Renewable Energy Applications

Jenna Beatty

Jenny Lund

Calvin Robertie

World Energy Use by Fuel

Goals of this Project

• BPM – Final document for Stantec– Checklist and Comparison Chart

• Renewable energy options– Most commonly used options

• Option Analysis– Location and Efficiency– Cost and Feasibility– Downsides and Environmental Impacts

Stantec’s Challenge

• Limited number of renewable energy “experts”

• Lack of standardized document or “textbook”

• Ample supply of information available

• Stantec would benefit from a BPM for entry level engineers

Decision Tree

What are your energy needs?

Electricity Generation Heating/Cooling

Identify Available Options

Geothermal Biomass

Identify Available Options

Solar Wind Geothermal Biomass Hydropower

Renewable Energy Options

Research

• Searched through sources to find:– Best Location– Cost Range– Efficiency– Downsides/Environmental Impacts– Case Studies

Chart

CSP Solar Power Offshore Wind Power

Technology - Parabolic Trough - Linear Fresnel Reflector- CSP Dish- CSP Tower

- Wind turbines are sited off the coast in waters up to 30m deep.

Location - In the sunbelts of the world, and general between the latitudes of 40°North and 40° South. The American Southwest has a very large potential for CSP

- The U.S. North east and Pacific Northwest from Oregon to Alaska are suitable.

Cost - Power cost around $0.12 per kWh of power- Capital cost of plants vary between $2M and $5M per

MW of capacity

-Power costs $0.09 per kWh. - Capital cost range between $2M and $3M per MW of

capacity

Efficiency - Varies between technologies but is generally between 20-40%. Energy storage systems can increase the efficiency.

- Capacity factors range between 25-40% however offshore wind is generally high due to stronger, more consistent, and less turbulent winds offshore.

Downsides - Large CSP plants take up large areas of land, however are often located in deserts.

- Concentrated beams of sunlight can kill birds and insects

- Visual aesthetics of shorelines are of concern- 0.001% of bird deaths are accounted from wind turbines- Marine ecosystems can be harmed, but initial research

shows it to be very low.

General Info. - Many downsides can be mitigated and the used of deserts and increase the value of previously degraded and unusable land.

- 78% of U.S. electricity demand comes from the 28 states with shorelines.

Chart

CSP Solar Power Offshore Wind Power

Cost - Power cost around $0.12 per kWh of power- Capital cost of plants vary between $2M and $5M per MW of capacity

-Power costs $0.09 per kWh of power. - Capital cost range between $2M and $3M per MW of capacity

ChecklistConcentrated Solar Power

___ CSP power plants need a large area’s of land, up to hundreds or thousands of acres.___ Cost of CSP plants range from $2M to $5M per MW___ Cost of electricity from CSP plants is around $0.12/kWh but is expected to drop in the near future due

to increased research, manufacturing, and development. ___ The best locations for CSP plants are often deserts which are unusable otherwise___ Current CSP technologies can convert 20-40% of sunlight___ When thermal storage units are incorporated into a CSP plant it can increase its capacity factor and

continue to produce energy in the dark___ CSP plants emit no greenhouse gases during operation

Offshore Wind

___ Current technology only allows offshore turbines in water up to 30 Meters deep___ Minimum wind speeds of 8 mph are required for a turbine to generate electricity___ The coast of the Northeastern U.S. and the Cost of the Pacific Northwest from Oregon to Alaska are

good locations to site offshore wind farms___ Farms cost around $2.4M per MW of capacity and electricity costs $.095/kWh___ Wind turbine capacity factors are around 30% however strong and more consistent offshore winds

could increase that number.___ Farms can be properly sited to avoid fishing grounds and shipping lanes___ There is often public concern for the marine environment and visual aesthetics

BPM

• “Textbook” format– Detailed description of information provided in

checklist and chart– Information is cited– Various case studies for each of the

technologies

Design Example

Conclusion

• Each option is applicable in specific locations

• Biodiesel and geothermal heat pumps can be applicable almost anywhere

• Hybrid systems

Questions