Implementation Grant Funding Opportunity Open
IMPORTANT: The grant program operates on a rolling basis and applications may be submitted at any time, with quarterly reviews.
Learn More
Implementation Grant Funding Opportunity Open
Qualifying* small and medium-sized US manufacturers, that received IAC or Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership assessments between 2018 and 2024, can now apply for grants for implementation of assessment recommendations up 50% of qualifying* project costs with a maximum of $300,000 per manufacturer.
IMPORTANT: The grant program now operates on a rolling basis and applications may be submitted at any time through the year, with quarterly reviews.
*See Full Grant Solicitation for full qualification and selection details.
IAC Center of the Year: 2020
Student Research Award Winner: 2019, 2020, 2023
The University of Utah Industrial Assessment Center (UU-IAC) provides free energy, productivity, and waste assessments to small and medium-sized industrial facilities through funding provided by the US Department of Energy.
| 272 | Assessments |
| 1,719 | Recommendations |
| 5.55 | Tbtu Energy Saving* |
| $48.62 | million Cost Savings* |
| 140 | Students Trained |
Energy Engineering related programs, degrees, etc:
Related Papers & Publications
Jake Immonen, David Weingaertner, Jittisa Ketkaew, Ravi Prasher, Kody M. Powell,
"
Process intensification and comparison of electrolytic hydrogen green steel plants for industrial decarbonization,
Journal of Cleaner Production,
Jan 2025,
|
UU-IAC
Jake Immonen, Kody M. Powell,
"
Dynamic modeling of a direct reduced iron shaft furnace to enable pathways towards decarbonized steel production,
Chemical Engineering Science,
Dec 2024,
|
UU-IAC
Ethan R. Gallup, Jacob F. Tuttle, Jake Immonen, Blake Billings, Kody M. Powell,
"
Transformer Neural Networks with Spatiotemporal Attention for Predictive Control and Optimization of Industrial Processes,
2024 American Control Conference,
Toronto, Canada,
July 2024,
|
UU-IAC
Noteworthy Feedback
"The IIAC team provided quality ideas with a rigorous background. Implementation of their ideas in addition to related findings decreased our energy usage by 30-40%."
- Source: Winslow Burton, Vice President, 01/14/2025
- Source: Winslow Burton, Vice President, 01/14/2025
"The energy manager Aaron Sprague, was pleased and he praised the team's performance and efforts in providing the assessment recommendations and calculations."
- Source: 07/26/2024
- Source: 07/26/2024
"The IIAC team was complimented highly, noting their professional conduct throughout the entire process as well as their efficient and quick communication."
- Source: Brad Clark, Regulatory Affairs Manager, 07/02/2024
- Source: Brad Clark, Regulatory Affairs Manager, 07/02/2024
Related Papers & Publications
2025
1 Papers / Publications
Jake Immonen, David Weingaertner, Jittisa Ketkaew, Ravi Prasher, Kody M. Powell,
"
Process intensification and comparison of electrolytic hydrogen green steel plants for industrial decarbonization,
Journal of Cleaner Production,
Jan 2025,
|
UU-IAC
2024
7 Papers / Publications
Jake Immonen, Kody M. Powell,
"
Dynamic modeling of a direct reduced iron shaft furnace to enable pathways towards decarbonized steel production,
Chemical Engineering Science,
Dec 2024,
|
UU-IAC
Ethan R. Gallup, Jacob F. Tuttle, Jake Immonen, Blake Billings, Kody M. Powell,
"
Transformer Neural Networks with Spatiotemporal Attention for Predictive Control and Optimization of Industrial Processes,
2024 American Control Conference,
Toronto, Canada,
July 2024,
|
UU-IAC
Yunzhi Chen, Daniel Hill, Blake Billings, John Hedengren, Kody Powell,
"
Hydrogen underground storage for grid electricity storage: An optimization study on techno-economic analysis,
Energy Conversion and Management,
Dec 2024,
|
UU-IAC
Yunzhi Chen, Daniel Hill, Blake Billings, John Hedengren, Kody Powell,
"
