In Illinois, the landscape of the electricity grid is rapidly evolving, driven by expanding electrification initiatives, renewable energy integration, and the decarbonization imperative. University campus microgrids are tackling this paradigm shift with energy transition models. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and Xendee Corporation (Xendee) teamed up to lead this transformation.
UIUC has a sophisticated integrated energy framework, underscored by highly instrumented infrastructure and a wealth of data. The Abbott Power Plant, which delivers 100% of the thermal needs and approximately 50% of the electricity needs sits at the heart of the framework, catering to campus energy demands and engaging in electricity exchange with the broader grid. With a diverse energy portfolio encompassing natural gas, coal, solar, wind, biofuel, and geothermal sources, the UIUC’s energy ecosystem is ideal for applying Xendee’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) modeling and technical capabilities to deliver both sustainability and resilience.
