Introduction to Heating with

BIOMASSin the NWT

Renewables in Remote MicrogridsSeptember 15, 2015

AGENDA• Introduction to AEA• What is biomass?• Why biomass?• Biomass heating options• Maintenance & Fuel Management• Example Installations• Questions, Discussion• Walking Tour

INTRODUCTION TO AEAVision• “NWT Society will become a global 

leader in clean, efficient, sustainable energy practice.”

Mission• "To promote and facilitate the 

adoption of efficient, renewable and carbon neutral energy practices by all members of NWT society."

Background• not‐for‐profit, non governmental 

organization, set up in 1997.#101 5102 51st Street, Yellowknife

Mackenzie Delta ‐ Inuvik ‐ (867)777‐2068Sheena Adams

Sahtu ‐ Norman Wells– (867) 587‐3520Wayne Lennie

Dehcho ‐ Fort Simpson ‐ (867) 695‐2355Teresa Chilkowich

Tlicho ‐Whati ‐ (867) 573‐3030Sonny Zoe

Hay River – South Slave – (867) 874‐3434Tom Gross

Mackenzie Delta ‐ Inuvik ‐ (867)777‐2068Sheena Adams

Sahtu ‐ Norman Wells– (867) 587‐3520Wayne Lennie

Dehcho ‐ Fort Simpson ‐ (867) 695‐2355Teresa Chilkowich

Tlicho ‐Whati ‐ (867) 573‐3030Sonny Zoe

Hay River – South Slave – (867) 874‐3434Tom Gross

Regional Offices

• Knowing how we use energy• Conservation e.g. turn down thermostat

• Energy Efficiency e.g. more insulation

• Renewable Energy e.g. biomass heating

AEA IS INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES AIMED AT: aimed at:

What is Biomass

• Wood• Pellets• Chips• Sawdust• Other

WHY BIOMASS ?

o Renewable energyo Reduce fossil fuel dependencyo Cost savingso Local resource, local employmento Self sufficient, self reliant 

community

WHY BIOMASS ?

11%

86%

3%

Urbania Annual Energy Consumption ‐760 GJ

Electricity Oil Wood Pellets

2%

98%

Urbania Building Greenhouse Gas Emissions ‐ 46 tCO2/Year

AEA OFFICE BEFORE PELLET BOILER

WHY BIOMASS ?

BIOMASS ‐ A RENEWABLE ENERGY

BIOMASS AND CARBON EMISSIONS• Biomass, under sustainable forest management practices is a renewable

resource• In Canada, between 1990 and 2008, managed boreal forest of Canada has 

been a carbon sink (CFS)• Biomass is at some point decompose / combust and release CO2 (CH4, CO) 

into the atmosphere• Canada’s forest and forest management are some of the best in the world

CO2 emissionsbiomass coal

Timeline of reaching carbon neutrality for biomass is extremely relevant and sensitive to many factors

• The atmosphere doesn’t care whether a molecule of carbon comes from a wood pellet or a lump of coal. It is still carbon dioxide CO2. And when we burn biomass, we are speeding up that CO2 dump to the atmosphere.

Fossilized carbon versus biogenic carbon

From http://www.thecornerhouse.org.uk

Net increase in atmospheric carbon when fuel burned

No net increase in atmospheric carbon when fuel burned

Carbon Neutrality claim for biomassBiogenic carbon (non‐fossilized carbon) from the combustion of biomass is 

re‐sequestered by living plant/tree material and does not add any additional carbon emissions into the biosphere

BIOMASS AND CARBON EMISSIONS

BIOMASS HEATING OPTIONS

Space HeatingHeats a room

Central HeatingHeats whole building

District HeatingHeats more than one building

BIOMASS HEATING OPTIONS ‐SPACE HEATING

Pellet Stove

Wood Stove

BIOMASS HEATING OPTIONS ‐CENTRAL HEATING

RESIDENTIAL SCALE BOILERS

BIOMASS HEATING OPTIONS ‐CENTRAL HEATING

RESIDENTIAL FURNACES

BIOMASS HEATING OPTIONS ‐CENTRAL HEATING

COMMERCIAL SCALE BOILERS

BIOMASS HEATING OPTIONSDISTRICT HEATING

WOOD STOVES

• Traditional Heat Source• Still high use of wood stoves in NWT Communities

• Many people harvest their own wood

WOOD STOVEADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY

• Older ‘pot‐belly’ or oil drum stove

• No baffles• Low efficiency• high emissions (smoke)

• Then ‘air‐tight’ – a bit better (70’s)

• Newer Stoves• Catalytic & Re‐burn• High efficiency• low emissions (smoke)

COMPARE OLD WITH NEW:

Overall Efficiency40 – 50% 60 – 80%+

INSIDE A ‘NON‐CAT’ WOOD STOVE

1. Firebox insulation  2. A large baffle  3. Preheated combustion air

INSIDE A CATALYTIC WOOD STOVE

Smoke passes through a catalytic honeycomb that lowers smoke burn temperature

MAINTENANCE WOOD STOVERegular through burn season:o Remove asheso Clean chimneyAnnual:o Check gaskets, glass, door 

hinges, brickso Check and replace catalytic 

combustor

FIREWOODGood fuel is the key to efficiencyONLY BURN DRY

(SEASONED) WOOD.

