Facing rapidly rising energy costs, the K-12 Fonda-Fultonville Central School District in Fonda, New York, installed a 1.3MW combined heat and power system to power the school campus. This was the first grid–independent cogeneration project in New York state and today provides all the electricity, space heating and cooling needed for the 300,000 sq. ft. facility. The CHP system consists of four Cummins 334kW lean-burn natural gas engine generator sets, each with hot water recovery equipment that collects waste heat from the engine exhaust. In the winter, the generators provide electricity and the exhaust heat provides space heating for the campus. In warmer months, the system provides electricity and powers a 200-ton electric chiller and 200-ton absorption chiller for air conditioning.
