MGM National Harbor

MGM National Harbor is the premiere entertainment destination located on the banks of the Potomac just outside Washington DC. Featuring a 3,000 seat Theater, 308 luxurious hotel rooms, restaurants from acclaimed chefs and a gaming floor bigger than the White House. MGM installed combined heat and power (CHP) in 2016 and an estimated 4.5-year payback.

Co-generation Energy Plant

MGM National Harbor generates electricity through the use of cogeneration, combined heat and power (CHP) production, a system that provides building chilled water and heating water from waste heat off a natural gas generator. MGM National Harbor’s CHP system will significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and the site’s environmental footprint compared to conventional systems. Performance will be optimized using The Project’s measurement and verification (M&V) plan, a tool for ongoing accountability of energy performance and a tool that helps verify cost savings associated with energy efficiency measures incorporated into the MGM National Harbor’s design.

MGM National Harbor has designed and built one of the largest privately operated CHP Energy Plants in the Washington D.C. region producing 750kWh.
The project has achieved a predicted energy cost reduction of 31.7% compared to a code-compliant building.*

The Chiller water system is comprised of 6 magnetic bearing chillers and one 250 ton multi energy (exhaust + jack water) absorption chiller. The building installed four 2.5MW engines running on natural gas and one of engine’s exhaust / jacket water loop connected to an exhaust boiler and a 250 ton absorption chiller. During the summer, partial recovered heat is used to power the absorption chiller, providing space cooling.

MGM started CHP operation in July 2017, and now runs the system 24/7. CHP supplies 10 MW to the facility. The CHP system operating in island mode for few months.MGM’ goal is to generate close to 100% of the facility’s electrical needs, operating in parallel and synchronized with the utility.

Reference: *https://mgmnationalharbor.mgmresorts.com/content/dam/MGM/mgm-national-harbor/pdf-documents/mgm-national-harbor-resort-sustainability-case-study.pdf