PELLET STOVES• A clean burning option• Can operate up to 24 hours unattended

• Can be used with thermostat

Pellet Stove Emissions

PELLET STOVE CUTAWAY

What Are Wood Pellets?

Why Heat with Wood Pellets?

• Waste Product

• Cheaper than heating oil

• Better for the Environment than fossil fuels

Cost Savings with Wood Pellets

Heating energy equivalent2 kg of pellets = 1 litre of oil = 1.5 litres of propane

1 bag of pellets ($5.15) = 9 litres of oil ($12)1 bag of pellets ($5.15) = 13 litres of propane ($11)

1 tonne of pellets ($350) = 500 litres of oil ($670)1 tonne of pellets ($350) = 725 litres of propane ($610)

Note: Prices May 2014, incl GST ‐ Heating oil $1.34, Propane $0.84

Pellet Fuels Institute Specifications

Pellet Specifications

PELLET SPECIFICATIONS

Where do Wood Pellets Come From?

Where do Wood Pellets Come From?

Where do Wood Pellets Come From?

Where do Wood Pellets Come From?

Where do Wood Pellets Come From?

Where do Wood Pellets Come From?

Where do Wood Pellets Come From?

18kg (40lb) bags

Pallets of Bags

Bulk Pellets – Delivered like Heating Oil or Propane

Residential Bulk Pellet Storage

1 Tonne (1000kg) bag & Hopper

Loose Bulk Pellets by Truck

Loose Bulk Pellets by Rail

Pellet Transfer Augers

‐Must keep pellets dry‐ Cover and do not store directly on the ground (or cement floor)‐Ravens!

WOOD PELLET STORAGE AND HANDLING

Wood Pellets need to be kept dry!

SAFETY

Smoke Detector

CarbonMonoxideDetector

FireExtinguisher

MAINTENANCE – PELLET STOVERegular throughout the burn season:o Remove ash from the burn chamber and ash pan, o Scrape the burn pot, o Rake the ash from heat exchangers, air wash system, 

venting and exhaust path Note: Pellet quality WILL affect maintenance. (size, ash, fines, crumbling)Annual or as requiredo Clean entire system after burning 1 ‐ 2 tons of fuelo Check glass, door hinges, gasket

‐ 1/3 to max of $700‐ purchase outside of NWT 50%‐ 3 months from date of purchase‐ copy of receipt

REBATES WOOD and PELLET STOVES

Residential‐ 1/3 to max of $5,000Business‐ 1/3 to max of $15,000Subject to funding availability

REBATES PELLET BOILERS

DISTRICT HEATINGBENEFITS

o Cost effective – Shared capital and O&M costs

o Economy of scaleo Reduced maintenance ‐ one appliance 

instead of manyo Safer – combustion is external to living 

spaceo Access to funding

DISTRICT HEATING PIPING

DISTRICT HEATING CONNECTIONS

Forced (Hot) Air – Furnace• Add Heating Coil in duct• Fan Coil to replace furnace

Hydronic (Hot Water)– Boiler• Heat Exchanger

FORCED AIR - FURNACE

Fan Coil – replaces Furnace

Heating Coil in duct – Keep Furnace

HYDRONIC – BOILERHeat Exchanger installed in piping

COMMERICAL BIOMASS BOILER -OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

o Monitoringo Daily check ‐ can be remote

o Ash Removalo Smaller boilers – up to 1 hr biweeklyo Larger boilers – 1‐2hours weekly

o Cleaningo Heat Exchanger & Chimney – Monthly

o Who Does Maintenance?o Owner(s) or Contractor

TETLIT GWICH’IN BIOMASS BOILER – FT MCPHERSON

TETLIT GWICH’IN BIOMASS BOILER – FT MCPHERSON

TETLIT GWICH’IN BIOMASS BOILER – FT MCPHERSON

TLICHO INV. CORP.BEHCHOKO BIOMASS BOILER

• 540kW KOB Boiler• Heats 7 Buildings• Sell heat to GNWT

YELLOWKNIVES DENEFIRST NATION

CHIEF DRYGEESE HALL, DETTAH

KA’A'GEE TU FIRST NATIONS BIOMASS PROJECT - KAKISA

• 60kW Woodmaster Boiler• Local Wood & Pellets• Band Office & Hotel• Cost Estimate ~$135K• SPB ~2.5 Years

• 1 MW KOB Pyrotec Boiler

• Services four schools

• Operational Savings of $160,000

• Simple Payback of 6 Years

HAY RIVER 4 SCHOOLS DISTRICT HEATING

HAY RIVER 4 SCHOOLS DISTRICT HEATING

Inukshuk Housing Co-op, YK

City of YK –Pool, Arena Curling Club

• 740kW Binder Boiler• Savings ~$200K/yr• Simple Payback ~3 Years

NPR Garden Townhomes, Bison Apartments

BIOMASS COGENERATION

o aka Combined Heat and Power (CHP)o Produce both Electricity and Heat

o None in NWT yet…o Small scale (<1MW) – ready for 

remote & harsh conditions?o System for Yellowknife in planning

Biomass Co‐Generation• Heat • Power• Peak load‐ 7 MW• Annual load‐ 18,000 MWh

• Peak load‐ Approx 1.6 MW• Annual load‐ 9,000 MWh

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THANK YOU!

QUESTIONS?