Stable Energy for Critical Assets: Why UMN Trusts Geothermal for Long-Term Preservation
The University of Minnesota is at the heart of Darcy Solutions, the core technology of the company began as a research project by our Chief Science Officer Jimmy Randolph and Chief Geologist Scott Alexander while both were faculty with the University. This is the first project the college built with the system, and a critical use case as the facility is meant to protect critical assets of the campus for decades in the future.
The vision for UMN Offsite Collections Facility (OCF) was to create a facility that combines high energy efficiency with a low total cost of ownership. By looking toward innovative geothermal solutions, the project team ensured a modern, sustainable infrastructure for decades into the future.
A Path to Net Zero, One Building At A Time
Darcy Solutions installed a 3-well, 100-ton groundwater geothermal system to maintain precise environmental conditions for the University of Minnesota’s high-density storage facility. The system provides stable, high-efficiency climate control necessary for preserving academic archives. The building is akin to an industrial library with moving columnal shelving to house remnants of the past, maintaining temperature and humidity levels is a core necessity of operation.
Darcy Solutions provided the perfect balance of efficiency and site-specific flexibility for an urban environment. Because the system requires significantly less space than traditional geothermal, it was a natural fit for the UMN Offsite Collections Facility (OCF) parcel, offering stakeholders a reliable and sustainable thermal resource combined with a beautiful modern architectural design that showcases utility with aesthetics. The building includes a solar array on the larger roof layer, visible from above with the drone photography, see more in the case study included here.
