Renewable Energy Basics West Central CERT

Our MissionOur MissionGiving community members a voice in energy planning by connecting them with the technical resources necessary to identify and implement

community-scale energy efficiency and renewable energy projects

www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org

Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy• Derived from natural

resources that are continually replenished by the earth’s systems

• Most come either directly or indirectly from the sun

• Geothermal energy taps the earth’s internal heat

• Wind

• Solar

– Photovoltaic (electricity)

– Solar Thermal (heat)

• Biomass

– Biogas

– Biofuels

• Geothermal

RenewablesRenewables

• Efficiency improvements MUST be the first step in any renewable energy project.

• Estimated $1 : $3 savings ratio

• Get an energy audit from your utility’s Conservation Improvement Program (CIP)

But Remember: Efficiency First!But Remember: Efficiency First!

– Benefits local communities

– Economic development opportunities

– Local ownership– Environmental

benefits– System reliability– Fossil fuels are

finite

Why Renewable Energy?

Why Renewable Energy?

• Renewable Energy Standard of 25% by 2025– 7% by 2010; 12% by 2012; 17% by 2016– 30% by 2020 for Xcel

• Next Generation Energy Act

– Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050– Aggressive energy savings goal—1.5% of revenues– Community-Based Energy Development Tariff – Economy-wide climate change action plan– Required reductions in CO2 from power sector

Minnesota Energy Policy 2007

Minnesota Energy Policy 2007

Community-Based Energy Development• Requires utilities to consider (but not necessarily

commit to) community wind projects • Provides for a special payment structure (for

electricity sold to the utility) to make financing for the community developer easier:

• Higher payments during the first 10 years of the project– Lower payments in second 10 years

• Provides definitional guidelines for what constitutes a “community wind” project

Focus on: C-BEDFocus on: C-BED

…In the United States during 2007, only 1% of large scale wind projects were locally owned.

In Minnesota, 27% of large scale wind projects were locally owned!

Did you know…Did you know…

Minnesota has tremendous wind potential. For any project, however, you will need site specific monitoring to determine the best location.

Wind EnergyWind Energy

• Arne Kildegard of UM Morris wrote a paper comparing and contrasting the costs and benefits between community owned wind projects and corporate wind projects. He found there were 3 times the economic benefits from local ownership.

Focus on: Wind Ownership Models

Focus on: Wind Ownership Models

• In the summer of 2008, CERTs partnered with Initiative Foundations and others to address various issues that land owners interested in wind development should be aware of when approached by wind developers. In general:

• Land leases = lower risks and lower rewards

• Local ownership = greater risks and greater rewards

Focus on: Wind Ownership Models

Focus on: Wind Ownership Models

The Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Rural Energy Development Initiative (REDI) aims to provide assistance to rural entities seeking to develop wind energy projects.

Focus on: REDIFocus on: REDI

Small wind = <100 kWResidential, farm or small business application

• It costs roughly $3,000-$5,000 for every kilowatt hour of generating capacity

• Roughly 15-year payback for well-sited systems

• Net metering available for systems <40 kw

Small WindSmall Wind

In 2005 CERTs worked with partners to create the Model Wind Ordinance

Focus on: Kandiyohi County Guide

Focus on: Kandiyohi County Guide

• Utility-scale electrical production

• Greater than 100 kW – current generation is 2 MW per turbine

• Average cost $1,000,000

per MegaWatt

Large Wind (Utility Scale)

Large Wind (Utility Scale)

• The USDA Rural Development Renewable Energy Grants can cover up to 25% of an eligible project’s costs.

USDA Renewable Energy ProgramUSDA Renewable Energy Program

• Photovoltaic systems (PV) produce electricity from sunlight

• Benefits? PV system output (sunny summer days) correlates with periods of peak electric demand

• Hurdles? Cost (15 cents/kWh after incentives)• Return on Investment is determined by net metering

prices

Solar PhotovoltaicSolar Photovoltaic

The Environmental Learning Center recently installed a two panel solar PV system on their property with funding from the West Central CERT. www.prairiewoodselc.org

Focus on: Prairie Woods ELC

Focus on: Prairie Woods ELC

• Solar thermal – using the sun’s energy to heat water or air.

