Kamalesh Doshi, Program DirectorBiomass Energy Resource Center

Oswego BOCES, Mexico, NYNovember 13, 2008

Implementing Small Scale Bioenergy Systems

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.

Biomass: only renewable resource that causes problems when NOT used!

WOOD FUEL COMPARISON:

Best Applications for Woodchips

• Larger facilities

• Where fuel cost savings are very important

• Larger facilities (more than 50,000 sq. ft.)

• Where there is room for: new boiler room, fuel

storage bin, tractor-trailer access

• In/near forested areas with an active forest

products industry

About how much wood will the new community uses consume?

• One school 200-1,000 tons

• 30 Vermont schools 15,000 tons

• Middlebury College 30,000 tons

• Vermont state complex 5,000 tons

• Crotched Mountain campus 3,000 tons

• Public housing (50 units) 450 tons

All in green tons chips

Technologies –Wood Residues to Energy

• Industrial process heat

• Building space heat (and DHW)

• District heat

• Combined heat and power (CHP)

• Utility-scale power plants

• Utility co-firing

Bioenergy Technology Pathways

Gasification

Internal Combustion

Engine(Up to 0.5 MW)

Gas Turbine(>5 MW)

Synthesis Gas

Hot Gas

Steam Turbine(>1 MW)

Combustion

Steam

Gas Turbine(>0.5 MW)

•Lower efficiencies•Greater air emissions

•Favorable economics•Still in developmental stages

• Increased efficiency

• Lower emissions

• Lower time requirements

• Reliable operation

• Automated fuel handling

• Hot water boiler and heat distribution

“Modern” Biomass Heating Systems

On-slab fuel storage Fuel moved with small loader

Day bin and small combustor

Low-Cost Semi-Automated Systems

GARN Boiler

Low-Cost Hand-Fired Systems

• 10,000 to 50,000 SF

• Oil, propane, or electric

• Natural gas only if price is above average

• Centralized heat distribution system

Wood Pellet Boiler Systems

Wood Storage & Delivery -Container System

Boulder County Transportation

BIOMASSFEEDSTOCKS

Woodchips(hardwood, softwood,

bole, whole-tree chips)

Pellets(Grass, sawdust,

agricultural residues)

Cordwood

Agricultural crops(corn)

FEEDSTOCKSTORAGE

Below-grade bin

Above-grade

(on slab storage)

Silo (inside, under

a roof, or outside)

Roll off containers

FEEDSTOCK HANDLING

Fully

automated

Semi

automated

Manual loading

HEATDISTRIBUTION

Hot water

Steam

Hot air

Technology Options for Biomass Heating Systems

Size158,000 square feet1,000 students

Heating SystemWoodchips (converted from electric heat)

Fuel Use847 tons in 2006-07

Annual Heating Cost$39,782 in 2006-07

School Case Study

Barre City ElementaryBarre, Vermont

Wood Heating for Institutional and Public Buildings

State Office Building

Hospital

New District/Campus Wood Energy

Crotched Mountain Rehab CenterGreenfield, New Hampshire

Community District Energy

Green Acres Family Housing

Small-

Scale

Setting

• 10,000 SF heated space

• 9 ton storage silo

• 10-15 tons of pellets per year

• 75 minutes staff time per week (during heating season)

• Estimated 45% annual fuel cost savings

Educational Facility

Harris Center for Conservation EducationHancock, NH

Ways to Analyze Cost Effectiveness

All about

• Amount of savings generated

• At what project cost

Methods

• Simple payback

• Cash flow analysis

• Life-cycle cost analysis

A tool that compares the cost of owning and operating the existing heating system to the cost of purchasing, installing, and operating a new wood pellet heating system.

Life Cycle Cost Analysis

•Set assumptions

•Collect data

•Define the project and its costs

•Equipment

•Construction

•Professionals fees & permits

•Annual fuel costs

Kamalesh DoshiProgram Director

Biomass Energy Resource Center43 State StreetMontpelier, VT 05601802-223-7770 X 126

kdoshi@biomasscenter.org

Contact Information

www.biomasscenter.org