Steam Pipes and Stairwell, Main Energy Plant, University of Minnesota

The Main Energy Plant, on the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis campus along the Mississippi River, generates steam and electricity for the Twin Cities campus through a combined heat and power system. Operated by the university's Energy Management division, the facility burns natural gas to run turbines that produce electricity while waste heat for campus heating and hot water. Insulated steam lines and exhaust piping route between buildings and boiler units, some dating to earlier expansions of the plant through the 20th century. The plant supplements power drawn from the regional grid, allowing the university to manage its own energy costs and reduce reliance on outside utilities during peak demand.

Photo taken in September 2017.