Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Power WithinDefining the goals, overcoming the
barriers and achieving 100% renewable energy for cities
Renewable Cities Global Learning Forum
Vancouver, Canada
May 14, 2015
Joyce McLaren – NREL
William Dolan – City of Aspen
History of Renewables
The Aspen Idea
• 100% Renewable Energy by 2015
• Community GHG Reductions Below 2004 Baseline of:– 30% by 2020– 80% by 2050
Environmental Goals
Hydro (Basalt, CO)
Hydro (Aspen, CO)
Wind (NE, SD)
Solar (Aspen, CO)
Hydro (Ridgway, CO)
Landfill Gas (IA)
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 -
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
Load (MWh) Renewables (MWh)
Supplemental Wind Contract
Ridgway Online
New Wind/LFG Contract
Renewable Supply and Total Demand
Hydro47%
Wind27%
LFG0%
Nu-clear2%
Coal/Oil/Gas24%
Energy Mix 2014
Project Controversy
Lay the Groundwork
Review current status
of EE and RE.Clarify goals
and objectives.
Steps towards 100% Renewable Energy
Select a Path
Forward
Decide which programs/proj
ects to pursue.
Research the Options
Understand the options.
List pros, cons, risks.
Lay the GroundworkTASKS DECISIONSDefine the starting point. • How much RE do we have currently?
• Existing EE programs?• Other supportive policies/programs? • Are they successful?
Define the goal. • RE as % of consumption? • By what year?• % emissions reduction? Baseline year? Target
year? Method to calculate reductions?• When will decisions be made? Action taken?
Define renewable resources. • What technologies are eligible?• Biomass? Hydro? • Landfill gas? Municipal Solid Waste?• Renewable Energy Credits? Other compliance?
Define other priorities. • Local RE? New RE capacity? • Technology preferences?
“Create a plan to generate and/or purchase 100% of Aspen Electric’s electricity from renewable energy resources or as close to it as feasible.”
City of Aspen Canary Initiative Climate Action Plan 2007
What Constitutes Renewable Resources / Technologies?
Define the goal
Renewable
• Solar• Wind• Geothermal• Hydro (small &
existing)
Considered on Individual Project
Basis
• Biomass• Landfill Gas• Sewage Gas• Direct Biogas• Municipal Solid
Waste-to-Energy• Coal Mine Methane
Non-renewable
• Natural Gas• Nuclear• Coal• Oil
Aspen City Council Definition of Renewable Energy
Define “Renewable” Resources
bundled REC = electricity + REC
unbundled REC = REC w/o electricity
Are RECs renewable resources?
Aspen’s policy:
Limit unbundled REC use to <10% of annual load
e.g. use as a buffer to maintain 100% RE year-to-year
Aspen City Council’s Renewable Energy Priorities
3 Votes
• Community Involvement/Awareness
• Control/Ownership of RE assets
• Lowest Life-Cycle Cost
2 Votes
• Long-term rate stability (20 – 50 years)
• Visibility of RE leadership
1 Vote
• Backup power at critical facilities
• Location (Proximity to Aspen)
0 Votes
• CO2 emission reduction
• Catalyze new RE projects
• Meet the 2015 RE goal timeline
• “New” RE generation
Define the priorities
Lay the Groundwork
Review current status
of EE and RE.Clarify goals
and objectives.
Steps towards 100% Renewable Energy
Select a Path
Forward
Decide which programs/proj
ects to pursue.
Research the Options
Understand the options.
List pros, cons, risks.
Identify the Options
TASKS DECISIONS
Identify the limitations • What variables can we not control?• Contract limitations?• Decision-making authority?
Identify the options • What is the universe of options?• Think outside the box.
Identify how the options meet the predetermined priorities.
• How well does each option meet the predetermined priorities?
• Select a ‘short list’ of preferred options that best meet the priorities.
• What are the tradeoffs of the options?
Short Listed Options
• Distributed PV/Community Solar
• CCEC Hydro Project
• Des Moines Landfill Gas via MEAN
• New Wind Contracts
Second-Tier Options
• Buy more hydro from WAPA
• Olmstead Hydro (2017)
• Buy more hydro from Ridgway (2023)
Third-Tier Options
• Gas fuel cell using biogas contract
• Coal Mine Methane
• New Utility Contract
• Micro-hydro in Aspen
• DG biomass or Anaerobic digestion
• Geothermal• Irrigation Ditch
Hydro• Landfill Gas in
Pitkin County
Aspen’s Renewable Energy Options
Identify the options
Identify how the options meet priorities
Aspen’s EE OptionsOption Strength Weakness
Benchmarking and Labeling
Highly visible; scalable to multi-family and commercial
1:1 energy savings to utility revenue loss
Mandatory audit/upgrades at time of sale
Ensures continuous efficiency improvements. Costs recouped through filing fee.
Relatively high program administration effort.Long length of time to savings.
Dynamic Pricing Can be revenue neutralCan be designed for specific needs of utility.
Functions better with AMI so customers receive real time information.
OptionOutput MWh/yr
~Lifecycle
Cost$/MWh
Controlor
Ownership
Community Involvemen
tRate
Stability
Visibility/ Leadershi
p
Back up
Power
Location (proximit
y to Aspen)
Aspen Community/ Distributed PV
Up to 1,500 limit2
~$130+ Yes High~25 years
High Low In Aspen
CCEC Hydro 5,5003 ~$634 Yes Medium~ 75 years
HighUp to 5,500 MWh
In Aspen
Des Moines Landfill Gas (via MEAN)
Up to 18,000
$96(current
cost)Low Low
Varies over 20 years
Low No900
milesaway
NewWind Contracts
5,000 –20,0005
~$905 Low Lowup to 3 years
Low No
Coloradoor
Western US
Aspen’s RE Options and Priorities
Identify how the options meet priorities
Hy-dro46%
Wind53%
LFG1%
Proposed Energy Mix 2015
Decisions are more difficult and controversy is more likely in the absence of clearly defined goals and priorities.
There are multiple options to achieve a goal and address priorities. Each option has different pros, cons, costs, risks, tradeoffs. Identify them and use them to focus the discussion during the decision-making process.
Avoid the tendency to focus on one resource, technology, pathway or project too early. Think outside the box.
Develop a transparent decision-making process that is clearly prescribed and leads to a final decision.
Project’s technical merit does not solely define success. Public support essential.
Lessons Learned
Socio-Political
Lack of clear goals, definitions, direction
Political division
Public acceptance/Discontent/Division
Over-enthusiasm (disorganized action)
Utility
Utility not on board with renewable development
Insufficient utility infrastructure
Communication delays/interconnection issues
Resources
Scarcity of renewable resources
Lack of funding
Lack of technical information/knowledge/expertise
Categories of Barriers
This document is provided by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (“NREL”), which is operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC (“Alliance”) for the U.S. Department of Energy (the “DOE”). This document has been authored by employees of the Alliance under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308 with the DOE.
This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof.
USERS OF THIS DOCUMENT AGREE TO INDEMNIFY DOE/NREL/ALLIANCE, AND ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES AGAINST ANY CLAIM OR DEMAND, INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES, RELATED TO YOUR USE, RELIANCE, OR ADOPTION OF THESE DATA FOR ANY PURPOSE WHATSOEVER. THESE DATA ARE PROVIDED BY DOE/NREL/ALLIANCE "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL DOE/NREL/ALLIANCE BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOSS OF DATA OR PROFITS, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM AN ACTION IN CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS CLAIM THAT ARISES OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THESE DATA.
Disclaimer Statements