Hydrogen Underground Storage for Grid Resilience: A Dynamic Simulation and Optimization Study,
2024 American Control Conference,
Toronto, Canada,
July 2024,
|
UU-IAC
Matthew R.T. Williams, Chris Parker, Amanda Dillon, Blake Billings, Kody Powell,
"
Sustainability and affordability of building electrification: A state-by-state holistic approach for multifamily buildings,
Sustainable Cities and Society,
Aug 2024,
|
UU-IAC
Jiwei Yao, Qiang Gao, Tao Gao, Benben Jiang, Kody M. Powell,
"
A Physics–Guided Machine Learning Approach for Capacity Fading Mechanism Detection and Fading Rate Prediction Using Early Cycle Data,
Batteries,
Aug 2024,
|
UU-IAC
Ali Khosravani, Matthew DeHaan, Blake W. Billings, Kody M. Powell,
"
Electrification of residential and commercial buildings integrated with hybrid renewable energy systems: A techno-economic analysis,
Energy,
Sep 2024,
|
UU-IAC
2023
10 Papers / Publications
Blake W. Billings, Kody M. Powell,
"
Are regulations enough to expand industrial demand response? A study of the impacts of policy on industrial demand response in the United States,
The Electricity Journal,
May 2023,
|
UU-IAC
Matthew R.T. Williams, Michael Reynolds, Chris Parker, Jianli Chen, Kody Powell,
"
The impact of the electrification of buildings on the environment, economics, and housing affordability: A grid-response and life cycle assessment approach,
Digital Chemical Engineering,
Jan 16,
|
UU-IAC
Ali Khosravani, Elaheh Safaei, Michael Reynolds, Kerry E. Kelly, Kody M. Powell,
"
Challenges of reaching high renewable fractions in hybrid renewable energy systems,
Energy Reports,
Dec 19,
|
UU-IAC
Yunzhi Chen, Lizzie Pinegar, Jake Immonen, Kody M. Powell,
"
Conversion of food waste to renewable energy: A techno-economic and environmental assessment,
Journal of Cleaner Production,
Jan 20,
|
UU-IAC
A Ho, M Memmott, J Hedengren, KM Powell,
"
Exploring the benefits of molten salt reactors: An analysis of flexibility and safety features using dynamic simulation,
|
UU-IAC
Yunzhi Chen, Blake W Billings, Kody M Powell,
"
Industrial processes and the smart grid: overcoming the variability of renewables by using built-in process storage and intelligent control strategies,
|
UU-IAC
Elaheh Safaei Kouchaksaraei, Ali Khosravani Semnani, Kody M. Powell & Kerry E. Kelly,
"
Regional impacts on air quality and health of changing a manufacturing facility’s grid-boiler to a combined heat and power system,
|
UU-IAC
Mohamed T. Bahr, Jake Immonen, Blake W. Billings, and Kody M. Powell,
"
Intelligent Control of Thermal Energy Storage in the Manufacturing Sector for Plant-Level Grid Response,
July 2023,
|
UU-IAC
Jake Immonen, Kody M. Powell,
"
Hydrogen from solar? A rigorous analysis of solar energy integration concepts for a high temperature steam electrolysis plant,
Energy Conversion and Management,
Dec 2023,
|
UU-IAC
Jiwei Yao, John D. Hedengren, Tao Gao, Kody M. Powell,
"
A two-level optimization framework for battery energy storage systems to enhance economics and minimize long-term capacity fading,
Journal of Energy Storage,
July 2023,
|
UU-IAC
2022
8 Papers / Publications
Blake W. Billings, An Ho, Mostafa Sahraei-Adrakani, Kody M. Powell,
"
System benefits of industrial battery storage: A comparison of grid and facility control and dispatch,
Sustainable Energy, Grids and Networks,
Nov 26,
|
UU-IAC
Yunzhi Chen, Blake Billings, Sammy Partridge, Brittany Pruneau, Kody M. Powell,
"
Grid-Responsive Smart Manufacturing: Can the Manufacturing Sector Help Incorporate Renewables?,
IFAC-PapersOnLine,
Oct 26,
|
UU-IAC
Blake W. Billings, Kody M. Powell,
"
Grid-responsive smart manufacturing: A perspective for an interconnected energy future in the industrial sector,
AIChE Journal,
Oct 11,
|
UU-IAC
Jake Immonen, Kody M. Powell,
"
Dynamic optimization with flexible heat integration of a solar parabolic trough collector plant with thermal energy storage used for industrial process heat,
