renewable energy projects on public sites

GROWING Jobs and Our Economy | CONTROLLING Cost of Government | IMPROVING Quality of Life

Renewable Energy Projects on Public Sites


Why Renewables? --Reduce Energy Costs --Increase Energy Security --Meet Environmental Goals


What are we talking about:

Definitions • Renewable Energy

– Solar, Wind, Waste-to-Energy, Geothermal

• PPA Power Purchase Agreement

• REC Renewable Energy Certificate

• Making it pay: – Sell-all, Net Metering, Behind meter

• Public/Private Partnership

• RFP/RFQ Requests for proposals & qualifications


To go or not to go (forward)? • Organizationally, is there appetite for something new?

• Is there a good fit between site/energy use and technology?

• Does the concept make sense economically?

• Are the resources required for success present?

• Can a good case be made at all levels?


Tread carefully • Enthusiasm is excellent.

• It is not the same as doing your homework, being prepared, and executing effectively


Suggestion: Get some (really good) help!

• Renewables technology is hard – Get reputable vendors through established relationships, RFP, RFQ – Check those references and project lists!

• Renewables economics is harder – Financial models can be science fiction – Third party verification of vendor economics is strongly advised


The study:


Study Findings

• The economics change constantly—check back

• Renewables are dependent on regulatory/utility environment

• Decide on go or no-go quickly

• Take a hard look during new construction

• Public/private partnerships are often very advantageous


Comments, Questions Welcome!

Contact Info:

Rich Deming [email protected]


Energy Management 101 – Opportunities for Local

Governments


Dan Ziehm, PE Assistant Director of Public

Works – Gaston County A.S. in Mathematics & Science and B.S. in Civil Engineering

Registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina

18 years experience as a civil engineer, project manager, and public/private owner’s representative


Session Take-Aways

• Keeping Costs of Government Down

o American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) & Energy

Efficiency Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) o Renewable Energy Center (Landfill Gas to Energy) o Electric Vehicle Plug-In Stations o Conversion of Fleet Vehicles to Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) o Solar Photovoltaic (Building Mount and Ground Mount Systems)


Grant Funding Providing Future Paybacks…

• Through ARRA/EECBG funding, Gaston County received $525,600…

o Major facility energy audits - $105,000 o Infrared/thermal imaging camera - $18,000 o Expansion of methane well field - $280,000 o Occupancy sensors (County Courthouse) - $53,130 o Solar hot water heaters - $69,470


Gaston County Renewable Energy Center

• 400 acre landfill produces approx. 1,000 cfm of landfill gas

• Power generation facility includes three GE Jenbacher J420 engine generators at 1.4 MW each

• System and building is expandable to 6 MW as more gas becomes available

• Power generation facility initially serves 1,900 homes and will expand to as many as 3,800 homes by 2021

• Power purchase agreement with Duke Energy


Gaston County Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

• 2011 – Praxis Industries

provided Gaston County with an electric vehicle charging station to be placed at the Highland Health Center… Part of the ChargePoint network.

• 2013 – Gaston County installed two Type-2 electric vehicle charging stations… One at the Gaston County Visitors Center and one at the Lowell Branch Library.


Gaston County Conversion to Bi-Fuel

• 2011 – ARRA grant administered through by NC Solar Center for $95,200 to convert 16 vehicles to run bi-fuel gas/liquid propane.

• 2013 CFAT grant administered through NC Solar Center for $108,462 to convert 16 vehicles to run bi-fuel gas/liquid propane.

• Currently, Gaston County has applied for 2015 CFAT funding to convert an additional 8 vehicles to liquid propane gas.

• To date, the conversion to bi-fuel gas/liquid propane has saved Gaston County approximately 107,000 gallons of fuel at a savings of $161,000!


Gaston County Roof Mounted Solar PV

• Project was a public-private partnership between Gaston County and National Renewable Energy Company (NARENCO) of Charlotte.

• No cost to Gaston County! • NARENCO pays Gaston County an annual roof

rent. Power generated through the system is sold to the City of Gastonia through a power purchase agreement between NARENCO and the City of Gastonia. • Project was completed in December 2011.

• 635 kW system • Since completion, 1,710 MWh ($111,200) of electricity generated. • The electricity produced is equal to 47,100 gallons of gas/289 tons of coal/1,006

barrels of oil. • System has offset 1,200 tons of CO2/10,300 pounds of sulfur oxides.


Gaston County Ground Mounted Solar PV

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• Approx. 5 MW ground mounted solar PV system installed over the closed Auten Road landfill in Gaston County.

• Auten Road landfill is an unlined landfill that operated from 1975 until it was closed in 1987.

• Soil cover over the entire landfill ranges from 2 to 18 feet.

• Gaston County has partnered with Solexus Development, LLC of St. Louis, MO.


