Biomass Thermal Energy

Transcription

1 Biomass Thermal Energy Toward an Effective Public Policy Presentation to: Heating The Northeast Nashua, New Hampshire April 29, 2009 Andrea Colnes, Policy & Development Director Biomass Energy Resource Center

2 Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC) BERC is a national not-for-profit organization working to promote responsible use of biomass for energy. BERC s mission is to achieve a healthier environment, strengthen local economies, and increase energy security across the United States by developing sustainable biomass systems at the community level.

3 Why Woody Biomass is a Good Energy Choice for the Northeast

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5 Biomass Applications Heat Efficient $6 Billion out of the Northern Forest Economy for heat in 2006 The NE is the leading user of #2 Fuel Oil for heating in the world Approximately 80% of the homes and businesses in the NE are heated with oil #2 Oil (Diesel) makes a great Transportation Fuel!

6 Approximately one third of US energy consumption is Thermal Thermal/Other 31.1 Transportation 28.8 Electric Power 39.6 Transportation Electric Power Thermal/Other Source: Energy Information Association, 2006

7 Comparative Cost of Heating Fuels Biomass: A Cost-Effective Fuel Heating with biomass is less expensive than heating with fossil fuels. Biomass Energy Resource Center, 2008 All Rights Reserved

8 Local Energy A new way to look at the relationship between communities and forests

9 Critical Issues for Effective Development of Biomass Energy: Efficiency Scale Wood Supply Sustainable Harvesting Emissions Climate Change

10 Efficiency: If used efficiently, woody biomass could replace up to 30% of the nation s petroleum use with a local renewable fuel source. Used for heat or heat-led CHP, woody biomass is approximately 75% efficient Used for generating electricity alone, woody biomass is 20-25% efficient

11 Wood to Energy Conversion Efficiency (available technology) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Electric Thermal Industrial Process Heat Building Heat CHP Thermal District Heat Wood Stove CHP Power 200 MW Co-Firing 50 MW Power Plant 20 MW Power Plant Technology Efficiency

12 About how much wood might the potential Uses consume? Industrial Uses: Bio-oil 50, ,000 tons/plant? Cellulosic ethanol (at scale) 300,000-1,500,000 tons/plant Power plants 200, ,000 tons/ plant Community Uses: One school 30 Schools All schools in Maine Middlebury College VT State office complex 200-1,000 tons 15,000 tons 250,000 tons 30,000 tons 5,000 tons Crotched Mountain Rehab Ctr. (NH Hospital) 3,000 tons Public housing (50 units) 450 tons All in green tons

13 Scale: Using woody biomass at the community scale supports economic and ecological sustainability. Flexible and resilient wood energy economy Efficient thermal and heat-led CHP applications

14 Wood Supply: Understanding the availability and reliability of a sustainable wood supply is essential. Ecological sustainability Economic flexibility and resilience Dynamic and ongoing assessment

15 Sustainable Harvesting: Removals must be consistent with longterm forest health and productivity through and integrated approach New Biomass Harvesting Standards Wood Fuel procurement Guidelines

16 Emissions: Energy derived from woody biomass must minimize emissions and meet or surpass stringent public health and air quality standards Efficient combustion technologies Best air pollution control strategies Best management practices

17 Climate Change: Used efficiently and from sustainably managed forests, woody biomass has the potential to displace fossil fuels and reduce atmospheric CO2 emissions. Harvesting Regimes, forest types, fuel transport, efficiency National Carbon policy

18 National Energy Policy Energy policy should be based on achieving efficiency, sustainability, renewability and security rather than on boosting one technology over another Existing public policy is creating market distortions that are undermining these policy objectives

19 National Thermal Energy Policy Framework All Fuels Renewable Energy Standard Carbon policy that recognizes and supports the most efficient uses of biomass Federal incentives, grants and loans Renewable Portfolio Standard with efficiency threshold

20 Northeast Biomass Policy Framework The Northern Forest Biomass Energy Initiative Purpose: To explore the potential for woody biomass from the Northern Forest to provide an increased source of renewable, sustainable energy for the region, and to determine what needs to happen in the region for that potential to be realized. Recommendations Wood Supply Harvesting & Procurement Efficient Technology Emissions Climate Change Mitigation Investment & Financing Convened by BERC, the Northern Forest Center, and the Carsey Institute

21 Applications

22 School Case Study Barre Town Elementary School Barre, Vermont Size - 160,000 sq. ft. / 1000 students Heating System - Wood chips, converted from electric heat Fuel Use tons/year Annual Heating Cost - $19,000 Annual Savings $100,000 per year (1997)

23 District Heating - Campus District heating & cooling system Cutting fuel oil usage in half or 40% reduction (12,500 tons/yr CO2) greenhouse gas emissions Local fuel/local economy 75 mile radius and Willow plantation, 20,000 21,000 tons chips/year At 2008 fuel prices, $2 million annual cost savings CHP million killowatt hours electricity (1/5 campus electricity needs) Student learning opportunity Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont

24 District Heating Campus 400,000 sq. ft facility (hospital, school, central facility) Two boilers: 4 million Btu unit and 8 million Btu unit 100% campus heating needs $250,000 cost savings in first year ( 07-08) Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center Greenfield, New Hampshire

25 Case Study Pellets Commercial Heating 46,000 sq. ft. facility Two 150,000 Btu TARM boilers 25 tons/year ($190/ton = $4,750 last year) 30 ton pellet silo NH supplier need local pellet supplier NRG Systems, Hinesburg, Vermont

26 Conclusion Local Biomass Energy, making the energy connection between rural communities and their forest resources, brings together climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable forestry at the right scale.

27 Contact Information Andrea Colnes Policy and Development Director Biomass Energy Resource Center 43 State Street Montpelier, VT X 129 acolnes@biomasscenter.org