Energy Conversion and Management,
Jun 30,
|
UU-IAC
Blake W. Billings, Philip J. Smith, Sean T. Smith, Kody M. Powell,
"
Industrial battery operation and utilization in the presence of electrical load uncertainty using Bayesian decision theory,
Journal of Energy Storage,
Jun 28,
|
UU-IAC
Jake Immonen, Kasra Mohammadi, Kody M. Powell,
"
Simulating a solar parabolic trough collector plant used for industrial process heat using an optimized operating scheme that utilizes flexible heat integration,
Solar Energy,
Mar 28,
|
UU-IAC
Jiwei Yao, Kody Powell, Tao Gao,
"
A two-stage deep learning framework for early-stage lifetime prediction for lithium-ion batteries with consideration of features from multiple cycles,
Electrochemical Energy Storage,
Nov 2022,
|
UU-IAC
A Ho, D Hill, J Hedengren, KM Powell,
"
A nuclear‑hydrogen hybrid energy system with large-scale storage: A study in optimal dispatch and economic performance in a real-world market,
|
UU-IAC
2021
5 Papers / Publications
Kasra Mohammadi, Saber Khanmohammadi, Jake Immonen, Kody Powell,
"
Techno-economic analysis and environmental benefits of solar industrial process heating based on parabolic trough collectors,
Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments,
Jun 16,
|
UU-IAC
Anne Dougherty, Blake Billings, Nestor Camacho, Kody Powell,
"
Improving the economics of battery storage for industrial customers: Are incentives enough to increase adoption?,
The Electricity Journal,
Sep 21,
|
UU-IAC
Moataz Sheha, Kasra Mohammadi, Kody Powell,
"
Techno-economic analysis of the impact of dynamic electricity prices on solar penetration in a smart grid environment with distributed energy storage,
Applied Energy,
Jan 15,
|
UU-IAC
Kasra Mohammadi, Jon G McGowan, Kody Powell,
"
Thermoeconomic analysis of a multigeneration system using waste heat from a triple power cycle,
Applied Thermal Engineering,
May 25,
|
UU-IAC
A Ho, K Mohammadi, M Memmott, J Hedengren, KM Powell,
"
Dynamic simulation of a novel nuclear hybrid energy system with large-scale hydrogen storage in an underground salt cavern,
|
UU-IAC
2020
12 Papers / Publications
Kasra Mohammadi, Kevin Ellingwood, Kody Powell,
"
A novel triple power cycle featuring a gas turbine cycle with supercritical carbon dioxide and organic Rankine cycles: Thermoeconomic analysis and optimization,
Energy Conversion and Management,
Sept. 15,
|
UU-IAC
Kasra Mohammadi, Saber Khanmohammadi, Hossein Khorasanizadeh, Kody Powell,
"
Development of high concentration photovoltaics (HCPV) power plants in the US Southwest: Economic assessment and sensitivity analysis,
Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments,
Dec,
|
UU-IAC
Landen D Blackburn, Jacob F Tuttle, Kody M Powell,
"
Real-time optimization of multi-cell industrial evaporative cooling towers using machine learning and particle swarm optimization,
Journal of Cleaner Production,
Oct 20,
|
UU-IAC
Kasra Mohammadi, Mohammad Saeed Efati Khaledi, Mohammad Saghafifar, Kody Powell,
"
Hybrid systems based on gas turbine combined cycle for trigeneration of power, cooling, and freshwater: A comparative techno-economic assessment,
Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments,
February,
|
UU-IAC
Kevin Ellingwood, Kasra Mohammadi, Kody Powell,
"
A novel means to flexibly operate a hybrid concentrated solar power plant and improve operation during non-ideal direct normal irradiation conditions,
Energy Conversion and Management,
January 1,
|
UU-IAC
Derek Machalek, Aaron Young, Landen Blackburn, Pratt Rogers, Kody M Powell,
"
Mine operations as a smart grid resource: Leveraging excess process storage capacity to better enable renewable energy sources,
Minerals Engineering,
January 1,
|
UU-IAC
Khalid Rashid, Kasra Mohammadi, Kody Powell,
"
Dynamic simulation and techno-economic analysis of a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant hybridized with both thermal energy storage and natural gas,
