Ben Erpelding, P.E., C.E.M, Chief Technology Officer, Optimum Energy, has more than 20 years of experience in energy efficiency, chiller plant optimization, and combined heat and power. He has worked on more than 1,500 chilled water plants throughout the U.S., Asia, Europe, and the Middle East and is a registered professional mechanical engineer in the State of California. He received his master of science degree with an emphasis in combined heat and power and a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering, magna cum laude, from San Diego State University. Reach him at ben.erpelding@optimumenergyco.com.
With 120,000 tons of firm capacity, 350 million-plus ton-hours per year of annual load, and a 2020 peak load of 78,600 ton, TECO’s power demand had grown enough to push the plant over the existing CHP’s capacity.
