Community Based Energy Joel Tallaksen Program Coordinator West Central Research and Outreach Center
Background Renewable ewab e Energy Research And Demonstration o Center e established in 2004 Provide Affordable Reliable Energy to Communities Develop Environmentally Friendly Renewable Energy Lower Reliance on Foreign Oil/Energy Provide Added Revenue for the Community
Research And Demonstration Center Core Projects Wind Energy Biomass Gasification Facility Renewable Energy Research and Education Addition Community Bio-gas/Bio-methane System
LITTLE GASIFIER ON THE PRAIRIE The struggle of a rural gasifier on the new energy frontier. Joel Tallaksen West Central Research and Outreach Center University of Minnesota, Morris
Current UMM Heating Plant Natural gas fired boiler Used for heating campus buildings Generates approx. 20,000 lbs steam/hr @ 150 psi Annually uses approx. 160,000 MCF of natural gas
Need To Evaluate New Options Typical Equipment life figured at 20-30 years Need more capacity for future expansion Natural gas supply not entirely stable Natural gas prices extremely unstable
Fuel Costs
The Project Begins Lowell Rasmussen Associate Vice Chancellor for Plant Services and Master Planning Used up reserve money for fuel in 1 year Needed to control fuel costs Started evaluating options
Considerations For A New Heat System Allow Fuel costs to be controlled -Fuels that would not have huge price changes Be environmentally friendly -Carbon neutral Be innovative and look towards the future
Why Use Biomass Energy? Biomass is a renewable energy source Every season it grows back Biomass can be clean burning If clean biomass is used Biomass is produced locally throughout the country Generated by agriculture and forestry work
Focus on Gasification Well understood technology Used extensively in Europe -Often used with municipal waste Commonly used in wood processing industry Can use many different fuel sources Most of which are carbon neutral Significant regional supply of biomass fuel Significant regional supply of biomass fuel Promising technology for commercial use
On The Gasification Bus Found at Biomass Energy Foundation http://www.woodgas.com/history.htm
Gasification: What is it? Gasification is the change of complex hydrocarbon molecules into gases using heat and limited oxygen. + O 2 CO + H 2 + Ash + Energy (heat)
Biomass components
Potential Gasification Products- Heat- Combustion of gas to make steam Gases- Purify and store the CO and H 2 Eh Ethanol- Made via steam reformation Electricity- Using Steam to power a turbine Combustion engine generator
Pre-Design Fuel Study Theoretical = 15 M tons/yr Actual = 677,000 tons/yr Contractual = 45,000 tons/yr EERC 2002
What is Biomass? Biomass is. Material made of complex carbon molecules that were built by living organisms. ALL PLANT MATERIAL
Biomass Examples: Wheat Straw Turkey Manure Almond Shells Newspaper Orange Peels Wood Chips Oat Hulls
Fueling the Fire Gasification EERC suggested wood biomass sources -Not currently dependable in the area -Probably not a good long-term solution Agricultural residues are a more available option - Typically left on the field - Not a commodity price more stable
Biomass In the United States
Agricultural Residues Figure from US DOE
Community based energy supply ppy Biomass is a regional energy source at this time Too bulky to move long distances Biomass must be used near those who produce it Biomass energy payments stay in the community
Required a leap of faith. No agricultural biomass energy plants operating: -on corn stover -in the U.S. Limited regional infrastructure for biomass supply Biomass handling/transport is not simple -it s easy opening a gas valve
Funding the project Minnesota Legislature University of Minnesota Institute for Renewable Energy & Environment (U of M) Agricultural/Commercial Groups United States t Department t of Agriculture
Research & Outreach Show gasification on a commercial scale level. l Use this project as a research facility Demonstrate community based energy projects Work to add a revenue stream to the community
Implementing the Project Little prior local experiences with gasification Steep learning curve Concerns over emissions Three tests using corn stover to determine emission levels Performance guarantee is common in construction Client can be comfortable buying expensive equipment Manufacturers can t always do this with new technologies
Biomass Gasifier Model
The Morris Gasifier Capable of 18 million BTU/hr Supplies up to 80% of peak demand Will not fully replace the current boiler Maximum biomass use: 72 tons a day Can connect to a chiller unit for AC in the Summer Designed for agricultural biomass and other fuel Facility has expansion space for additional units
Proposed Location
Current Status Identified d a gasifier and boiler manufacturer Tested the gasifier using Minnesota corn stover Tentative emissions permit has been issued General Contractor has been selected Design is in the final stages Need final Board of Regents approval
GASIFICATION PROJECT: RESEARCH TOPICS