Journal of Cleaner Production,
March 1st,
|
UU-IAC
Kasra Mohammadi, Yazhou Jiang, Soheyl Borjian, Kody Powell,
"
Thermo-economic assessment and optimization of a hybrid triple effect absorption chiller and compressor,
Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments,
April,
|
UU-IAC
Derek Machalek, Moriah Henning, Kasra Mohammadi, Kody M Powell,
"
Economic and environmental impacts of a non-traditional combined heat and power system for a discrete manufacturing facility,
Journal of Cleaner Production,
August 20,
|
UU-IAC
Kasra Mohammadi, Kevin Ellingwood, Kody Powell,
"
Novel hybrid solar tower-gas turbine combined power cycles using supercritical carbon dioxide bottoming cycles,
Applied Thermal Engineering,
Sept,
|
UU-IAC
Moataz Sheha, Kasra Mohammadi, Kody Powell,
"
Solving the duck curve in a smart grid environment using a non-cooperative game theory and dynamic pricing profiles,
Energy Conversion and Management,
Sept. 15,
|
UU-IAC
Kevin Ellingwood, Kasra Mohammadi, Kody Powell,
"
Dynamic optimization and economic evaluation of flexible heat integration in a hybrid concentrated solar power plant,
Applied Energy,
Oct 15,
|
UU-IAC
2019
14 Papers / Publications
Derek Machalek, Kody Powell,
"
Automated electrical demand peak leveling in a manufacturing facility with short term energy storage for smart grid participation,
Journal of Manufacturing Systems,
July,
|
UU-IAC
Khalid Rashid, Seyed Safdarnejad, Kevin Ellingwood, Kody Powell,
"
Techno-Economic Evaluation of Different Hybridization Schemes for a Solar Thermal/Gas Power Plant,
Energy,
|
UU-IAC
Khalid Rashid, Seyed Safdarnejad, Kody Powell,
"
Process intensification of solar thermal power using hybridization, flexible heat integration, and real-time optimization,
Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification,
|
UU-IAC
Moataz Sheha, Kody Powell,
"
An economic and policy case for proactive home energy management systems with photovoltaics and batteries,
The Electricity Journal,
|
UU-IAC
Landen Blackburn, Aaron Young, Pratt Rogers, John Hedengren, Kody Powell,
"
Dynamic optimization of a district energy system with storage using a novel mixed-integer quadratic programming algorithm,
Optimization and Engineering,
|
UU-IAC
Kevin Ellingwood, Seyed Safdarnejad, Khalid Rashid, Kody Powell,
"
Leveraging Energy Storage in a Solar-Tower and Combined Cycle Hybrid Power Plant,
Energies,
|
UU-IAC
Khalid Rashid, Seyed Safdarnejad, Kody Powell,
"
Dynamic simulation, control, and performance evaluation of a synergistic solar and natural gas hybrid power plant,
Energy Conversion and Management,
|
UU-IAC
Thomas Tran, Amanda Smith,
"
Stochastic Optimization for Integration of Renewable Energy Technologies in District Energy Systems for Cost-Effective Use,
Energies,
|
UU-IAC
Moataz Sheha, Kody Powell,
"
Using real-time electricity prices to leverage electrical energy storage and flexible loads in a smart grid environment utilizing machine learning techniques,
Processes,
Nov 21,
|
UU-IAC
Derek Machalek, Kody M Powell,
"
Model predictive control of a rotary kiln for fast electric demand response,
Minerals Engineering,
Dec,
|
UU-IAC
Kevin Ellingwood, Seyed Mostafa Safdarnejad, Helga Kovacs, Jake F Tuttle, Kody Powell,
"
Analysing the benefits of hybridisation and storage in a hybrid solar gas turbine plant,
International Journal of Sustainable Energy,
July 11,
|
UU-IAC
Kasra Mohammadi, Mohammad Saghafifar, Jon G McGowan, Kody Powell,
"
Thermo-economic analysis of a novel hybrid multigeneration system based on an integrated triple effect refrigeration system for production of power and refrigeration,
Journal of Cleaner Production,
November 20,
|
UU-IAC
Paige Brimley, Derek Machalek, Kody M Powell,
"
Smart Scheduling of a Batch Manufacturer’s Operations by Utilization of a Genetic Algorithm to Minimize Electrical Demand,
Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing Systems,
October 15,
|
UU-IAC
