A View of Composite Energy Resources

In the United States as well as some other developed countries we are using energy at an incredible rate. It seems to this writer that we all need to look to not just one type of energy source, or perhaps two to control the energy production in the near and distant future. What we need, is a blend of energy protocols that will enhance and optimize the energy use in the United States.

There are all kinds of facts and figures out there to support views, but if one can step back and look at a more global energy picture we can see that saving energy through conservation, utilizing various fuels for energy production depending on location while at the same time minimizing the losses in the grid as much as possible so that transmission losses are not extreme are all important factors in achieving a successful result. No one ever said that energy independence would be easy, but it is certainly worthwhile striving for at this time. We need to meld all of our technologies from our kit of solutions to get us to where we need to be in the next 25 or 50 years.

In this writers view this effort will take a public private sector partnership approach when looking at all energy opportunites that are available to us including petroleum based, hydro power, biofuels, geothermal, wind, solar, nuclear, fuel cell technology, and other new technology that is presently being developed.

Our nation has always risen to the need when it is placed in front of us and this is another time when we will do so. We need an energy leader to be that champion and help us stay focused in this huge and very critical effort.

The Great Energy Challenge

We are all constantly reading, reacting and evaluating to energy options and ways to improve our personal and corporate energy use throughout out daily lives. At Bonhag optimizing energy is what we spend a great deal of our time achieving.

We would like to recommend to you the National Geographic Society and Shell Oil Company's Great Energy Challenge which can be found at http://greatenergychallenge.com/ .

Give it a try, learn and explore. Let us know what you find out!

Get out there and save some energy!

Energy Solutions from Europe

In previous Blogs, I have discussed some of the energy work that is being done around the world, including Germany. Some of my engineer friends have added valuable information to previous information that might be helpful to those who are interested. On the solar PV side, we see a small percentage of power generation with a large expenditure; on the wind turbine side we see a larger percentage of power generation with a similar expenditure, so possibly a better IRR. As for CHP with District Heating, the increase in efficiency  always improves what is being achieved especially when a locat industrial plant is situated near the CHP plant to keep the construction cost of teh District Heating system as low as possible.

Beside the sustainable energy attributes, one of my financial associates points out that in Europe the bankers also have an incentive for funding many of these green projects. so this becomes a win-win prospect from both the energy side and the financial side.

I have attached a web link on solar energy that might be interesting to read.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_Germany

While all of this is going on, countries in Europe are seriously reevaluating the use of nuclear energy as a power source, which will cause a change in approach of what is being done over the next 20 to 40 years for power generation.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,605957,00.html


I certainly hope that all of you stay focused on various aspects of solar, wind, biomass CHP, District Heating and Cooling, Geothermal and other forms of energy solutions as you attempt to achieve innovative solutions for buildings and process facilities. Lets have an even handed approach to local, regional and US energy approaches which will include all energy options, including nuclear energy where appropriate.

Alternate Energy Solutions From Germany

We just returned from Germany which was an opportunity to really see what the German Government is doing to support solar PV, wind and biomass CHP and District Heating. There is large Green Effort in Germany right now to utilize sustainable energy whereever it can.

The solar PV is being supported by the government throughout German and as such one sees PV panels on just about every building large and small that is south facing or in farm fields that can capture the solar energy. The range of solar installation is from small 10 collector arrays to larger 1000 collector arrays. The small arrays are used within the fence with some net metering capability while the large arrays are used to send power back to the grid.

Wind turbines are also everywhere. These are of the 1.2 to 1.6 MW size and are in groups of 5 to 15 turbines feeding the grid. Since the terrain is so flat, the wind is pretty constant moving across the country. We saw literally 100's of wind machines in operation across Germany while we were there.

One would not think that biomass CHP is as prevalent as it is, but the use of biomass CHP with District Heating is a very efficient way to heat so the Germans are using that for producing power and then heating facilities and providing thermal for process. The plant that we saw while there was a 10 MW plant with district heating to a nearby industrial plant for thermal and also District Heating to large users within 3 to 5 miles.

What all this means to me is that we in the United States need to improve our view in order to keep up and get ahead. We have the technology, we just need the will and drive to make this happen to help our world in the long view.

Biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP)-An Efficiency Multiplier

When considering a method of increasing the efficiency of electrical and thermal production, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is an excellent choice. Typically the efficiency of a generator to produce electricity alone is in the 31 to 38 percent range. However, when the thermal is extracted from the system using the same fuel, the efficiency increases to approximately 80 to 82 percent. This is a great multiplier when considering one fuel in and two energy streams out is what is achieved in this manner. The technology has been available to all of us for many decades and now with the increase of petroleum costs again, the use of biomass as a fuel is a viable alternative. When we consider biomass fuel, we think of any biomass be it wood chips, pellets, straw, grass, or willow bush all of which can be easily be reproduced and is sustainable.

An obvious advantgage to a renewable energy system is that Renewable Energy Credits (REC's) can be obtained for each of the KWh that is produced at the energy plant under a long term contract with a buyer. It is important to analyze the system impact, Life Cycle Cost, and have an appropriate business plan in place for these projects to succeed.

