Distributed Generation and CCCHP for Alaska

Distributed Generation and CCCHP for Alaska

Thomas TantonT2 & AssociatesJune 17, 2010

Business of Clean Energy in Alaska

SummarySummary

• Technologies for DG and CHP– Types of Prime Movers– Sizes and Costs– Applications– Efficiency Improvements

• Fuels of Local Nature

• Infrastructure Benefits

What is Combined Heat and Power?What is Combined Heat and Power?

Prime MoversPrime Movers

• Reciprocating engines (5 kW-7 MW) 

• Combustion turbines (500 kW-25 MW) 

• Microturbines(25-500 kW) 

• Backpressure Steam Turbines (50 kW and up)

• Fuel cells (1 kW-10 MW)

Reciprocating EnginesReciprocating Engines• Currently Typical Village

Application– Familiarity and Maint.

Knowledge Infrastructure– ‘Easily’ Converted to

Capture Heat– ‘Easily’ Converted to

Alternative Fuel (e.g. biogas or biodiesel)

• Can Be Noisy• Depending on Size

~$2500-5000/kw• Often Used in Alaska to

“firm” wind• Fast but Not Immediate

Response• Moderate Thermal to

Electric

TurbinesTurbines

• Range in Size from ~250kW to multi-megawatt

• High quality heat for recovery

• Approx. $1800-5000/kW: bigger cheaper

• ~50% simple cycle efficiency

Fuel CellsFuel Cells

• Highest Available Efficiency (~65% elec. only)

• $4000-10,000/kw• Depending on Cell Type

Low Levels of High Quality Heat

• Need for Trained Personnel

• Silent • Power Conditioning

Weak Link

Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)

Recycled Goods

Post-Recycling Residuals

Municipal & Industrial

Solid Waste (MSW)

Gate Receive/Reject:

Green Waste, HHW,

White Goods & Metals

One Example of Local Sourced FuelsOne Example of Local Sourced Fuels

1

Rejected Loads: Refuse /Return

Final Land Disposal

Woody WasteC&D

MRF Sorting

Lines

Clean Organics

Compost & Mulch

Bio-Fuel

CommoditiesMarkets

6

ADC7

9

10

11

5

Emissions: Air & Water

19

Sanitary Landfill(SLF)

Extraction

8

2

3

412

16

17

18

Flare

Energy MarketsGeneration13

14

Loss15

20

21

22

23

24

Energy Input

Alaska OpportunitiesAlaska Opportunities

• Biomass and Fish Processing waste prevalent

• Some of the easiest to gasify for use in any prime mover (fuel cells req. cleanup more than others)

• With CCHP, fish processers can be more self sufficient wrt energy

Infrastructure BenefitsInfrastructure Benefits

• DE can ensure greater power quality, reduce vulnerability of the grid, and increase self sufficiency.

• Reduce Infrastructure costs—less TL

• Reduce Infrastructure Vulnerability

• Retrofit Existing village engines to district heat

SummarySummary

• Use of Expanded and Retrofit Distributed CCHP Provides Dramatic Efficiency Improvements and Improved Vulnerability

• Many Villages would Benefit from Retrofitting to District Heat

• Alaska’s biomass and fishery industry provide excellent feedstocks for expanded DG