Moriah Henning, Derek Machalek, Kody M Powellv,
"
Integrating a microturbine into a discrete manufacturing process with combined heat and power using smart scheduling and automation,
Computer Aided Chemical Engineering,
|
UU-IAC
2018
5 Papers / Publications
Thomas Tran, Amanda Smith,
"
Thermoeconomic analysis of residential rooftop photovoltaic systems with integrated energy storage and resulting impacts on electrical distribution networks,
Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments,
|
UU-IAC
Thomas Tran, Amanda Smith,
"
Incorporating performance-based global sensitivity and uncertainty analysis into LCOE calculations for emerging renewable energy technologies,
Applied Energy,
|
UU-IAC
Moataz Sheha, Kody Powell,
"
Dynamic Real-Time Optimization of Air-Conditioning Systems in Residential Houses with a Battery Energy Storage under Different Electricity Pricing Structures,
Computer Aided Chemical Engineering,
|
UU-IAC
Brody Westberg, Derek Machalek, Stephen Denton, David Sellers, Kody Powell,
"
Proactive Automation of a Batch Manufacturer in a Smart Grid Environment,
Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing Systems,
|
UU-IAC
Moataz Sheha, Khalid Rashid, Kody Powell,
"
Dynamic Real-Time Optimization of Air Conditioning Systems in Residential Houses under Different Electricity Pricing Structures,
Proceedings of the American Control Conference,
Minneapolis, MN,
|
UU-IAC
Noteworthy Feedback
"The IIAC team provided quality ideas with a rigorous background. Implementation of their ideas in addition to related findings decreased our energy usage by 30-40%."
- Source: Winslow Burton, Vice President, 01/14/2025
"The energy manager Aaron Sprague, was pleased and he praised the team's performance and efforts in providing the assessment recommendations and calculations."
- Source: 07/26/2024
"The IIAC team was complimented highly, noting their professional conduct throughout the entire process as well as their efficient and quick communication."
- Source: Brad Clark, Regulatory Affairs Manager, 07/02/2024
"The facility appreciates the team's efforts and support. Lonnie liked the recommendations provided by the team especially, the ones related to the cooling towers."
- Source: 05/24/2024
"The facility manager liked the recommendations provided by the team and he commented on the simplicity of the recommendations during the implementation process."
- Source: 03/22/2024
"The client praised the team's effort in providing the assessment recommendations, especially the chiller and pasteurizer assessment recommendations."
- Source: 03/20/2024
"The facility is satisfied by the team's effort in recommending the first two energy recommendations. The facility also liked that the team based the calculations on the lowest savings that could be achieved."
- Source: 04/18/2024
"The installation of solar panels was included in the IAC report as an additional consideration. With our help, Vox was able to take this recommendation, receive an implementation grant, and start the installation."
- Source: Lindsey Estes, Chief Experience Officer, Vox Nutrition, 03/20/2024
"The IIAC team had a CHP idea and listed that as the first AR. We received this compliment from a CHP vendor about the CHP idea and how we reported that idea. Below is the feedback:
" We really like the report that you received from the University. We wish everyone came to the table with this much Information. We were impressed with the professionalism and quality of work""
- Source: Mark McCarville, Sale & Business Development Manager Hybrid Energy, Clarke Energy, 07/05/2023
"The person who analyzed the IIAC report got back to the team with the following feedback:
" We really liked the ideas you listed in the report; they were written professionally and easily understood. We appreciate the list of the vendors you mentioned for different ideas, and we made effective connections with them.""
