Conference Title Month DD, YYYY

Conference Title Month DD, YYYY

HILLCREST

CARBON-FREE COST ANALYSIS

April 20, 2021


CODEBuilt to code using typical HVAC systems (gas and electric)

BUSINESS-AS-USUAL Built 10% better than code using typical HVAC systems (gas and electric)

BUNDLE 1AHigh-efficiency buildings with distributed geothermal (all electric)

BUNDLE 1B – ATESHigh-efficiency buildings with district aquifer thermal energy storage (all electric)

BUNDLE 1B – GEOTHERMALHigh-efficiency buildings with district geothermal (all electric)

Energy Scenarios

Image Source: Underground Energy, “ATES Summer Operation – Cooling”


9.0

4.4

1.9

0.4

Prereq.

5 points

10 points

15 points

-

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

Baseline BAU Bundle 1 Bundle 2

ton

s C

O2e

pe

r ca

pit

a*

Wastewater

Solid Waste

Transportation

Natural Gas

Electricity

Hillcrest GHG Emissions Scenarios

*LEED’s definition of per capita includes both resident and working population


• A high-efficiency, all-electric community can

be cost competitive over its life cycle.

• District solutions are viable and should

continue to be developed.

• There is no “clear winner” among the

evaluated scenarios. Their relative cost-

effectiveness will vary based on how

incremental costs are distributed over time.

Key Findings


The following variables are not currently

accounted for:

• Cost of Xcel infrastructure/savings from not

installing natural gas infrastructure

• Operational savings from EV fueling and

maintenance

• Rate structure for on-site solar

• Energy storage costs/savings

Disclaimers

Conference Title Month DD, YYYYIncremental Costs

Incremental Costs vs. Saint Paul Port Authority Business-As-Usual

Bundle 1A Bundle 1B

Residential Energy Efficiency $24-30M $17-$26M

Industrial Energy Efficiency $13-16M $9-$14M

District Energy System n/a $15-21M

Solar $27M $27M

EV Charging $1M $1M

Total $65-74M $69-89M

Incremental costs to achieve

19 LEED points are in the

10s of millions of dollars.

The incremental cost of a

district system may be

comparable to a non-district

system.


Operational Savings vs. Saint Paul Port Authority BAU

Bundle 1A Bundle 1B

Residential Energy Efficiency $17-$30M $14-29M

Industrial Energy Efficiency $11-$20M $10-19M

District Energy System n/a n/a

Solar $36M $36M

EV Charging not quantified not quantified

Total $64-$86M $60-$84M

Operational Savings

Operational savings on utility

bills, O&M, and equipment

replacement over a 25-year

period could offset

incremental costs.

Conference Title Month DD, YYYYUtility Costs – Low-Rise Residential Building (Xcel)

The monthly utility costs for

low-rise residential buildings

are significantly lower than

the business-as-usual

scenario.

* Assumes all savings from efficiency are passed

to residents

** Assumes all savings from efficiency and solar

are passed to residents (doesn’t account for

service fees, etc.)

$154

$132

$96$100

$0$0

$20

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

$140

$160

$180

Code BAU Bundle 1A* Bundle 1B* Bundle 1A/1B**

Monthly Utility Costs per Unit

Conference Title Month DD, YYYYUtility Costs – Industrial Building (Xcel)

The monthly utility costs for

industrial buildings are

significantly lower than the

business-as-usual scenario.

* Assumes all savings from efficiency are passed

to residents

** Assumes all savings from efficiency and solar

are passed to residents (doesn’t account for

service fees, etc.)

$11,466

$9,661

$5,924 $6,202

$0$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

$14,000

Code BAU Bundle 1A* Bundle 1B* Bundle 1A/1B**

Monthly Utility Costs

Conference Title Month DD, YYYYLife Cycle Costs – Entire Site (Ever-Green Energy)

Life cycle cost analysis can

be used to compare cost-

effectiveness.

Key variables:

• cost of capital

• geothermal well costs $-

$20

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

$-

$5

$10

$15

$20

$25

$30

$35

$40

BAU Bundle 1A Bundle 1B - ATES Bundle 1B - GEO

30

-Yea

r C

ost

(M

illio

ns)

Firs

t C

ost

an

d N

PV

(M

illio

ns)

Net Present Value First Cost 30-Year Cost


• Port to define key questions to answer and timeline for decision-making.

• Investigate sources to fund incremental costs. Kick-off meeting with Xcel, Ever-Green, and IPS?

• Further develop on-site solar concept. Discuss rate structures with Xcel. Evaluate energy storage options.

• Explore business plan for district system options. Conduct on-site testing to confirm assumptions and refine pricing estimates.

Next steps?

Documents

Conference Title Month DD, YYYY