Valentino Tiangco, Ph.D. Zhiqin Zhang, Ph.D.

Prab Sethi, P.E.Energy Generation Research Office

Energy Research & Development DivisionCalifornia Energy Commission

Joint Forum on Biomass, Biofuels, and Bioproducts

January 26, 2006Radisson Hotel

Fresno, California

Results of California’s Biomass R&D Initiatives

Presentation Outline

•PIER Renewables Mission & Objectives

•Biomass Development Strategies

•Results of R&D Projects

•Concluding Remarks

PIER Renewables Mission

Develop renewable energy technologies that help make California’s electricity

more affordable, more diverse, cleaner and safer, and which enhance customer

choice.

PIER Renewables Objectives

•Making improvements at existing renewable energy facilities to help provide peak capacity and increased reliability to California's electricity system

•Expanding renewable distributed generation technologies to help provide electricity generation in high-demand, high-congestion areas

•Developing renewable energy technologies, products, and servicesthat provide electricity customers with more affordable electricity, improved reliability, and a selection of choices

•Conducting longer term research on advanced renewable technologies that will help meet tomorrow's electricity needs

Biomass Development Strategies•Biomass R&D activities are responsive to policies•Technology development is geared to CA market needs•Partnerships with key market players•Biomass resource assessments•Development of analytical tools•Biomass R&D advancements that:

• reduce capital & O&M costs• reduce cost of fuel• improve performance• lower emissions• dispatchability to address peak demand• DG systems close to load centers• maximize value

State Policies that can be supported by Biomass R&D

Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR)– loading order with renewables & realizing strategic value of biomassRenewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) –target 20% by 2017Energy Action Plan I & II – accelerated RPS targets-20% by 2010 & 33% by 2020Governor’s response to 2003-2004 IEPR’s – diverse energy supply, R&D, support for California Biomass Collaborative and reinvigoration of State’s Interagency Bioenergy Working Group to develop integrated and comprehensive policy for biomassGovernor’s Ten Point Electricity Plan –encourage development of renewable energy and advancements through R&DGovernor’s Executive Order for greenhouse gas –biomass can help achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets

Results - Biomass R&D Projects

PARTNERSHIPS – RESOURCES – KNOWLEDGE BASECalifornia Biomass

CollaborativeMission•To enhances the sustainable management and development of biomass in California•Provide a forum for industry, government, academic, and environmental community interactions

Projects:Supporting and providing expertise to enhance biomass R&D program mission and strategy (short & long term)Established focal center - Statewide biomass coordinating groupUpdated biomass resource assessmentsBuilding Biomass Facilities Reporting SystemPower generation assessments or Technology assessmentsWhite papers, newslettersAnnual ForumsCost calculatorsRoadmap for biomass developmentSupported IEPR processCoordination with State Interagency Working Group

Strategic Value Assessment (SVA)This analysis provides vision and “roadmap” for integrating future renewables into the California grid

Assesses renewable resource potential and technology to meet RPS goalsIdentifies key focus areas for each renewable technologyEvaluates economics and timeframe for development for maximum public benefitsEvaluates points of high strategic value to the gridConsiders solutions with significant environmental, economic and other non-energy benefits to the stateProvides solutions that can defer transmission upgrades and helpprioritize transmission needsPrioritizes renewable implementation and transmission infrastructure needs

SVA MethodologySVA uniquely combines resource assessments, power flow analysis and economic drivers/benefits to prioritize California’s renewable developmentSVA scenario-based analysis provides a development priority within a region in support of policy implementation

Electric GridReliability & Infrastructure

Characteristic of renewable resources (quantity & location)

GIS Functionsand displays

Public benefit parameters

Energy Policy

Electric GridReliability & Infrastructure

Characteristic of renewable resources (quantity & location)

GIS Functionsand displays

Public benefit parameters

Energy Policy

Electric GridReliability & Infrastructure

Characteristic of renewable resources (quantity & location)

