The Ohio State University Board of Trustees today approved construction of the Energy Advancement and Innovation Center located within the West Campus Innovation District. The building is centered on finding innovative solutions for energy reduction and will allow researchers to develop, demonstrate and deploy innovations in sustainable building design and performance.
“The West Campus Innovation District continues to expand our research capabilities and will attract both world-class researchers and leading-edge companies to work in close proximity,” said Morley O. Stone, Ohio State’s senior vice president for research. “The Energy Advancement and Innovation Center will encourage new diverse collaborations to propel the next generation of convergent energy research and technology incubation.”
The Energy Advancement and Innovation Center is a cornerstone of the Innovation District and will be a hub for Ohio State faculty members, students, alumni, ENGIE Buckeye Operations researchers, local entrepreneurs and industry experts to work together on the next generation of smart energy systems, renewable energy and green mobility solutions.
The $36.7 million project is fully funded by Ohio State Energy Partners, which is contributing a total of $50 million. Of the additional funds, $7.5 million will be used as initial seed money for Ohio State ENGIE Labs projects, $4 million in building operating funds and $1.8 million for west campus infrastructure.
The 52,600-square-foot Energy Advancement and Innovation Center will be co-located with the Interdisciplinary Research Facility and delivered in conjunction to ensure consistent design and site construction. The project will include the installation of a direct current (DC) microgrid with future plans to install photovoltaics/solar panels on the roof.
“This center will be a marquee place for faculty, staff and students to work side-by-side-side with a global business leader to bring energy innovation to life and help fulfill Ohio State’s ambition to be a leader in developing durable solutions to the pressing challenges of sustainability,” said Kate Bartter, executive director of Ohio State’s Sustainability Institute.
Read more about the Energy Advancement and Innovation Center