SSM: RET Screen International 4.0 was used to analyze the technologies and compare with the existing diesel and

propane system. RET Screen is an international RET analysis tool developed by Natural Resources Canada. The

tool is capable of performing technological, emission and financial analysis. It can model for both on and off grid

communities thus making it suitable for ELA. The Mean annual wind speed (m/s) at 10m hub height (as per international standard) have been obtained

from ELA meteorological station. Annual solar radiation (kWh/m2/day)data was obtained from NASAs global climate database. The analysis has been

performed under higher heating value reference due to higher than average annual heating demand at ELA. Three technologies

were identified to perform the analysis. Wind, solar and biomass are chosen as potential technologies for analysis. Ref Table 3 for

model characteristics and Table 4 for the results obtained.

DSM: A walk through survey at the facilities buildings has revealed various energy saving opportunities that can be implemented to reduce the base load.

METHOD STEP 1: Evaluated the present energy situation at ELA including the economic and environmental impact that result from fossil fuel usage at the facility and by referring to fuels bills, manuals, audit reports.

STEP 2: Performed a walk through survey at the facilities buildings and compute the potential load saving that can be achieved by recommended energy saving measures

STEP 3: Developed RETScreen model and performed economic feasibility and emission analysis on wind power, solar power and biomass (combined heat and power) for heat and power generation and compare with the existing system

STEP 4: Summarized economic and environmental benefits of the energy efficient measures and RETs and propose a suitable alternative by comparing with the existing diesel and propane setup

Displacing fossil fuel use in an Off-Grid community: The cost benefit analysis of Demand Side Management and suitable Renewable Energy TechnologiesBhanu Duggirala and Dr.Shirley Thompson

Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba.

INTRODUCTION

Power generation is one of the biggest contributor to GHG emissions, which are believed to be the main cause for global climate change. With increasing climate change impacts, governments, organizations and communities are increasingly looking for alternative and environmentally safer ways to generate heat and power. Currently, propane and diesel are used to generate heat and power resulting not only in high energy costs (0.230$/kW) but also emit high GHG emissions (~280 t CO2). This poster summarizes changes that ELA can

make to become more energy efficient and also evaluates the feasibility of using wind power, solar power and biomass as energy sources of power and heat in contrast with the existing diesel generators and propane heaters used. Important quantitative and qualitative parameters are evaluated using RETScreen analysis tool to arrive at conclusion (Beccali et.al 2007). In terms of relevance to off-grid first nation, though ELA has many differences, it shares some commonalities like similar energy generation system and an increase in population base (visitors) in summer. With over 300 off grid establishments and a combined population of ~200,000 it is vital that these communities meet their energy requirements in a sustainable and cleaner manner (EIA, 2005a; Ah-You & Leng, 1999). With necessary modifications, this analysis could be used to evaluate local sustainable energy opportunities for other off-grid remote communities esp. first nation reserves.

CURRENT ENERGY SITUATION - The existing system energy system has two 113kW and one 60kW power plants. With a 75% loading on one of 113kW units the facility runs on ~85kW. See Fig.1 below for comprehensive economic and environmental impacts of exiting energy system.

Source: http://www.umanitoba.ca/institutes/fisheries/location.html

The isolated field stationsurrounded by lakes

and forest as viewed from air.

ElectricityHeating

RET

ParametersSolar Power

50kWWind Power

100kWDiesel Power

115kWBiomass

(Heat &Power)Geothermal

Heating Propane Heating

Reliability Moderate Moderate High High High HighAvg. Initial Cost

($/kW) 9,100 3,300 1,400 1,800~26,000

Entire facility-

Cost of power(in $/kW) 0.045 0.145 0.225 0.120 0.083 0.454

GHG EmissionsKg of CO2 Eq. Nil Nil 14020.52

Carbon neutral technology Nil 32,400.00

Efficiency 12.3 ~30% ~25% ~85% > 85% ~85% Equity pay back

period (in yrs)13.5 4.1 - 3.1 4.7 -

Capital Cost ($) 450,000 330,000 161,000

207,000 (Excluding district heating

piping system and engineering cost)

- 12,000

Annual fuel and O&M cost ($) Nil Nil 65,937.60 ~6,500.00 3,039.00 9,735.28

Fig 1. Energy Map of ELA revealed the flow of energy through the facility for the year 2006/2007

The field station is located at about 250km east of Winnipeg and 50km

east of Kenora, Ontario. A 30km gravel-surface logging road provides

year round access

SSM (Supply Side Management) encompasses

all activities required to identify, evaluate, optimally

select, implement and monitor options for the

generation of electricity to meet the present and future

loads

DSM (Demand Side Management) is a practice which aims at reducing the

energy usage by consumers. It is an essential and low cost approach in moving towards becoming sustainable energy

consumer

ABSTRACT From a Canadian perspective, the availability of superior wind, solar and biomass renewable energy

resources puts Canada's off grid communities in great position to make energy associated

adaptations and contribute in their part towards the global fight against climate change. This study

shows that, at one such off grid facility, the application of Demand Side Management (DSM) and

Supply Side Management (SSM) strategies can result in more sustainable heating and power-

generation and as a result it mitigates energy costs as well as GHG emissions in a economically

feasible way. A walk through survey at the facility has revealed that demand side opportunities can

reduce the base load by 20-25%, and for supply side, RET Screen model has determined that among

wind, solar and biomass, biomass based CHP system can provide power and heat at ~50% of the

energy to the existing diesel and propane system with diesel generation being used as backup and to

meet peak load demand.