GIS Functionsand displays

Public benefit parameters

Energy Policy

2010 & 2017 Development Opportunities based on Biomass SVA Results

1,334 MW228 MWEconomic

Potential

7,086 MW5,217 MWNet Technical Potential

20172010

No TransmissionUpgrades

SMUD - Technology Advancement for Biomass Power Generation

Conractor: SMUD – UC DavisGoals:

Develop information on new biomass technologies suitable for CaliforniaProvide information on biomass resources in the Sacramento region

Status: Resulted to dairy digester projects and potential MSW projectsHelps evaluate biomass RPS projectsLarger biomass fuels assessment for the Sacramento region Technical Potential =520 MW

Technology Developments

Biomass R&D Projects

Makel’s HCCI* Low NOx Generator

Contractor: Makel EngineeringGoals:

System efficiency of 35% operating on LFGSystem NOx emission of less than 5 ppmSystem cost of less than 750 $/kWSystem electricity generation of less than 0.05 $/kWh

Project Site:Butte County Landfill

Status: Prototype is built and being tested using natural gas and landfill gas

--Natural gasMax Brake Thermal Efficiency = 35%NOx Emissions = Less than 5 ppm (@15% O2)Output Power 20 to 35 kWeTotal Operating Time > 300 hr

--Landfill gasTBD – being tested

* HCCI: homogeneous charge compression ignition

CAT 3116 Engine

Control Pane

Radiator& Fan

Engine Skid

Liquid-to-AirHeat Exchanger

Generator

Air-to-AirHeat Exchanger

Air SupplyFuel Supply

SCS & Ingersoll-Rand’s MicroTurbine

Instead of natural gas, the above 250kW Microturbine will run on landfill gas to

generate electricity.

Ingersoll-Rand 250kW Microturbine

Contractor: SCS EngineersGoals:

Market introduction of a 250 kW microturbine for landfill gas useReduce LCOE < $0.048/kwhrReduce capital cost to $800/kW

Project Site:Burbank landfill

Status:250 kW microturbine design and fabrication is completeUnit is being tested at the site NOx =5.72 ppm @15% O2

CO = 14.6 ppm

Yolo County’s BioReactor

Contractor: SMUD/Yolo Co.Goals:

Successful demonstration of bioreactor concept at full-scaleAccelerate decomposition of waste by 2/3rds normal timeframeDocument economic viability

Project Site:Yolo County landfill

Status:Have demonstrated accelerated decomposition, stabilization of waste & efficient methane captureTwo test cells implemented and monitoredMethane gas production is being monitored and is 4 to 7-fold than dry landfills

Valley Fig Growers’ Anaerobic Digester for Food Wastes

Contractor: Valley Fig GrowersGoals:

Demonstrate successful use of ADT for pre-treatment of food processing wastewaterSave ~ $100,000/yr in waste discharge costs paid by VFGDemonstrate CHP application of microturbine at site

Project Site:Valley Fig (Fresno)

Status:Successfully completed installation of a double liner covered lagoon, gas mixture pipelines, 75 kW Ingersoll-Rand microturbine, heat exchangers, underground pipe construction, and electrical construction. . Biogas that is currently being fed into the 75 kW microturbine generating up to 1800 kWh/day electrical energy. The energy saving from the electricity generated is about $60,000/year. Reduced the BOD and SS levels by 85% which is corresponding to a total annual saving of $85,000/year for the wastewater discharged.

TIAX Hydrogen-Assisted BioGas Engine

Contractor: TIAX LLCGoals:

Demonstrate an innovative new engine systemWith the CHP credit, NOx emissions at 0.02 g/bhp-hr (0.06 lb/MWh).Successful demonstration of a landfill gas autothermal reformer with 70% efficiencyCosts < $1000/kW

Project Site:Marysville (Norcal Waste), may change

Status:Engine fabricated and tested on simulated landfill gas & synthetic reformateScoping test shows at 6% reformate LHV NOx =9 ppm (@15% O2) = 70 kW output

Commonwealth’s Optimized BioGas Cleanup

Contractor: Commonwealth & CH2M-HillGoals:

