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Kamalesh Doshi, Program Director Biomass Energy Resource Center Oswego BOCES, Mexico, NY November 13, 2008 Implementing Small Scale Bioenergy Systems
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
Contact Information
www.biomasscenter.org
