Future of central heating of university campus – Phasing in clean sustainable alternatives

University campuses often use central heating systems fueled with fossil fuels for space heating and hot water supplies. In the Northeast United States, it is common to see the use of energy is greater for space heating relative to the total energy consumption. The present study addresses a critical and timely issue in the field of energy consumption on university campuses, specifically focusing on central heating systems fueled by fossil fuels. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive exploration of sustainable, carbon-free energy alternatives for central heating applications, aligning with the carbon-neutral goals outlined in various U.S. states' energy planning initiatives. The paper delves into the analysis of diverse energy generation potentials, incorporating higher efficiency heat pumps, innovative microreactor technology, and other non-carbon emitting heat sources. The specific case study on the University of Massachusetts Lowell campus adds a practical dimension to the research, offering techno-economic analyses that evaluate energy costs through the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) approach. The findings underscore the advantage of cogeneration from a nuclear reactor despite its higher costs compared to natural gas boilers, showcasing the potential for cleaner and more sustainable heating solutions. Nuclear cogeneration resulted in the lowest energy cost for standalone units with $122.5/MWh. However, it is still significantly more expensive than current heating solution based on natural gas boilers. Combination of GSHP with gas boiler peak resulted in LCOE of $111.2/MWh. Additionally, the current New England electricity generation fuel mix resulted in a relatively high GHG emissions of ground source heat pump. Finaly, potential sales of excess electricity from the microreactor to the grid lowered overall LCOE by ten percent to $111.3/MWh.