Delivered by: Sandra Yee, P.Eng

April 19, 2016

LESSONS LEARNEDURBAN ENERGY SYSTEMS AND COMMUNITY ENERGY PLANNING WITH

DISTRICT ENERGYBIOHEAT

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WHAT IS DISTRICT ENERGY?

Green, Responsible, Effective

“Community” scale heating, cooling, and power generation, undertaken to make use of local resources and surplus heat to meet local needs in a manner that is more effective than individual production.

Community Energy Planning is an effective tool to engage citizens and create support for district energy systems.

District Energy can be a key component in meeting local objectives for energy security and sustainability.

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WHAT IS DISTRICT ENERGY?

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COMPONENTS OF A DISTRICT ENERGY SYSTEM

Customer Building Hydronic HVAC

EnergyCentre

Distribution System

Energy TransferStation

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LESSONS LEARNED: WHY A DISTRICT ENERGY SYSTEM?

EVERY SUCCESSFUL DISTRICT ENERGY PROJECT HAS A CHAMPION

Resilience.

Fuel flexibility, easier incorporation of renewable energy sources in the future.

Reducing GHG Emissions.

Increase efficiency.

Create local energy economy and jobs.

Lower energy costs. Remove energy cost uncertainty.

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LESSONS LEARNED: WHERE TO BEGINEVERY SUCCESSFUL DISTRICT ENERGY PROJECT HAS A CHAMPION

Development of a Community Energy Plan, engaging stakeholders and building political and citizen will.

Heat mapping and setting long term goals with respect to meeting heating needs of the community.

A local champion or local department who is dedicated and focused on the advancement and success of the district energy system.

Educate to overcome challenges with lack of familiarity with district energy systems and technologies.

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LESSONS LEARNED: PLANNINGHABIT 2: BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

– Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Future proofing – planning, locating, and prescribing building characteristics such as water based heating systems.

Integrated planning of land use and energy

Developing policy – mandatory connections or financial tools to improve economics of district energy projects

Understanding and maintaining long term partnerships.

Urban energy systems are capital and planning intensive

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LESSONS LEARNED: ENERGY CENTRES

Adequately plan for redundancy with conventional fuel source backup facility.

Maintain and implement sufficient fire separation and fire suppression systems, biomass presents and increase fire hazard.

Use qualified operators and maintenance staff, build the local skill set.

Operating a utility.

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LESSONS LEARNED: DISTRIBUTION PIPING

Systems require long term commitment to operation and maintenance.

Select suitable material such as preinsulated PEX piping systems.

Construction challenges and infrastructure planning.

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LESSONS LEARNED: CUSTOMERS

Who will be the customer base?

Should every building in the community be connected or focus on larger multifamily homes and public buildings.

Customer satisfaction is important, improving perception and communications.

Energy literacy.

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LESSONS LEARNED: BIOMASS AS FUEL Forestry products

Forest residues (branches, tops, and stumps) Round wood (wood chips) Sawdust and shavings Bark Pellets

Agricultural products Residues (straw) Energy crops

Waste Organic portion of municipal and industrial waste

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ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS of using BIOMASS for heat production

Locally available Renewable energy source No addition to atmospheric CO2 if from sustainable source Less sulphur emissions

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LESSONS LEARNED: BIOMASS AS FUEL Offsets oil, propane, or electric heat. Secure long term fuel supply contract Transportation and traffic considerations Fuel handling (chipping, mixing) Fuel Storage (long and short term)

Adequate volume Too small -> logistic problem Too large -> biological activity

Flue Gas Cleaning Ash Handling

Return to the forest to prevent reduction of minerals in the ground

Use for filler in road constructions Use to cover landfills

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FUEL LOGISTICSTransportation and short term storage - example

Fuel: Wood chips (50% mc)Boiler capacity: 3 MWBoiler efficiency: 85%Heat production: 12 GWh/yearHeat value: 2.3 MWh/tonMax. fuel flow:1 1.5 tonnes/h

5 m3/h36 tonnes/24h120 m3/24h

Fuel consumption2 20.000 m3/yearAsh3 50 - 150 tonnes/year 0

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0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

MWHeat production Bio HWB Oil/Gas RGK Rest

1 - Less than one delivery truck per day2 - 250 delivery truck loads per year3 – Maximum of four truck loads per year

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UNDERSTANDING THE LOAD DURATION CURVE

LESSONS LEARNED: ACCURATE SIZED TECHNOLOGY

0

1

2

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0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

MWHeat production Bio HWB Oil/Gas RGK Rest

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Revelstoke Plant:1.5 MW Biomass fueled hog fuel) thermal oil boiler. Produces both low pressure steam for industry and hot water for district heating.

DISTRICT HEATING IN CANADA TODAY

Ouje-Bougoumou, Quebec:Two biomass fueled wood waste) hot water boiler. Total plant capacity is 4 MW. All buildings connected.

Tignish, PEI:2016/2017

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DISTRICT HEATING IN CANADA TODAY

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INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

FVB Energy Inc. www.fvbenergy.com International District Energy Association www.districtenergy.org Biomass Innovation Centre www.biomassinnovation.ca Canadian Biomass Magazine www.canadianbiomassmagazine.ca/ The New District Energy: Building Blocks for Sustainable

Community Development Online Handbook http://www.ontario-sea.org/Storage/32/2406_The_New_District_Energy_-_Building_Blocks_for_Sustainable_Community_Development.pdf

RETScreen - Clean Energy Project Analysis Software www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/software-tools/7465

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Thank You

Questions