After an 11-month demolition and construction project, Energy Services & Building Controls is proud to announce the successful installation of the new Solar Titan 130 gas turbine engine in the campus cogeneration plant. This new turbine engine replaces the previous GE LM 1600 engine which was in service from 1994-2024.
There were three reasons for why replacing the previous turbine engine was necessary: it could no longer meet air emissions standards, it had reached its end-of-service-life, and a new gas turbine would be more sustainable aiding with the UC Carbon Neutrality Initiative.
In 2024 the South Coast AQMD (Air Quality Management District) introduced stricter air emissions standards that the GE LM 1600 failed to meet. They required that we meet a standard of 2-2.5 ppm NOx and 5 ppm ammonia slip. The previous engine had emissions of 6 ppm NOx and 20 ppm ammonia slip. With the installation of the Solar Titan 130, UCLA is able to comply with the new air emissions standards by running at 0.8 ppm NOx. This cleaner turbine ensure that we are able to help reduce UCLA’s Scope 1 emissions.
Seeing as how the previous gas engine turbine was in service for 30 years, GE no longer produced parts for it and did not offer maintenance for it. Overhauls were becoming costlier and took longer in order to source parts. On the other hand, Solar Titan is a local company based in San Diego that has turbine engines used in other campuses such as UCSD and UCI. This provides UCLA with better support and maintenance.
Finally, the Solar Titan 130 is an investment into more sustainable power generation that aligns with the UC Carbon Neutrality Initiative. The Solar Titan 130 is more sustainable as it is more efficient while improving overall plant performance. The gas turbine uses less fuel and water than its predecessor. It is also designed to be able to use a hydrogen fuel blend which could be implemented in the future.
Energy Services & Building Controls is currently in the process of installing an additional Solar Titan 130 and will be done by November.This project showcases our commitment to delivering high quality utilities that support the campus community’s needs while promoting sustainability across campus.
