Alternative Energy Sources

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Alternative Energy SourcesAlternative Energy Sources

Delivered on to:

Bill PykeHilbre Consulting Limited

October 2012

Generating ‘Green’ Electricity

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Global Perspective

Energy Sources for Power Generation

Global Perspective

Energy Sources for Power Generation

Coal39%

Oil7%

Gas21%

Nuclear17%

Hydro15%

other1%

Source: IEA

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Options for Large Scale Power GenerationOptions for Large Scale Power Generation

Thermal

• Coal

• Oil

• Gas

• Nuclear

• Geothermal

Non-Thermal

• Wind

• Hydro

• Wave

• Tidal

Fossil Fuels

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Options for Smaller Scale Power Generation-at

present

Options for Smaller Scale Power Generation-at

present

Thermal

• CHP

• Biomass

Non-Thermal

• Wind

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Carbon Neutral SourcesCarbon Neutral Sources

• Wind

• Wave

• Tidal

• Biomass

• Geothermal

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Comparative Life Cycle

Carbon Emissions

Comparative Life Cycle

Carbon Emissions

Source: OECD Nuclear Energy Agency

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Lignite Coal Gas Biomass Wind Nuclear

Gm

sC

O2/k

Wh

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Power Generation Forecast

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Comparative Green Electricity Generating CostsComparative Green Electricity Generating Costs

Source: IEA

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Green Electrical Energy

Falling Generating Costs with Time

Green Electrical Energy

Falling Generating Costs with Time

Source: CPI

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October 2012

BIOMASS BIOMASS

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Fuels for

Transport

Electrical Power

CHP

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OutlineOutline

• Sources

• Availability

• Advantages/Disadvantages

• Challenges

• Cost Parameters

• Biomass to Power Growth Estimates

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Biomass SourcesBiomass Sources

• Forest products: salvageable dead wood, logging residues, and excess polewood

• Coppice Wood

• Urban wood waste and mill residues: mill residues, urban wood waste, and construction and demolition debris

• Agricultural residue: wheat straw and corn remnants

• Energy crops: switch grass, hybrid poplar and hybrid willow

• Biowaste, Landfill Sites

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AdvantagesAdvantages

• Cheap energy, especially if it derives from waste $2.00/mmbtu versus Natural gas at $6.00/mmbtu

• Feedstock is nearly everywhere available

• Bi-product: Biogas can solve the environmental

problems caused by organic waste

• Fertilizer as byproduct and financing source

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Biomass StatisticsBiomass Statistics• Global Biomass Resource: 1,250 bn. dry tonnes

• Annual Utilisation: 250 bn. Dry tonnes

• U.K 0.015 bn. Tonnes

• U.K. Cost of Biomass €4/GW

• Comparative Cost of Coal: €2/GW

• Coal CO2 emissions/tonne: €1/GW

• Biomass CO2 emissions/tonne Negligible

Source: Simpson-Holley & Evans, Energy World, June 2007

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Environmental AppealEnvironmental Appeal

• Utilises solar energy and converts some of it into biomass –a versatile fuel

• Removes some CO2 from the atmosphere in the process.

• Provides habitat for native species

• Multiple products when harvested

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DisadvantagesDisadvantages

• Ensuring Continuous supply

• Carbon neutral ?? Transport costs

• Drying to specification is energy-intensive

Biomass moisture content often 40-60%, needs to be 10-15%

• Storage Issues

• Impurities and toxins

• Safety devices are necessary

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OptionsOptions

• Dedicated Biomass Gasification and co-combustion / direct combustion

• CHP Biomass Generate electricity and heat

• Co-fire biomass with coal in existing conventional power stations allows substitution of 10-15% of fossil fuels in U.K., Belgium, Netherlands and Poland

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October 2012

WIND POWERWIND POWER

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EU Member State Players

in Offshore Wind power ( Sources: IEA, 2009 & BWEA, 2011)

