2024 Midwest Clean Energy Conference
Midwest Cogeneration Association
August 26-28, 2024.
Holiday Inn, Wolf Point, Downtown Chicago, IL 60654.
About the Event
Driving Decarbonization, Resiliency, and Economic Solutions.
The 2024 MCA annual conference provided a comprehensive understanding of combined heat and power (CHP), distributed energy resources (DER), decarbonization, and microgrid technologies. Attendees explored the impact of federal and state policies and the latest industry trends and developments. This pivotal event served as a platform to learn about decarbonization strategies, the future of gas, hydrogen hubs, carbon capture, DER grid benefits, and tackling environmental justice.
In addition to the educational experience, participants had the opportunity to network with exhibitors and sponsors and collaborate with like-minded professionals to foster innovative energy and environmental strategies and projects.
Event Schedule
This wasn’t just another day-long session repeating the things we know. We designed and framed it well, so every minute introduces a new concept and a different point of view to adopt.
Day 1
½ Day Workshop sponsored
by DOE Midwest Onsite TAP & Evening Welcome Reception.
Day 2
Full Day Conference, Post Conference Networking Reception, and Optional Evening Networking Event.
Day 3
Optional Morning Technical Tour – CenTrio Chicago District Cooling System
Meet the Speakers
Our speakers’ bench included well-established and successful Individuals and Corporations known to rule the industry for years.
Anne Hampson (KEYNOTE ADDRESS)
Industrial Efficiency Decarbonization Office, U.S. Department of Energy
Stacy Paradis (FEATURED PRESENTER)
Commissioner, Illinois Commerce Commission
Cliff Haefke
President, Midwest Cogeneration Association (MCA)
Thomas Smith
Director (Energy Development), Caterpillar Inc.
Anna Dixon
Combined Heat and Power Alliance
Thomas Manjarres
People’s Gas & North Shore Gas
Ben Campbell
Assistant Director, US DOE Central Onsite Energy TAP
Adam Sandstrom
Clarke Energy
Suresh Jambunathan
Energy and Water Development
Jamie Scripps
Owner, Hunterston Consulting
Maddie Wazowicz
Director, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Brian Ross
Great Plaines Institute
Gaby Wagener-Sobrero
Environmental Justice Manager, Chicago Department of Environment
Graeme Miller
Assistant Director, US DOE Midwest Onsite Energy TAP
Neil Banwart
Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen
Marc Lemmons
Electric Power Research Institute
Paul Glanville
GTI Energy
2024 Midwest Clean Energy Project Awards
These are combined heat and power (CHP) and/or Distributed Energy Resource (DER) projects that are recognized by the Midwest Cogeneration Association (MCA) that demonstrate outstanding design and implementation of a clean energy system saving energy, reducing emissions, and/or increasing resiliency while contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy systems and addressing key industry challenges.
Strack & Van Til - 130 kW Microturbine CCHP System
Our first “2024 Midwest Clean Energy Project Award” goes to Strack & Van Til, a grocery store located in Highland, Indiana. Strack & Van Til began the operation of a 130 kW Capstone Green Energy microturbine Combined Cooling Heating and Power system. The 130 kW CCHP system comprises two 65 microturbine units that serve as the backbone of a power and thermal microgrid, configured with dual-mode controls for an automatic transition between grid-connected and standalone operation in the event of a power interruption. In stand-alone operation, the microturbines power the refrigeration systems and check-out counters, allowing the store to maintain critical operations during a power outage. The CCHP supplies up to 430,000 btu/hr of hot water and 80 tons of chilled water via absorption cooling technology.
Hammerschmidt Elementary School - 134 kW Solar Array
Our next “2024 Midwest Clean Energy Project Award” goes to Hammerschmidt Elementary School, located in Lombard, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Forming a partnership, Dominion and Midwest Mechanical installed a 134 kW solar array and installed new AC units on the roof of Hammerschmidt Elementary School in 2023. The 134 kW solar array system powers the school for 40% of the year, while the AC units save 40,000 kWh annually. This solar array system is the second project in the district, Elementary School District 44, and is fitted with an online monitoring portal that allows people to see solar production throughout the year.
BioTown Ag - 1,400 kW CHP System & Biogas Upgrading System
Our next “Midwest Clean Energy Project Award” goes to BioTown Ag in Reynolds, Indiana. In 2022, Clarke Energy installed a state-of-the-art 1,000 SCFM Biogas Upgrading System provided by Techno Project Industriale (TPI) that injects renewable natural gas into the existing natural gas infrastructure and a 1.4MW Jenbacher JMC 420 CHP reciprocating engine that generates 1.4 MW of electricity and 5.3 MMBtu/hr of renewable heat. Biotown Ag processes roughly 500,000 gallons of agricultural waste daily from nearly 25,000 milking cows from five area farming groups. The Clarke Energy turnkey solution highlights the latest technologies in the clean energy space. The project reduces direct on-site emissions and additional indirect emissions via the displacement of fossil fuels with RNG. Compared to previous waste management methods at BioTown, the total anticipated emissions reduction per year is approximately 150,000 tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the average annual energy of over 17,000 homes.
G&W Electric ---- Microgrid System
Our next “2024 Midwest Clean Energy Project Award” goes to G&W Electric, a medium voltage switchgear manufacturer located in Bolingbrook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. In 2023, G&W Electric completed a micro-grid to support operations at its HQ and manufacturing campus. The micro-grid includes 2 MW of rooftop solar, a 2MWx4 hour Vanadium Flow battery, a 1.3 MVA flywheel, and 2 MW of fossil generation. The Micro-grid control system is by Spirae. The project provides resiliency for G&W’s critical manufacturing processes with sub-cycle response, as well as emissions reduction and significant cost savings. The project provides resiliency for G&W’s critical manufacturing processes with sub-cycle response, as well as CO2 reduction and significant cost savings. Since activation in 2023, the system has maintained power during 13 grid outage events, saving G&W over $1.8 million in lost production time and materials. The solar system has reduced emissions by over 1500 tons of CO2. The BESS, or “battery energy storage system,” has earned over $100,000 in grid payments in its first 6 months of operations.
Munson Medical Center --- 2,500 kW CHP System
Our final “Midwest Clean Energy Project Award” goes to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Michigan. With a contractual agreement with Trane West Michigan and Michigan CAT, Munson Medical Center began fully operating its 2.5 MW CHP plant in June 2023. The natural gas fueled CHP system generates hot water and steam for heating the medical center and sterilization of medical equipment. This project was attractive to Munson Medical Center because of the system’s ability to curb their electrical consumption and costs from the utility, substantially reduce their carbon footprint, and have the capital cost avoidance of adding an additional boiler for a recent expansion. The benefit of having their own “micro-grid” leans Munson Medical Center more towards energy independence and increased reliability and redundancy, two critical items in healthcare. The annual overall energy savings are approximately $700,000 annually, with the added benefit of a 28% reduction in their carbon footprint, the equivalent of removing 1,500 passenger cars off the road annually.
Our Sponsors
It is not possible to host a conference without our helping hands. We have several sponsors to attribute who help us make things happen.
Platinum Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Promotional Sponsors
