Hydroelectric Facility

The burgeoning field of hydroelectric energy caught the attention of Notre Dame as a way to provide clean energy to campus. This is why Notre Dame recently built and opened a hydroelectric facility along the St. Joseph River in South Bend. The river water rushes through a system of hydroturbines, which creates power then is then transported to campus. To ensure no wildlife or debris disrupt this system, a fine screen ensures that only water passes through the blades of the turbines.

This facility can generate about 7% of campus’ required electricity, offsetting nearly 9,700 tons of carbon dioxide annually. This facility can also be used for research and educational purposes, especially for students in the College of Engineering. It is important to note that the University provided $1 million to the restoration of Seitz Park, which was scheduled for renovations and was disrupted by the construction of this facility. The hydroelectric facility is yet another example of how Notre Dame is pushing towards becoming a carbon neutral campus by 2050.