Spiritwood Greenhouse Heat Source

Corry Shevlin

Project objectives• Harness synergies at the Spiritwood Energy Park

• Utilize the heat from the Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) exhaust from an ethanol biorefinery in an economical manner

• Partner with world class greenhouse developer operator to utilize this heat source to enhance greenhouse production

• Demonstrate technology of heat diversion from RTO stacks can be monetized by marketing that heat to greenhouse as transferrable to other North Dakota locations

Project organization

Project team

Site layout• Dakota Spirit

• 35MMBtu/hr XXX Btu heat source• 99% pure CO2 source

• Utility supply for greenhouse• CO2• Heating steam• Water

• Proposed site of 30 acre greenhouse

Heating system – funding distribution

Heating project funding

NIDC• $500K•Grant

BALANCE• $5.34M•Various potential sources

•Partner funding, contingency funding

Heat source

Project schedule

Total project budget

How this project supports REC’s mission• Agricultural diversity – This project is essential to help diversify the agricultural products and

the grow the growing season in North Dakota.

• Economic Impact – The initial investment of approximately $40 million will have immediate and long lasting impacts on the regional and State economy. The five-year impact to North Dakota GDP will be approximately $180M. Personal incomes will see nearly $100M in positive impacts.

• Energy Efficiency and Process Synergy – Colocation of a commercial greenhouse will allow for economical efficient operation of the commercial greenhouse. These synergies will also benefit other tenants of the park allowing for sharing of resources and opening markets for currently un-marketed byproducts (heat and CO2). This business model would be easily transferable to other ethanol biorefineries in the State allowing them a cost-effective way to utilize their heat and CO2 byproducts.

• Environmental Stewardship – Dakota Spirit to beneficially utilize heat that is not being used from the RTO stack.

Heating plan• Peak heat required by greenhouse is

approximately 50MMBtu/hr• This project will install heat air to steam

heat exchangers that will produce approximately 35MM Btu/hr

• Greenhouse will have a backup / peaking natural gas fired boiler to supply peaking heat and heat when the RTO heat exchanger system is unavailable.

• When heating is not required in greenhouse, Dakota Spirit can utilize the RTO derived heat to offset process heat currently purchased by Dakota Spirit (lowering total fuel consumption).

Houweling’s proven track record• Facilities

• Delta, BC - 150 acre facility• Camarillo, CA – 125 acre facility• Mona, UT – 30 acre facility• Spiritwood, ND – planned 30 acre facility

• Mona, UT facility• Flue gas from Currant Creek power plant

stack diverted to Houweling’s via above ground duct

• Thermal energy is stored on-site for greenhouse heating on-demand

• CO2 is directed into greenhouse to promote plant growth

• Condensate captured and utilized to supplement irrigation

Spiritwood greenhouse overview• Footprint

• 30 acres under glass• 80 acre site

• Power requirement• 1 MW routine load• 18 MW peak lighting load

• Water usage• 160 GPM• Recycle all irrigation water

• CO2 usage• 15,000 tons per year• Diverted from Dakota Spirit Stack

• Heat Usage• 35 MMBtu via RTO Heat Exchanger• 50MMBtu Natural gas boiler at

greenhouse

• Employees• 100+

• Production• 450K+ Bushels (tomatoes)

• North Dakota Agriculture Benefits• Extended growing season

(4 seasons)• Crop diversity• Demonstrate technology of CO2

diversion to greenhouse as transferrable to other North Dakota locations

Houwelings - proven track record• Current facilities• 150 acres – Delta, BC• 125 acres – Camarillo, CA• 30 acres – Mona, UT

• Flue gas from Currant Creek power plant stack diverted to Houweling’s via above ground duct

• Thermal energy is stored on-site for greenhouse heating on-demand

• CO2 is directed into greenhouse to promote plant growth

• Condensate captured and utilized to supplement irrigation