Managing Controllable Costs Through Energy Efficiency


Managing Controllable Costs through Energy Efficiency

Terry Albrecht, PE, CEM

Waste Reduction Partners

Partnership with NC Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service

Energy Costs Example: Local Government

Drivers for Energy Efficiency

Operational Efficiency (usage benchmark goals)

Cost Control and Savings Opportunities

Sustainability Plans

Carbon Emission Reductions Goal (1- 4%/year)

Greening Program Commitments: LEED, Energy Star

Conservation Plans

Grant Opportunities/Eligibility

Organizational Opportunity: 3-30% Potential Energy Savings for Facilities

Improved Energy Management

Energy Efficiency

Solar/Renewables

• Utility Accounting • Staffing Energy

Professionals • O & M Improvements

• Awareness • Energy Survey • Benchmarking / Tools • Performance Contracting

• Strategic Energy Planning • Leadership/Demonstration • Capitalization

Presenter

Presentation Notes

I will make the case the Energy Efficiency should be done first – or at least parallel to any other efforts Beginning with Utility billing analysis – State Agencies are saving 650,000 year by just a getting on the proper rate structure We find this opportunity – especially at 24-7 municipal operation, and industries where there have been production changes Those who have multiple building and campuses – Energy Benchmarking really need to be a priority $/sf, btu/SF for condition square footage Also on a large equipment basis such as for Chillers, boiler etc. (many time age related) To pursue these effort – you need to invest in staffing School system have been hiring energy manager for several years – yielding huge saving University like Western have recently invested in an energy manager. _ When our are pay several million /yr in energy utility cost – worth the investment Community colleges and local governments – your next (consider the size of budget for to warrant investment in “qualified "staff time Even if you get outside help – you need good oversight (such are with performance contracting) Even if you don’t want to or can’t implement project yourself - Don’t expect anyone to give you an ‘turn-key’ project results without some qualify expertise on staff or alignment with a technical service provider for 3rd party consultant There are lots of approaches to achieving energy efficiency – form Strategic Energy Planning (>100,000) to piecemiling projects into O&M budgets.

What Does It Cost To Save Energy?

Behavioral

No- to Low- Cost

Moderate

Capital Investment and Energy Performance Contracting

Sustained Facility Energy Savings

5% 10% 15% 20%

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Top Areas to $ave Energy

• Utility Accounting/Benchmarking

• Lighting (LED, Controls, High Eff)

• Heating, Cooling, & Controls (retro-commissioning)

• Hot Water and Water Conservation

• Equipment, Machines and Processes

• Building Envelope Improvements

Charlotte Museums Project Example Energy Use and Potential Savings

Non-Gallery Unoccupied Building AHU’s Winter/Summer RH Set-points Humidification Technologies VFD for Mint Gallery AHU’s Duke PowerShare Participation Radiant Energy Window Reflection Total Annual Savings Potential - $228,410 29.4% of Total Annual Energy Use

Strategies for Implementation Financial Approaches

• CIP

• Operational

• Performance Contracting

• Utility Incentive – Duke Energy Saver – Small Business Energy

Saving Program

Technical Resources

• Utility Reps & Programs

• Assistance Providers: WRP, NCSU,

• Consulting Engineers, ESCO’s

• Planning - CCOG

CREDITS, INCENTIVES AND REBATES DSIRE is a comprehensive database of information on state, federal, local, and utility incentives and policies that support renewable energy and energy efficiency. http://www.dsireusa.org/ Duke Energy SmartSaver® Prescriptive Incentives http://www.duke-energy.com/pdfs/SS-Comprehensive-Prescriptive-NC.pdf

CFL flood lamp with reflector $3 Per bulb Energy Star LED downlight $15 Per fixture T8 4ft 4 lamp fixture replacing T12 HO 8ft 2 lamp fixture $25 Per Fixture LED panel replacing T12 or T8 $40 Per Fixture LED track lighting $35 Per fixture Exterior LED canopy replacing up to 175W HID $80 Per fixture Exterior LED canopy replacing 176-250 W HID $90 Per fixture Exterior LED canopy replacing 251-400 W HID $170 Per fixture

Lime Energy is Duke Energy Progress' authorized contractor for the Small Business Energy Saver Program https://www.progress-energy.com/carolinas/business/save-energy-money/sbes/index.page?

Presenter

Presentation Notes

CREDITS, INCENTIVES AND REBATES are available through many sources. A central data base for this information is DSIRE.org. Watch your spelling! I would strongly recommend you contact you electric utility directly to identify programs. The incentives may be on their website, but buried several layers deep. The incentives and rebated can be as high as $170 and jumpstart your project. Some utility have a program including a free energy audit and payment up to 70% of total project cost for retrofitting qualifying lighting.

http://www.dsireusa.org/



http://www.duke-energy.com/pdfs/SS-Comprehensive-Prescriptive-NC.pdf










https://www.progress-energy.com/carolinas/business/save-energy-money/sbes/index.page?








Waste Reduction Partners

• Businesses • Non-Profits • Manufacturing • Schools • Agriculture • Local Governments

• Energy Efficiency Assessments • Solid Waste Reduction • Water Efficiency • Pollution Prevention • Technical Assistance

Waste Reduction Partners conducts on-site assessments and provides consulting services to businesses and public institutions throughout North Carolina. A team of 67 engineers and scientists provide technical assistance to clients at low or no cost. The program focuses on pollution prevention, operating efficiency improvements and cost effectiveness. $47 million client energy saving – since 2000 1.84 trillion Btu energy reduced – since 2000 36-74% implementation rates

Confidential - Non-regulatory - No-cost services

Clients Services and Projects At-A-Glance

• Greening Assessment • Innovative Approaches

• DENR Referrals

• Recycling Program Reviews

• Resources for Tough Discards

• Benchmarking • Cost/Benefits

• Level1& II Reports

• Cost/Benefits Analysis

Energy Efficiency

Water Efficiency

Leaning / P2

Waste Reduction

WRP Technical Services – 2014-15

WRP Contacts – Initiate a Project

Terry Albrecht, PE, CEM, WRP State Director 828 251-7475 [email protected] Russ Jordan, WRP Energy Manager 828 251-7477 [email protected]

www. wastereductionpartners.org


Comments and Questions?

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