DTE Energy to Power Ford Motor Company Research and Engineering Center with Advanced Technologies / Achieving 50 Percent Energy Efficiency

• The gas fired electric turbines will generate sufficient waste heat that, when captured and converted to steam, will use 10 times less natural gas than the use of a traditional boiler plant
• Advanced chiller technology will result in a 35% reduction in energy use versus traditional chillers
• New refrigerants will eliminate the use of older refrigerants years earlier than would otherwise be possible
• Renewable energy from an on-site solar array could supply up to 4 MW of electricity: enough electricity to power 1,000 to 1,500 Michigan homes
• A Thermal Energy Storage Tank will reduce peak electric system requirements

50 Percent Improvement in Energy Efficiency

The REC will leverage DTE investments using advanced HVAC technologies like Chilled Beam and Variable Refrigerant Flow systems in conjunction with advanced sustainability
features. All new buildings are expected to achieve LEED Gold certification and reduced energy usage of approximately 50 percent when compared with the existing campus office space. 

Nearby DTE customers also benefit

These upgrades will benefit local DTE customers as the infrastructure improvements made in Dearborn will enhance energy reliability and availability in the area.

DTE Electric and DTE Gas will continue to be Ford's electric and natural gas suppliers. The P&I Group will construct and operate DTE's energy infrastructure on site and own the DTE infrastructure, with the exception of the CHP and solar assets. 

"The P&I group has a long history of providing 'on site' energy solutions designed to increase energy efficiency, improve reliability and sustainability for our customers," Ruud added.  The REC project will be the latest and most significant of many collaborations between Ford and P&I.

Services under the agreements are expected to commence following completion of construction in December 2019.

About DTE Energy
DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric utility serving 2.2 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a natural gas utility serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE Energy portfolio includes non-utility energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and energy marketing and trading. As one of Michigan's leading corporate citizens, DTE Energy is a force for growth and prosperity in the 450 Michigan communities it serves in a variety of ways, including philanthropy, volunteerism and economic progress. Information about DTE Energy is available at dteenergy.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.

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SOURCE DTE Energy