaneously, UC Irvine employees receive training on the operation and maintenance of next-generation technologies.

The campus benefits by generating renewable energy onsite and from the utilization of high-resolution power metering and electric vehicle charging stations, resulting in more sustainable operations and a reduced carbon footprint. University researchers leverage their understanding of these resources to (1) ensure grid stability as additional, intermittent generation comes online, (2) study and mitigate the impact of vehicle charging on power factor and circuit loading, and (3) develop and deploy algorithms to dispatch resources to meet economic and sustainability goals.

The Field Laboratory provides real-world experience for graduate research students and has provided – through successful grant applications – additional metering resources and renewable power generation opportunities that would not otherwise have been possible. The Field Laboratory has become a major resource for the State of California and the U.S. Department of Energy Smart Grid Demonstration Program.

UC Irvine has not previously received a STARS innovation credit fort his practice, policy, program, or outcome.