Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs

Distributed Wind – Tribal Opportunities for Self-

Generation

Robi RobichaudNational Renewable Energy

Laboratory

Distributed Generation Opportunities

Topic Overview Distributed Wind Market Overview Appropriate-sized Wind Assessment for DG

Wind Community Support Issues – Sound, Visual, Environmental

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NREL - Outreach & Market Support – All Sizes

Small (100 kW)

HomesTribal BuildingsFarmsRemote

ApplicationsSchoolsBusinessesCommunity Wind

Mid-Sized (100 - 2000 kW)Distributed EnergyTribal CommunitiesVillage PowerBusinessesCommunity Wind

Large >2MWUtility-scaleCommunity Wind

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Distributed Wind – Then & Now

Source: http://distributedwind.org/ 4

U.S Distributed Wind Capacity by Turbine Type

Source: 2012 Market Report on Wind Technologies in Distributed Applicationshttp://www1.eere.energy.gov/wind/pdfs/2012_distributed_wind_technologies_market_report.pdf 5

Types of Turbines & Towers in U.S. - 2012

Source: 2012 Market Report on Wind Technologies in Distributed Applicationshttp://www1.eere.energy.gov/wind/pdfs/2012_distributed_wind_technologies_market_report.pdf

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Installed Costs for DG Turbines 2012

Source: 2012 Market Report on Wind Technologies in Distributed Applicationshttp://www1.eere.energy.gov/wind/pdfs/2012_distributed_wind_technologies_market_report.pdf

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Distributed Wind O&M Costs

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Larger turbines >100kW --> annual contractSmaller turbines < 10 kW --> serviced as needed

Small Wind O&M Estimate per JEDI Assumptions

Source: 2012 Market Report on Wind Technologies in Distributed Applicationshttp://www1.eere.energy.gov/wind/pdfs/2012_distributed_wind_technologies_market_report.pdf

$0.00

$0.05

$0.10

$0.15

$0.20

$0.25

$0.30

$0.35

$0.40

$0.45

$0.50

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Cost

of C

ompe

ting

Elec

tric

it ($

/kW

h)

Wind Speed (m/s)

Cost of Competing Electricity vs. Wind Speed Curve

Cost of Competing Electricity vs. Wind Speed

Curve

Is Wind Economic? It Depends

Factors to shift curve down-left (good):• Taller tower• Low wind speed turbine• Utility-scale vs. distributed turbine• PTC (production tax credit) or other

incentives• Streamlined permitting

Factors that shift curve up-right:• Increased financing costs• Increased interconnection

costs• Permitting/zoning costs

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Wind Project Development Process

Site Selection

Fatal Flaw Analysis

Land Agreements

Wind Assessment

Environmental Review – sound, visual, etc..

Community Support

Economic Modeling

• Permitting

• Financing

• Interconnection Studies

• Sales Agreements

• Turbine Procurement

• Construction Contracting

• Operations & Maintenance• 3-7 year process• Lots of moving parts -

no guarantee of success10

Derived from K.E. = ½ mv2

P = A * * V3/2

P = Power of the wind [Watts] A = Windswept area of rotor (blades) = pD/4 = pr2 [ m2] = Density of the air [kg/m3 ] (at sea level at 15°C) V = Velocity of the wind [m/s]

Wind energy is proportional to velocity cubed (V3):– 25% higher wind speed ≈ 2x’s the power available– If velocity is doubled, power increases by a factor of eight (23 = 8)!

Small differences in average speed cause big differences in energy production!

Power in Wind EquationWind energy is kinetic

energy -- mass and momentum D

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Turbine – Sized to Economic Project Goals

Bergey Excel 10kW ~ 1 home

Vestas V47600kW~ 200 homes

GE 1.5sle1.5MW~ 500 homes

Vestas V-903MW~ 1,000 homes

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Relative Size of Swept Area

A = Pi D2 / 4

Credit: Paul Gipe

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Wind Resource Assessment1st Step - Maps of Resources

NREL http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/windmaps/

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Maps for Distributed Scale 80 – 50 – 30m

Residential – 30m

Community Scale – 50m

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Wind Resources and Opportunity on Tribal Lands

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Map vs. Purchased Data vs. Met Tower vs. SODAR

Turbine Size Project Cost Range Assessment Recommendation Est. CostkW $

$6-20,000 - map & free data $0$20-60,000 - purchase validated data set $3-8k

10-50 $60-300k$60-200,000 - purchase validated data set

or free met tower loan program $8-20k50-500 $300k - 2.5 mil met tower loan or purchase $20-60k

500-2,000 $2.5-10 mil met tower and/or SODAR $50-100k

1-10 $6 - 60k

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Permitting Path and Timeline

Cultural Resource Clearances Tribal, local, state and federal permitting support

(FAA, DoD Radar & Operations) Human health and environmental effects

assessments Biological assessments and ecological impact

analyses Threatened and endangered species clearances Noise and visual impact analyses (use existing

guidance) Tribal Leadership approvalThe timeline of getting appropriate clearances and permits must coincide with the project construction schedule

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Visual Impacts

19Use existing resources- web source: http://www.cleanenergystates.org/resource-library/resource/a-visual-impact-assessment-process-for-wind-energy-projects

• Visual characteristics - surrounding landscape & scenic value

• Project Map – with key Natural & Cultural Resources • Viewshed Mapping – distance, angle and scale• Identification of Viewpoints• Simulations – with and without turbines• Shadow Flicker – identify when and where, use

appropriate setbacks

• Zoning may define the setbacks and rules for property lines, structures, roads, river beds, etc.

