Testing underway at new heat and power plant

July 11, 2018

Marmian Grimes

Contractors are testing components at UAF’s new combined heat and power plant this summer, scheduled to be fully operational by November. Testing of minor plant components has been ongoing since the spring.

Starting this month, contractors will begin testing major components, such as the turbine and the plant’s main boiler. During testing, also known as commissioning, members of the Fairbanks campus community may notice occasional plumes of steam, accompanied by short periods of increased noise. Later in the summer, the testing will require the use of load banks, which are large fans housed in containers that resemble Conex boxes. They will be located across the street from the Lola Tilly Commons. The load banks will generate warm air and increase background noise in the area.

For information about the project visit www.uaf.edu/heatandpower/.