EU Member State Players

in Offshore Wind power ( Sources: IEA, 2009 & BWEA, 2011)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Insta

lled

Cap

acit

y M

W

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UK Offshore Wind farmsUK Offshore Wind farms

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Western Europe

Wind Intensity Map

Western Europe

Wind Intensity Map

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Wind CHPWind CHP

• Good in areas of wind speeds >10m/sec

• Performance band width from 4 to about 15m/sec wind speed,

• Nominally rated at 1kW at a given wind speed of 12 m/sec

• net effect is a potential saving of up to 30% overall against the UK average 'domestic' electricity bill e.g. 3,200 kWh per annum

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Domestic Wind MicrogenerationDomestic Wind Microgeneration

Source: www.windsave.com

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Wind Power

Advantages & Disadvantages

Wind Power

Advantages & Disadvantages

• Advantages

• Relatively low front-end( installation cost. British DIY retailer sell 1kW “Windsave” turbines from £1,500)

• Low running /maintenance costs.

• Can sell electricity to the Grid

• Disadvantages

• Visually unattractive

• Variable wind

• Often ineffective in built-up and suburban area

• Often need planning permission

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October 2012

HYDRO-ELECTRICITYHYDRO-ELECTRICITY

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OutlineOutline

•Facts

•Process

•Major Global Users

•Advantages/Disadvantages

•Pumped Storage and generation management

•World-Class major projects

•Three Gorges Project

•Small-Scale Hydro

•UK Context

•Trends

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Hydroelectric FactsHydroelectric Facts

• 16% of Global Electricity Generation

• Earliest example of renewable energy on a large-scale

• 120 years of experience

• >90% efficient energy transformation with minimal transfer losses

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Hydroelectric Areas for Development Hydroelectric Areas for Development

• Large Land Areas

• High Relief

• High Rainfall/Snowfall

• Ready local market for electricity consumption

Most of the largest land areas have been identified

Limited scope for more mega projects

However opportunity for numerous small-scale hydro

(SSH)

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Hydroelectric ProcessHydroelectric Process

Source: Environment Canada

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Pumped StoragePumped Storage

• Hydro capacity is normally applied to peak-load demand

• Pumped Storage currently provide the most significant means of storage of energy on a scale useful for a utility, allowing low-value generation in off-peak times

• Operation of pumped-storage plants improves the daily load factor of the generation system-can be as low as 40% without pumped storage

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AdvantagesAdvantages

• Clean No sulphur, nitrous oxides or particulates. Low CO2 and methane.

• Renewable energy with security of (electrical) energy supply

• Low operating costs, low maintenance

• Large reservoirs can be used for other purposes; fish stocks etc

• Flood control

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DisadvantagesDisadvantages

• High front-end capital costs deters many investors Long payback period

• Large projects have led to elimination of agricultural land-use with displacement of population and homes

• Submergence of arable land leads to methane and CO2 emissions

• Potential for dam bursts. Over 200 in 20th century

• Possible negative environmental impacts both upstream and downstream of plant. Silt build-up

• Barriers to fish migration

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October 2012

TIDAL & WAVE POWERTIDAL & WAVE POWER

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Tidal PowerTidal Power

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Tidal BarragesTidal Barrages

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Bay of Fundy,

Annapolis Tidal Generating Station

Bay of Fundy,

Annapolis Tidal Generating Station

Installed Capacity 20MWTidal Range up to 17 metres

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Wave PowerWave Power

Source: BBC

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UK Comparative Generating Costs

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Coal FiredPF

Coal FiredCFB

Coal FiredIGCC

Gas OCGT Gas CCGT Nuclear Waste Wave OnshoreWindfarm

OffshoreWindfarm

Ge

ne

rati

ng

Co

st

p

en

ce

/kW

h

Source: Adapted from The Royal Academy of Engineering Report

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Carbon Emission Costs for Generating Sources

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Carbon Emission Cost

Generating Costs

Source: Adapted from The Royal Academy of Engineering Report