• State Siting Board or other regulatory reviewer• Public input

Visual – Perception - Surroundings

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Wind and Sound/Noise

Turbine at 225-300m setback

Noise and Sound Pressure Level (SPL)

Distance to turbine (m)

Soun

d Le

vel (

dB)

Noise Level of a Turbine

Background noise makes a differenceSound and perceptible sound can vary

Types of Wind Turbine Noise Mechanical

Mostly tones Gearbox Generator Tower resonance Blade movement

Aerodynamic Blades & tips

• Proportional to Vtip5

• Higher frequency and broadband

Tower wake• Rotational (low

frequency)• 1-3 per rev

Noise Regimes

3 different regimes

• Human perception

Noise Reduction

Move turbines farther away Low frequencies travel farther

Mechanical Isolation Insulation

Aerodynamic Lower tip speed (Noise Reduced Operation) Modify Blade Shape

• Sharp trailing edges

Noise & Site Contour Studies/Maps

26Source: Rose Forbes, ASFCEC, MMR, Wind Project Manager

Building Community Support

Develop communication plan early Identify key tribal and community

members and educate them on all aspects of the project

Clear, straightforward messages – public oration, response to inquiries and in the press

Be sure the whole team has training and can speak effectively to any issues raised

Focus on educating people on the issues, mitigations, benefits

Take people to see turbines up close

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Building Community Support

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Be ready to counter mis-informationFocus on fact-based information, not emotional pleasFocus on benefits:

ERevitalizing the communityLocal ownershipWater conservation (vs. coal or nuclear

power)Economic – royalties or energy

Be able to address issues such as:IntermittencyPotential impacts to wildlifePotential impacts to radar, FAA, DoDAesthetics, sound, flicker

Resources & Contact Information

For More Information: DOE Office of Indian Energy Website: www.energy.gov/indianenergy

Services offered, resources for TribesDOE Wind & Water Program – Distributed Wind Energy

http://wind.energy.gov/wind_dist_tech.html NREL Wind Technology Websites: http://www.nrel.gov/wind/midsize_wind.html DSIRE: http://dsireusa.org/

Grants, interconnection, net metering, rebates, tax credits, loansWindustry: http://www.windustry.org/

Wind Basics, project development, community – farm wind, economicsDWEA: http://distributedwind.org/ Zoning & permitting, conferences Small Wind Certification: http://www.smallwindcertification.org/

Robi Robichaudrobi.robichaud@nrel.gov Tel: 303-406-

1603

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Additional Information

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Intended for the web site, but not part of the presentation

New Turbines (HAWT or VAWT)

• Is the turbine certified by International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards?

http://www.awea.org/standards/iec_stds.html (If not certified, do you regularly purchase equipment that is not certified or UL listed?  Do you buy back-up generators or other power equipment that is not certified?)• What are its performance specs?

1) What does the power curve look like? 2) How did they arrive at it – by modeling or gathering data from a system operating in the

field?3) How many kilowatts hours per year will it produce if the average wind speed is 6 m/s? 5

m/s? (how do they know? Is it from testing or modeling performance?)• What is its track record of the turbine?

1) How many years has it been out?2) Are they still running? What % are still running?3) Has it performed as expected or touted?4) Can they share field data?

• Conduct some due diligence with customers who own them 1) How is the warranty service?2) Does the company provide add-on O&M after warranty expires? If so, at what cost?3) Parts availability?4) Turbine availability percentage?

• What does it cost? 1) What does the actual turbine cost?2) What do the financials of the company look like?3) Will they be around to service your turbine in 3 years? 20 years?

Five things to ask about wind turbine companies and their products

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Native American Anemometer Loan Program

Source: http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/anemometerloans/projects.asp

Currently 21 of 70 sites are posted – mostly 20-m data sites

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DSIRE - Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency

33Source: http://www.dsireusa.org/

Info on:• Tax Credits• Net Metering• Interconnecti

on• Rebates• Loans• Public

Benefits Funds

• RPS

Incentives Can Provide Opportunities for Cost ReductionsDSIRE - Information on All Types of Incentives:To Finance Projects:• PTC - 2.3 cents/kWh for 1st ten years + accelerated

depreciation • ITC – 30% cost recovery tax credit

Utility Incentives to do Renewables: RPS – varies state to state, utility to utilityNet Metering – provides full retail value of electricity generated

Other Sources for Financing:• USDA REAP – Grants (25%) & Loans (75%) • New Market Tax Credits• Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds

Source: http://www.dsireusa.org/ 34