- Source: 07/06/2023
| Center Director | Dr. Kody Powell |
|---|---|
| kody.powell@utah.edu | |
| Phone # | +18015813957 |
| Fax # | +18015813957 |
| Mailing Address |
50 S. Central Campus Dr. Rm 3290 Salt Lake City, UT 84112 |
| Assistant Director | Julie Sieving, P.E. |
|---|
University of Utah has trained 140 students
The following students have participated in IAC assessments with University of Utah since
2017.
The 72 students (in BOLD) have also been awarded IAC student certificates for exceptional participation.
The 72 students (in BOLD) have also been awarded IAC student certificates for exceptional participation.
Aaron Chambers
Aaron Czop
Abby Hall
Abe Kearl
Alex Jackman
Alex Robert
Alexander Leopardi
Alexis Jenson
Ali Khosravani
Allen Neicosup
Amy Rohr
Andrew Hatch
Andrew Meldrum
Anne Dougherty
Anthony Vance
Ari Yue
Athan Varszegi
Ben Collier
Blake Billings
Brie Crofts
Brie Esplin
Brittany Pruneau
Brody Westberg
Brooke Yardley
Caleb Wray
Cameron Kelly
Carleigh Plate
carver booth
Chris Landes
Christopher Hillam
Connor Clay
Connor Watson
Conrad Duerr
Creed McCord
Dan Youngberg
Daniel Luis Moreno
Debbie Gale
Derek Machalek
Doug Crawford
Doug Voss
Elaheh Safaei
Ember Chadwick
Eric Wu
Erik Mollinet
Ethan Cowgill
Faith Magda
Giovanna Roth
Grant Jimenez
Haley Feten
Harrison Rea
Hyrum Davis,
Isaac Hale
Jace Callor
Jacob Wood
Jake Immonen
James Gessel
Jared Strebel
Jason Flynn
Jesse Reeves
Jesse Sorenson
Jessica Padron-Loredo
Jim Parry
Jiwei Yao
Joel Kongolo Ilunga
Kaden Plewe
Kari Keddington
Kathy LeBlanc
Kathy Lin
Kenneth Smith
Kevin Ellingwood
Kortney Shorts
Kristopher Issac Rydalch
Kyle Day
Landen Blackburn
Landon Crowther
Lesslie Moposita
Lizzie Pinegar
Mar Diehl
Mark Biesinger,
Mark Henry
Mark McPherson
Marla Aime Perez-Loredo
Mateo Ismodes
Matt Millburn
Matthew DeHaan
Maxim Balitskiy
Micale Ward
Michael Christensen
Michael Reynolds
Mike Chambers
Moataz Sheha
Mohamed Bahr
Moriah Henning
Nathan Jensen
Nathaniel Fairchild
Nestor Camacho
Paige Brimley
Paola Beltre
Parker Thomas Bodily
Pete Horseth
Philip Melo
Pouya Sheikhhosseini
Quin Smith
Quinn Alleman
R.T. Williams
Radhika Bhakta
Raimoana Tinirauarii
Rashid Bakare
Raul Rodriguez
Reed Ogden
Rick Walker
Ron Carrasquel
Russel Olsen
Russell Flynn
Russell Foster
Ryan Hart
Ryan White
Sai Pandit
Samantha Protopapas
Samuel Partridge
Shoko Imamura
sovit bhetwal
Stephen Denton
Susan Philyaw
Talon Townsend
Tess Jorgensen
Thalia Zavala
Thomas Kuhrke Limia
Thomas Tran
Tofigh Sayahi
Tom Fairbanks
Tommy White
Treyton Shumway
Turan Mammadli
Will Chatwin
William Brett Graham
Yunju Lee
Yunzhi Chen
Zachary Freedman
Zella Aspengren