Project Description
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT)
- Islanding Campus
- Wind & Solar PV
- Architecturally Significant Design
PROJECT Overview
Location:
Chicago, Illinois
Scope:
Campus Nanogrid, 350 kW of solar-PV, 10 kW wind turbine, battery storage, EV charging
Design Rationale and System Architecture
The campus is a research test bed and is constantly pushing the envelope of innovation and technological advancement. Technologies and approaches pioneered at IIT are being commercialized across the country. Azimuth has a track record of integrating complicated projects under difficult conditions and delivering successful outcomes. These hallmarks have been part of the design for all of the IIT projects.
Project Challenges
The IIT projects provide regular challenges for the project team, starting with the cutting-edge technological integration, and continuing to include the building architecture, structural design, shading, obstructions, equipment location, and short schedule timelines. The Azimuth team has risen to the occasion and delivered multiple projects on time and budget with Azimuth’s trademark characteristics of safety, performance, and aesthetics.
For the most recent 220 kW solar-PV installation, we had to come up with a unique solution for placement of power electronics. There was no practical space inside the building to house the inverters. But there was an unused sauna room in the men’s locker room. The sauna was converted to an inverter equipment room, painted, ventilated, and lighted to support the solar equipment.
The future plans for the Keating Building were to develop an energy nanogrid for the premise, retrofitting parts of the solar-PV architecture to suit these plans. This modular replacement scheme drove the decision to use a mix of grounded and ungrounded inverters, oversized distribution components, and a point of common coupling as a bus tap on the main distribution switchboard.
The buildings on campus are architecturally significant, so the PV arrays had to be invisible from the ground. This required review and approval from the Chicago Planning and Zoning Commission. Further, all conduit runs had to be hidden, disguised, or blended into the surroundings.
“Azimuth delivered exactly what we needed to achieve our energy goals in the very complicated working environment of downtown Chicago. They listened to us, provided creative solutions, and have supported our energy and microgrid projects quickly; making it easy and effortless to do business with them. We are very happy with their service and will continue to work with Azimuth.”
Mohammad Shahidehpour, Ph.D.; Director of Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation, Illinois Institute of Technology
CONTACT US
If you would like to set up a time to talk or if you just have a quick question, feel free to send us a message. We look forward to helping you or your organization any way we can.