@misc{f6600d5e2e05404c9031009d4f493524,
title = "From Theory to Practice: Feasibility Study of a Thermal Microgrid at a DoD Installation",
abstract = "Advanced district thermal energy systems, also known as thermal microgrids, can meet the energy needs of urban districts in a highly efficient way, but adoption of such systems, especially in the United States, has been slow. Thermal microgrids use a network circulating water at near-ambient (60-80 degrees F; 15-25 degrees C) temperatures, and water-source heat pumps at connected buildings are used to boost or lower the temperature for space conditioning and service hot water. Addressing challenges related to retrofits of existing buildings for integration with such systems, as well as quantifying the benefits of different configurations, will be key to accelerating their adoption. This paper aims to contribute to that by reporting preliminary results from a feasibility study of a thermal microgrid at a U.S. Department of Defense installation and illustrating the process of conceptual design to seek the best possible performance within the many constraints of existing buildings. The cluster of buildings under consideration in this study has much in common with commercial buildings in the United States. The process of and results from this feasibility study can inform assessment of the potential for thermal microgrids in other locations and help unlock the benefits of such systems for resilience and energy savings.",
keywords = "ambient loops, district energy systems, thermal energy networks, thermal microgrids",
author = "Amy Allen and Jing Wang and \{Abdel Haleem\}, Shadi and Matt Mitchell and Nicholas Long and Gregor Henze and Jay Tulley",
year = "2025",
doi = "10.2172/2589399",
language = "American English",
series = "Presented at the 2025 ASHRAE Annual Conference, 21-25 June 2025, Phoenix, Arizona",
type = "Other",
}