System of the Year Award

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign wins the 2024 IDEA System of the Year.


The System of the Year Award (SOYA) is the highest honor IDEA can bestow on a district energy system. It recognizes an exemplary district energy system providing high-level performance and service that further the goals of the district energy industry.

The IDEA System of the Year Award serves to:

 - Provide a global industry benchmark for industry excellence, recognizing systems that illustrate the operational advantages of district energy in providing sustainable, efficient, reliable, and resilient energy services in their communities.

- Provide a platform for sharing ideas, best practices and innovations that have helped to make district energy systems successful. 

- Identify and promote the importance and value of district energy systems in the marketplace relative to other forms of energy generation and distribution.

- Further publicize district energy as a progressive industry that seeks continuous improvement in the services it provides.



Meet This Year's Winner!

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign wins the 2024 System of the Year Award

Winning the SOYA this year was the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for its cogeneration system, which couples the generation and consumption of energy streams to help manage and decrease system demand, thereby reducing costs and emissions. At the heart of the Urbana campus’ system is Abbot Power Plant, which supplies approximately 85% of the campus’ energy needs. The system also includes the Energy Management Control Center to help the university manage and lower system demand; provide geothermal energy; allow for the continuous review and improvement of building performance through remote, computerized monitoring; and manage two large-scale on-site solar arrays, which have helped the campus exceed its sustainability goals.

“We could not be more proud to be honored by IDEA with the System of the Year Award,” said Robert Roman, Director of Utilities and Energy Services at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “It is imperative that we maximize efficiencies and decrease carbon emissions, while also maintaining the high standard of reliability and resiliency that our students, faculty and staff have come to expect. Over the last 15 years, the university has reduced its energy use per square foot by approximately 40%, and we look forward to continuing to improve on efficiencies and decarbonization in the years to come.”

System of the Year is the highest honor IDEA can confer on a district energy system, recognizing high-level performance, reliability, efficiency and industry engagement, while furthering the goals of the district energy industry.

Read the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's SOYA Submission
The team at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign receiving the System of the Year award, flanked by SOYA chairman Bob Smith (on the left) and IDEA President and CEO Rob Thornton (on the right).

Recognizing Excellence in District Energy

Past Winners

2023 Austin Energy, Austin, TX
2022 Enwave Energy Corporation, Toronto, ON
2021 Milwaukee Regional Medical Center Thermal and Ever-Green Energy, Milwaukee, WI
2020 Tabreed, UAE
2019 Thermal Energy Corporation, Houston, TX
2018 University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
2017 University of Missouri Columbia, Missouri
2016 City of Richmond, British Columbia
2015 Veolia Energy Boston, Massachusetts
2014 Qatar Cool, Doha, Qatar
2013 Markham District Energy, Markham, ON
2012 Qatar Cool, Doha, Qatar
2011 Enwave Energy Corporation, Toronto, ON
2010 District Energy St. Paul, St. Paul, MN
2009 SOYA Not Awarded, All Recognized – IDEA Centennial Conference
2008 NRG Energy Center Phoenix, Arizona
2007 Consolidated Edison, New York, NY
2006 Metro Nashville District Energy/Constellation Energy Projects & Services Group
2005 University of Cincinnati, Ohio
2004 University of Missouri Columbia, Missouri
2003 Seattle Steam Company, Washington
2001 Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
2000 Consolidated Edison, New York, NY
1999 Enwave Energy Corporation, Toronto, ON
1998 Trigen Baltimore Energy Corporation, Maryland
1997 University of California - Los Angeles, CA
1996 NRG Energy Center Minneapolis, MN
1994 Energy Systems Company, Omaha, NB
1993 District Energy St. Paul, St. Paul, MN