• Passive solar design integrates a combinations of building features to reduce the need for heating, cooling, and daytime lighting.

Solar Thermal & Passive Solar

Solar Thermal & Passive Solar

• Manufactures solar thermal collectors, domestic hot water heaters, and space heating systems.

• Two 4’x8’ collectors can produce 50% to 70% of the annual hot water needed for a family of four in MN.

• Return on Investment differs for what kind of water heating system you currently use

Solar Manufacturer – Starbuck, MN

Solar Manufacturer – Starbuck, MN

• Biomass is any organic material not derived from fossil fuels that can be converted to a fuel useful for generating electricity.

• Dedicated crops: woody hybrid poplars, switchgrass, etc.

• Waste products: wood residues, agricultural residues, animal waste Co-firing biomass with coal

• Gasification – community digesters

BiomassBiomass

In Brooten, MN (Stearns County) a couple has installed a methane digester on their 160 cow dairy farm to turn manure into electricity.

The digester will produce 400 to 460 KwH of electricity per day. 95 kwh will be used per day to operate the system

Focus on: Brooten, MN Digester

Focus on: Brooten, MN Digester

• The plant is used to explore the gasification technology in converting plant-based fuel stocks into energy in the form of synthetic gas that is intended to replace the use of fossil fuels such as natural gas.

• http://renewables.morris.umn.edu/biomass/

U of M Morris Biomass Gasifier

U of M Morris Biomass Gasifier

• Generally refers to ethanol and biodiesel that are primarily used in transportation, but can be burned to produce electricity

• Ethanol is generally derived from corn– E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline

• Biodiesel is generally from soybean oil

BiofuelsBiofuels

• http://www.cleanairchoice.org/E85InCounty.asp?State=MN

• Grant: 3• Douglas: 3• Traverse: 2• Big Stone: 2• Stevens: 5• Pope: 2• Stearns: 16• Meeker: 4• Kandiohi: 6

• Swift: 4• Chippewa: 4• Lac Qui Parle: 2• Yellow Medicine: 4• Renville: 9• McLeod: 3• Sibley: 3• Nicollet: 3

Biofuel Stations in WC MN

Biofuel Stations in WC MN

This technology uses the earth’s constant temperature below the surface to heat or cool a home and to provide hot water.

• A typical 2400 square foot house will need a five ton system;  • Installation cost of the conventional system = $ 6,500 (LP gas furnace)• installation cost of the Geothermal system  = $21,000• Reduction of operating cost per year = $1,800• Payback (21,000-6,500)/ 1,800 = 8.1 year  or  12% Return on Investment

GeothermalGeothermal

• Located in Appleton and Elk River, MN

• Manufacture ground-source heat pumps designed for MN’s cold weather climate.

• ECONAR Geothermal Heat Pumps may qualify for a Federal Energy Tax Credit of up to $300.

Focus on: ECONAR Heat Pumps

Focus on: ECONAR Heat Pumps

• www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org – CERTs

• www.commerce.state.mn.us – MN Energy Office

• www.mnrenewables.org - Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES)

• www.fresh-energy.org – Fresh Energy

• www.windustry.org – Windustry

Renewable Energy Resources

Renewable Energy Resources

• www.dsireusa.org – Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency

• www.eere.energy.gov – Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE)

• www.nrel.gov – National Renewable Energy Laboratory

• www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/tech_reports.html

Renewable Energy Resources

Renewable Energy Resources

• www.focusonenergy.com • www.awea.org – American Wind Energy

Association• www.ucsusa.org - Union of Concerned Scientists• http://analysis.nrel.gov/repis/online_reports.asp -

REPiS Online • http://www.state.mn.us/mn/externalDocs/

Commerce/Can_I_have_a_wind_turbine_100807042643_WindFAQ.pdf Department of Commerce: Can I Have a Wind Turbine

Renewable Energy Resources

Renewable Energy Resources

For More Info on WC CERT

For More Info on WC CERT

www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org

Visit our Web site at www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org