Gasification Research Goals Demonstrate successful gasification technology Examine economic feasibility of gasification Evaluate ag residues as biofuels Perfect methods for using biofuels Develop a biomass collection/handling system Study harvesting of ag residues Education and outreach to share our findings
Opportunity For Agriculture 1 Billion tons of biomass per year needed d by 2030 Will probably be used for: Heat Production Energy Generation Ethanol Production Biocrude Production More important t as oil supplies run low
2008 Regional Biomass Needs* U of M Morris Chippawa Valley Ethanol Coop Central Minnesota Ethanol Coop Fibrominn *Rough Estimates at full capacity 7,000-10,000 tons Stover 90,000-100,000 tons Stover Will not be at full capacity immediately 90,000-100,000 tons Mostly Wood; but some DDGs & Stover 500,000 tons Turkey Litter 150,000 tons Plant Biomass
Agricultural Biomass Ag residues are bulky, not like grains Do not always flow well Not yet a market/system for handling biomass
Biomass Harvesting Currently requires multiple passes Grain harvest Cut/windrow residue Bale biomass Pick up bales Not efficient Consumes fuel (energy) Consumes fuel (energy) Requires added labor Added equipment and maintenance
New Harvesting Technology Deere and Co., J. Stephens Iowa State University- S. Birell
Transportation Chariton Valley Project- http://www.iowaswitchgrass.com/
Loading and Transporting Biomass Technology used currently is not efficient. Mostly designed for on-farm use of baled material Multiple handling steps Slow moving vehicles Small loads of bales Newer technology has become available Not yet in wide use Expensive
Storage Harlan Corn Stover Project
Storage Issues With Bale Farms Labor intensive i operation Material loss Moisture levels Spontaneous combustion Spark Ignition
Densification
Pelleting or Briquetting Mechanical compression of material Successfully used with wood and other materials Allows for convenient handling of biomass Pellets can be affordably shipped long distances Pellets are usually drier and burn with more BTUs
Ash Ash from corn stover is 5% of biomass Has a ph of 10 to 13 Do not want to put ash in a landfill Has nutrient value Would return some nitrogen to the soil Valuable as liming agent in some areas Not in this area, soils already high in ph
Sustainability Biomass removal amounts? Harvest biomass every yr? Change cropping method? Alternative crops? USDA examining the issue
BIOMASS ENERGY OUTLOOK: LONG AND SHORT TERM
Short Term Biomass Outlook Build 1 st Generation Plants Troubleshoot problems Improve effeciency New Ag/Environmental Studies Sustainability Alternate Cropping Develop the Biomass supply Harvesting biomass Transporting biomass Verify the financial models Establishing pricing Determining return on investment
Agriculture Changes Change in crop acreage Similar to the current increase in corn acres Change in cropping systems To produce added biomass with less environmental impact Adding new energy crops Prairie grass, new non-native crops
Carbon Credits Payments for greenhouse gas reduction Carbon trading scheme may be mandated Currently voluntary system, $2 to $4 an acre May have significant effects on energy sector Could pay for using alternative crops
New Energy Production Technologies Biomass energy Cellulosic ethanol Catalyst mediated biomass conversion Other renewables Improved solar Added wind
Changing g Energy Needs Energy consumption is likely to change Hydrogen vehicles? Geothermal home heating? What type of energy will we need in the future? Electricity Hydrogen Ethanol Biodiesel Biomass pellets
Final thoughts Over the next 5 to 15 years there will be more changes in energy production than in the last 80 years. The long term course is being set towards The long term course is being set towards renewable energy, but the methods of getting that energy are not close to being finalized.
Balance With today's technology, no one source on energy will meet all our needs on a sustainable basis. Each energy source has some limitation. Solar- No sun no power! Wind- No wind no power! Corn Ethanol- Need the food too! Biomass- Remove too much, environmental Damage!
Energy Every Where Under The Sun
Acknowledgements Graphs: USDA DOE Photos: USDA, ARS Sustainable Energy Ireland (www.sei.ie) Chariton Valley Project (www.iowaswitchgrass.com) Harlan Corn Stover Project (www2.ctic.purdue.edu/core4/bio98paper.pdf) Biomass Energy Foundation (www.woodgas.com)
Biomass Gasification Project Partners Lowell Rasmussen, U of M Morris Mike Reese, West Central Research and Outreach Center IREE (Institute for Energy and Environment) Chippewa Valley Ethanol Cooperative Minnesota Corn Growers Association AURI (Agricultural Utilization Research institute) USDA ARS-NCSCRL
What should we Risk for reliable energy? Who will take the risk: What should the consumer be willing to risk? What should a farmer be willing to risk? What should utilities be willing to risk?
Not All Complex Carbons Are Equal Sugars- Very easy to break down In small amounts throughout the plant Starches- Easy to break down Common in seed or storage structures Cellulose- Difficult to break down Found in most of the plant Lignin- Extremely difficult to breakdown Found in most of the plant
Long Term Changes Implement Agricultural Changes Analyze Environmental impacts Assess Energy Needs