ReferencesAh-You. K, Leng. G (1999). Renewable Energy in Canada’s remote communities. Renewable Energy for Remote communities Program, Natural Resources Canada.EIA. 2005a. International Total Primary Energy Consumption (Demand) and Related Data. Washington, DC: Energy Information Administration.Beccali. M, Brunone. S, Cellura. M, Franzitta. V (2007). Energy, economic and environmental analysis on RET hydrogen systems in residential buildings. Renewable Energy. Vol 33 (3)

Pg.366-382.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI owe many thanks to DFO for giving me the opportunity and financial support for this project. I would like to thank Ray Pambrun, Ken Beaty, Duane Jordan, Mark Lyng, Michael Paterson and John Shearer for providing with information, data and feedback. I would like to thank Dr. Shirley Thompson who has guided and supported me throughout this project. I would also like to extend my thanks to all the NRI students of Sep’ 2007 Course: Energy Management Course instructed by Dr. Shirley Thompson at the Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba.

Problem Identified

Recommendation Capital Cost of Recommendation ($)

Energy Savings (kWh)

Est. savings /yr

in ($)

Pay back period

Lighting in the

laboratory

Replace the 5 existing

incandescent lights with CFL

35.00 396.00 99.00 Under 4 months

Exit Lamps

Replace all 7 existing exit lamps

with LED exit lamps

315.00 6,132.00 153.00 ~2yrs

Two, old 40 cubic foot

refrigerators

Replace both with Energy star* units

*Energy star appliances save 20% of standard equipment

2 X ~$7,500.00 = $15,000.00

20% saving on 9,066.6 (existing) =

7,253.28A saving of 1813.32

518.00 >20yrs

Oversized ice maker

(1100 Watts)

Downsize to a smaller (575 watts)

unit

approx $2,500.00

50% savings on 4876.7 = 2438.35,

A saving of 2438.35

580.00 4.3yrs

Two 90°C ovens run

continuously overnight

Turn off one oven during nights

0.00

25% savings on 6832.8 = 5124.6,

A saving of 1708.2

437.00

Total $17,850.00 12,487.87kWh $1,787.00

Table 2. Summary of DSM recommendations with savings

Source: ELA - Laboratory Energy Audit Report, 2007 by James Kornelson, Kent Pearce, Jessica Saunders, Godwin Chang, Daniel Gagne, Tyler Tarnoczi and Jeff Valdivia. University of Manitoba

Table 4. RETScreen analysis of Wind, Solar and Biomass with existing Diesel and Propane System CONCLUSION

The model generated the results that are summarized in the table. Of the three technologies analyzed biomass is found to be more economically and environmentally feasible than wind and solar for ELA in the long term Introducing a small capacity of biomass CHP would bring significant benefits in term of emission and environmental risk reduction as well as mitigate fossil fuel consumption. This study shows that DSM and SSM can be used effectively to dramatically improve the energy situation at ELA resulting in lower energy cost, cleaner energy production and lower per capita GHG emissions. With enormous biomass resources and continuous improvement in biomass energy technology ELA has huge potential to incrementally adopt CHP and gradually mitigate fossil fuel consumption.

Table 1. Base Case Power System Characteristics

Grid Type & Technology

Off grid / Reciprocating

engine

Fuel Type & Cost ($/L)

Diesel

at 0.80

Capacity (kW) 115

Heat Rate*(kJ/kWh)

11,000 (or) ~25%

efficient

Electricity rate($/kWh) 0.230

*Heat Rate is the amount of energy input (in kJ or Btu) from the fuel required to produce 1kWh of electricity

Table 3. RETScreen Characteristics of Solar, Wind and Biomass Power System

Wind -Hub Height:25m-No. of turbines:1

Solar-Efficiency: 12.3%-Fixed Tracking method @ 35° slope

Biomass-District heating network- Wood pellets as fuel

Size (kW) 100 50 100Capacity

factor12.7 15.7 -

Power Delivered

to load

180.8Mwh(61.9%)

57.81Mwh(19.8%)

395Mwh(78.2%)

Net GHG reduction

168 tCO2 112 tCO2 336 tCO2

About ELA: Est. by Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in 1968, Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) is a unique research facility located in the remote regions of northwest Ontario. The off grid facility is operational year round with very little occupancy during winter months and is well occupied for the rest of the year (April-September). This provides a unique opportunity to explore and analyze the suitability of renewable energy technologies at this off grid facility as well as energy efficient measures.

ELA

Diesel (82,422 L/yr or $65,937.60)

Input Energy: ~423,360 kwh/yr

Gasoline (9527 L/yr or $9,147.80)

Propane (21,586 L/yr or $9,735.28)

GHG Emissions:Aprox 280,410.54Kg of

CO2 Eq per year

Annual cost of operation: $84,820.68 per year for fuel

(diesel, propane & gasoline) + maintenance cost

Laboratories(Elec. Cost - $41,540.68)

Residence, Workshop & Kitchen (Elec. Cost - $24,396.91) Transportation cost: ($9,147.80)

Energy output: ~423,360 kwh/yr

Source: Adapted from Sustainable energy solutions, Pembina Institute 2004.

Parasitic loads and losses

Fuel Supply

(Cracks on Walls,Poor door and cable holes insulation, etc)

Heat and Power Generation

Survey showed that DSM alone can reduce ELA base load demand for heat and

power by 20-25% with recommended energy saving

measures.

Note: Due to technical incompatibility, except for Biomass, all other model results does not incorporate the 20% DMS savings identified in Step 2.