Michigan-based DTE Energy will deploy a series of energy saving technologies at Ford Motor Co.’s Research and Engineering Center (REC) in Dearborn with a goal of achieving 50% energy efficiency.

The utility will build, own and operate systems that include natural air flow ventilation, geothermal heating and cooling and solar.

DTE's infrastructure scope includes constructing, owning and operating a gas-fired combined heat and power plant, chilled and hot water systems, distribution systems, thermal energy storage and a geothermal system designed to increase the efficiency of the chilled and hot water facilities.

The gas-fired turbines are expected to generate sufficient waste heat that, when captured and converted to steam, will use one-tenth the natural gas of a traditional boiler plant.

Advanced chiller technology is expected to result in a 35% reduction in energy use when compared with traditional chillers. And renewable energy from an on-site solar array could supply up to 4 MW of electricity.

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% when compared with the existing campus office space.

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