District Cooling Plant 4.1

Austin Energy’s Downtown District Energy and Cooling System currently consists of three district cooling plants connected by 8 miles of underground pipe. The system delivers efficient cooling to more than 20 million square feet of downtown space, an area larger than seven Empire State Buildings. 

To meet future demand in the downtown area, plans are underway to construct a fourth district cooling plant (DCP 4.1). Currently in the design phase, the new facility will add 10,000 tons of capacity to the downtown district cooling network. This added capacity will enable Austin Energy to maximize efficiency of the cooling system using peak load shifting, a strategy that reduces the electricity needed to cool several of the largest buildings in Austin every day. Load shifting also supports the Austin Energy electric grid, especially during the hottest months when demand is highest, by easing strain on the grid and reducing electricity purchases when demand spikes. The result? Lower rates for customers and a more resilient energy landscape that benefits everyone. The DCP 4.1 plant will also increase capacity for new customers who wish to connect to the downtown cooling system in the future.

Project Location

The fourth plant will be constructed at 603 E. 3rd Street on property owned by the Austin Convention Center.

Current Project Status

• The plant design is currently at 30% completion.
• The construction start date is yet to be determined, but the facility is expected to be operational by late 2029, shortly after the newly renovated convention center opens.

Project Contacts

Ming Xu, Power System Engineer Sr.
ming.xu@austinenergy.com

Paige Davis, Product Development Coordinator
paige.davis@austinenergy.com

Read more about Austin Energy’s District Energy and Cooling.