Suitability of Woody Biomass Heating in Remote Alaskan Environments Cory Luker Biomass Energy Research Technician Summer 2014 | Fairbanks, Alaska
Transcript
Slide 1
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Suitability of Woody Biomass Heating in Remote Alaskan
Environments Cory Luker Biomass Energy Research Technician Summer
2014 | Fairbanks, Alaska
Slide 3
Energy Challenges in Remote Alaskan Villages 2 Sparsely
populated, isolated communities = some of the highest energy costs
in the nation Extreme arctic climate = some of the highest heating
demands in nation High cost of imported fuel oil is impeding
economic development Need for an alternative cost-effective heating
solution Woody biomass, a saving grace? TCC communities that have
either installed or have considered installing a biomass heating
systems
Slide 4
Motivation for Research 3 Renewable Energy Fund (REF) Millions
of dollars of government funding going towards biomass systems
since 2007 focuses on resource assessments, feasibility, design,
and construction NO focus on long term business and logistical
studies The long term sustainability of biomass heating systems are
unproven in rural Alaska Why are some projects exceeding
expectations and other faltering?
Slide 5
Scope of Work 4 Case study for the TCC community of Tanana,
Alaskas biomass heating systems Quality, source, and sustainability
of wood resource Feedstock logistics Biomass heating systems
integration Operation, maintenance, and repair Project economics
and business model Miscellaneous tasks: Writing monthly newsletter
articles Biomass Report Consolidation Develop interview questions
and metrics for wood heating systems
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Biomass in the City of Tanana Longest continually operating
biomass heating systems in TCC Currently has 5 individual biomass
initiatives and 13 woody biomass boilers Using cordwood boilers to
generate heat for: School, water treatment facility, teacher public
housing, fire station, and the citys water lines 5 Cordwood boiler
installation in the City of Tananas school
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Tanana: Economic Assessment 6 Location Avoided Fuel Oil Costs
@$5.75/gal (dollars/year) Wood Fuel Cost @$300/cord (dollars/year)
Labor Cost @ $16 dollars/hour (dollars/year) Maitenance and Repair
Cost (dollars/year) Net Annual Savings (dollars/year) 20% MC @10
hrs/cord @18 hrs/cord @10 hrs/cord @18 hrs/cord Washateria
$42,693.75 $(24,000.00) $(12,800.00) $(23,040.00) $(1,200.00)
$4,693.75 $(5,546.25) Fire Station $5,336.72 $(3,000.00)
$(1,600.00) $(2,880.00) $(150.00) $586.72 $(693.28) City Shop
$6,404.06 $(3,600.00) $(1,920.00) $(3,456.00) $(180.00) $704.06
$(831.94) School $53,367.19 $(30,000.00) $(16,000.00) $(28,800.00)
$(1,500.00) $5,867.19 $(6,932.81) Public Housing $1,601.02
$(900.00) $- $(45.00) $656.02 Total $109,402.73 $(61,500.00)
$(32,320.00) $(58,176.00) $(3,075.00) $12,507.73 $(13,348.27)
Location Avoided Fuel Oil Costs @$5.75/gal (dollars/year) Wood Fuel
Cost @$300/cord (dollars/year) Labor Cost @ $16 dollars/hour
(dollars/year) Maitenance and Repair Cost (dollars/year) Net Annual
Savings (dollars/year) 35% MC @10 hrs/cord @18 hrs/cord @10
hrs/cord @18 hrs/cord Washateria $34,679.69 $(24,000.00)
$(12,800.00) $(23,040.00) $(1,200.00) $(3,320.31) $(13,560.31) Fire
Station $4,334.96 $(3,000.00) $(1,600.00) $(2,880.00) $(150.00)
$(415.04) $(1,695.04) City Shop $5,201.95 $(3,600.00) $(1,920.00)
$(3,456.00) $(180.00) $(498.05) $(2,034.05) School $43,349.61
$(30,000.00) $(16,000.00) $(28,800.00) $(1,500.00) $(4,150.39)
$(16,950.39) Public Housing $1,300.49 $(900.00) $- $(45.00) $355.49
Total $88,866.70 $(61,500.00) $(32,320.00) $(58,176.00) $(3,075.00)
$(8,028.30) $(33,884.30) Table 1: Economic analysis of Tanana's
biomass heating systems assuming 20% moisture content Table 2:
Economic analysis of Tanana's biomass heating systems assuming 35%
moisture content
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Tanana: Primary Conclusions There is a current lack of
organization and coordination between wood harvesters, city
officials, and boiler operators Burning wet wood is drastically
reducing the efficiency of the cities biomass heating systems
Operational costs are significant with the installed cordwood
boilers Biomass systems promote a sustainable village economy
through job growth and new local wood fuel markets even if they
themselves are not economically viable 7
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8 A Special Thanks To My mentors Amanda Byrd & David
Pelunis-Messier and the wonderful staff and interns at ACEP