Overview
Arizona State University CHP is a 17.1 MW gas-fired combined heat and power plant in Tempe, Arizona, owned by Energy Center Phoenix LLC and currently operational.
Arizona State University CHP is a gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) facility located in Tempe, Arizona, United States. With a capacity of 17.1 MW, it is a small-scale power plant that provides both electricity and thermal energy to the university campus. The plant is owned by Energy Center Phoenix LLC and is currently operational. The facility operates on natural gas, a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal, and uses CHP technology to achieve higher overall efficiency by capturing waste heat for heating or cooling. In the United States, such plants are subject to federal regulations under the Clean Air Act, including New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for stationary gas turbines and emission limits for NOx, SO2, and CO. State-level regulations in Arizona may also apply, particularly through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. As a CHP plant integrated with a university campus, this facility plays a key role in providing reliable energy and reducing the carbon footprint of Arizona State University. Its location in an urban area near Tempe and Phoenix means it supports local grid stability and contributes to the region's energy mix. The plant's small scale and efficient technology position it as a model for distributed generation in educational settings.
Environmental context
The plant's use of natural gas as primary fuel results in lower CO2 emissions per MWh compared to coal, but still contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Its location in a populated area near Tempe and Phoenix means local air quality impacts from NOx and other pollutants are a consideration. The CHP technology improves overall efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and emissions relative to separate heat and power generation. Regulatory oversight under the Clean Air Act ensures compliance with emission standards.
Frequently asked questions
Arizona State University CHP is located in Tempe, Arizona, United States, on the campus of Arizona State University.
The plant has a capacity of 17.1 megawatts (MW), making it a small-scale power generation facility.
The plant is owned by Energy Center Phoenix LLC.
Gas-fired power plants in the U.S. are regulated under the Clean Air Act, including New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for emissions of NOx, SO2, and CO, and may be subject to state-level permits.
CHP, or cogeneration, is an efficient process that generates electricity and captures waste heat for heating or cooling, achieving higher overall efficiency than separate generation.