Develop & optimize biogas cleanup systems through thermal hydrolysis & ultrasound pretreatmentImprove gas production (30%)Increase microturbine lifetime

Project Site:Riverside WWTP

Status:2 of 3 planned systems have been installedPerformance data are being collected

UC Davis’ High Solids Digester

Contractor: UC Davis & OnSite PowerGoals:

Scale up, test and demonstrate APS high solids digester

3 tpd size at UC Davis25 tpd at Norcal Waste

Methane generation rate > 6 ft3

CH4/lb of VSAchieve CARB 2007 NOx goals

Project Site:UC Davis & City of Industry

Status:Digester construction is 60% complete

IEUA’s Centralized Digester

Contractor: IEUA (SB 5x)Goals:

Successful demonstration of cost-effective European centralized digesterAbility to co-process food wastes and dairy manuresUse lean burn engine to generate 1.5 MW of electricity

Project Site:Chino Basin (IEUA site)

Status:Design is completedConstruction is pending depending on the bids

Commonwealth Codigestion of Food Wastes with Biosolids and Dairy ManureCodigestion of Food Wastes with Biosolids and Dairy Manure

Food Waste Storage Tanks

Pumps and Food Waste Receiving

Contractor: Commonwealth Energy

Project SiteInland Empire Utility District, RP-5

Status:• Pilot plant is operating with co-digestion

of dairy manure/food processing wastes using existing Digester No. 4 at Regional Plant 1 (RP-1) of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA). Expected additional power generation using the extra biogas generated from co-digestion is 25 to 55 kW.

• Pilot plant is operating with co-digestion of biosolids/food processing wastes using existing Digester 6 and 7 at RP-1 of the IEUA. Expected additional power generation using the extra biogas generated from co-digestion is 400 to 600 kW.

50 kW Small Modular Biopower System BioMax 50 to 100 Control Screen

Chip Dryer(optional)

GasFilter

Gasifier

GasCooler

ChipFeeder

BioMax 50BioMax 50

AshBin

ChipFeeder

Contractor: Community Power CorporationGoals:

Design, develop and demonstrate a 50 kW modular gasification system for grid interconnection, and combined heat and power using forest residue.Improve cost competitiveness of the biomass energy conversion technologies and reduce environmental risks and costs of California’s electricity.

Project SiteTBD

Status:Completed the design and fabrication of the SMB componentsShop testing is being conducted at CPCNOx = 8.6 ppm (15% O2) using 3-way catalytic converters in parallel CO = 0.066%

Hetch Hetchy:15 kW Small Modular Biopower System

Contractor: Hetch Hetchy/SFPUC (McNeil/ Community Power Corporation)Goals:

Conduct a technology demonstration project of a 15 kWe biomass gasifier

Project SiteTruckee Donner Recreation and Parks District

Status:15 kW unit installed & connected to the grid & being testedAll power is sold back to TDPUD (first utility interconnection for BioMax)Capture waste thermal energy for office building heatEmissions: NOx 30.1 ppm (@6.2 % O2), CO = 2.1 ppm, THC = 4.1 ppm

Dairy Biogas (DPPP) Projects

Primary focus:Demonstrating technical, economic and environmental feasibility of dairy biogas projectsCreate template for widespread deployment of dairy biogas systems in California3.8 MW of power expected

Status:Six of the 14 dairy power systems are operational. The performances of the six biogas systems have been in line with expectations. Benefits have been reported through electrical energy generation and utilization on waste heat. Benefits have also been reported in significant reductions on odor and flies.

.

ConclusionsTurning biomass back into a resource provides significant public benefits that need to be capturedCalifornia can greatly benefit from accelerating development of biomass systemsThe PIER Program is making headway in addressing barriers to biomass developmentPIER Program can play an important role in future biomass development that can help meet RPS goals and other state policies

Developing the next generation “super clean” biomass technologies that will help make California’s electricity more cost competitive, more reliable, safer and cleaner.Working closely and cooperatively with key stakeholders to meet California’s special needs and take advantage of unique opportunities

Thank You