Valparaiso High School

At a Glance
• System Configuration: 2 × C65 Dual Mode Capstone ICHP Microturbines with controls
• Annual Generation: >1,000 MWh/year of clean, grid-synchronized electricity
• Thermal Output: 860,000 BTU/hr of recovered hot water for hydronic space heating and domestic hot water
• Acoustic & Environmental Profile: Ultra-quiet operation (<65 dB at 10 meters) with near-zero emissions, designed for active school environments


The Challenge
Serving approximately 2,100 students in grades 9 through 12, Valparaiso High School is the sole high school in Valparaiso Community Schools (VCS). Across Indiana, public school districts have faced mounting budget pressures driven by sharp increases in commercial electricity rates. State-wide utility base rate hikes - driven by multi-billion-dollar grid modernization projects, aging transmission infrastructure maintenance, and surging regional energy demand - have significantly inflated utility expenditures for large educational facilities. To shield its operational budget from unpredictable utility rate hikes and fulfil district-wide sustainability and carbon-reduction goals, VCS needed an efficient, low-noise on-site power system. The project aimed to stabilize energy costs, guarantee power resilience for critical school operations, and redirect non-instructional utility spending directly back into classroom learning.


The Solution
Valparaiso Community Schools partnered with Veristar Energy to engineer and implement a 130 kW Dual-Mode Combined Heat & Power (CHP) system at Valparaiso High School, featuring two Capstone C65 ICHP microturbines managed by a controller.
• On-Site Electricity Generation: Produces over 1,000 MWh of clean electricity annually on-site, displacing expensive peak utility grid power purchases.
• Building Thermal Recovery: Captures 860,000 BTU/hr of exhaust waste heat to supply hot water for hydronic space heating and domestic water systems, drastically reducing natural gas boiler fuel consumption.
• Dual-Mode Outage Resiliency: Operates seamlessly in parallel with the local electric grid during normal operation, while featuring automatic islanding capability to supply uninterrupted emergency backup power during utility grid disruptions.
• Quiet, Low-Emission Campus Integration: Operates at less than 65 decibels with air-bearing, oil-free technology and ultra-low NOx emissions, ensuring complete acoustic and environmental compatibility within an active high school setting.


The Results
• Annual Energy Savings: Delivers $100,000 in direct, recurring annual utility cost reductions, freeing up vital fiscal resources to fund educational initiatives, teacher support, and student programs.
• Protection Against Utility Rate Inflation: Insulates the school district from volatile Indiana grid electricity rate hikes and utility demand charges through predictable, self-generated power.
• Greenhouse Gas Footprint Reduction: Maximizes single-fuel efficiency by producing electricity and thermal energy simultaneously, supporting VCS's long-term environmental stewardship goals.
• Enhanced Learning Environment Continuity: Guarantees stable, resilient power and climate control to protect school operations and maintain a consistent learning environment year-round.