Just as it is important to have a contract in place for the sale of electrical energy, thermal energy and Renewalbe Energy Credits, it is also important to have in hand a firm contract for the biomass fuel for the plant. Many times the fuel can be obtained from the operations of the existng plant thus reducing the overall cost of fuel. Along that line, it is important to keep the fuel throughput as low as possible per KWh so that the operating cost is as low as possible. We have seen some biomass gasification system produce eletctical power and thermal energy at a very low biomass fuel throughput when compared to other types of combustion units. When evaluating system selection with a particular fuel, we look at fuel, fuel cost, equipment efficiency with that fuel, reliability,distance to obtain the fuel,  parasitic load characteristics, and heating capacity of the fuel, among other factors.

We have done various biomass CHP projects including he North Country Healthcare Facility in Vermont. See the link below:

http://www.nrbp.org/publications/biomass-chp/appendixa.pdf


In general, each application is individual and needs to be accessed as it goes forward. For additional information, you might want to visit our web page at http://www.bonhagassociates.com/ for some articles that I have written about biomass cogeneration, combined heat and power systems, and energy efficiency improvement.

As a member of the US EPA CHP Partnership, and with many years of hands on practical experience designing mechanical, electrical, and energy systems for our clients, we are on the forefront of developments as they come to our attention for the benefit of our clients.

The Future of Energy Production for a Power-Hungry World Combined Heat and Power a Way to Improve Efficiency!

Many methods of providing electric power exist, and the current distribution methods are not optimal. Local site power generation, a model proposed as long ago as 1924 by Henry Ford, is a method that increases overall efficiency with short transfer lines and multiple backup options. Locally obtained biomass could become a major player in the world’s future power scheme, reducing carbon-based emissions. It is important to understand, that combined heat and power (CHP) is intended primarily for large campuses, places like health care facilities, educational institutions, and industrial applications. Other viable renewable power generation technologies like solar, hydro, tidal, and wind can be customized for various regions where a particular resource is plentiful. CHP biomass is best suited for heavily wooded regions where a logging trade infrastructure could be established. Safe nuclear, clean coal, and natural gas offer additional options for regions where renewable technologies are not readily available.




A major factor in the future of energy production will be diversity, utilizing the best options for each region. CHP is a multi-step process that typically takes raw wood, coarse chops it, presses it into briquettes, and cooks the wood to prompt the release of “process gas.” This gas can be used in an internal combustion engine to turn a generator or burned in a special furnace to fire a boiler. This burning option is special, in that it runs at temperatures of 2,300˚F in the fire box of the boiler, a temperature that will destroy virtually all contaminates that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.



Waste heat is reclaimed and used in many ways, including the preprocessing of the fuel supply. A crowning advantage is that particulates are easily scrubbed out of the stacks to make the final exhaust very Earth-friendly.



In the northeastern US and in Canada, biomass CHP holds a great potential to become the local power of choice; in fact, several CHP plants have already been constructed and many more are in the planning stages. Coastal Maine could maximize the use of tidal energy. These systems are completely submerged and have minimal environmental impact. Southern regions can cash in on solar and wind. It is clear that we cannot completely eliminate the use of fossil fuels, but we can certainly minimize our consumption, dramatically reducing carbon emissions.



Pellets require a lot of energy to create. Consider, instead, manufacturing larger briquettes with minimal processing. Innovative solutions and integrated well-designed power projects should take into consideration the many factors that constitute the whole. Incorporate technologies that can run 12 months a year and technologies that are useful in some way 12 months a year. A CHP plant’s role may shift with the season, providing building heat and power in the winter, and diverting the heat to industry for process in the summer.



Overall, the biggest single reality we all need to face is that conservation of energy is required for a sustainable, renewable, and environmentally friendly future. Power companies stand to gain by their customers using power more efficiently—less power use means fewer power plants to build. The end result is less pollution. Individuals and businesses should take advantage of incentive programs to make their homes or their buildings more efficient, saving money over time.


Cooperation is essential in the future of energy production. Opportunities should be found which bring two or more parties together to create win-win situations. For example, a local town option could be the capturing of landfill methane for industrial uses. Take that awful landfill smell and put it to work! In this example, a landfill is located across the street from a blacktop plant. The town captures methane and sells it to the blacktop company. They use it in their process and greatly reduce their use of fossil fuels, thereby, reducing their cost of operation; a win for both parties. In addition, because methane burns cleaner than oil, the emissions released into the air are also reduced; a win for the Earth.



Other examples might include a CHP plant nested among a small town, an industrial park, and a major manufacturer. Located in the northeastern US, a CHP plant burns wood from the local region, produces power for the manufacturer, and feeds back into the grid, thus providing thermal energy for the manufacturer, the industrial park, and a portion of the town’s heating needs. This scenario is currently in the planning stages for a small town in northern Vermont. CHP offers a diversity of fuels and output capacities while providing an extremely clean burning process—a very “Green” technology.

Geothermal Heat Pump Systems to Save Energy!

One of the technologies that is prevalent is the use of Geothermal Heat Pump Systems (GHPS) which is a way of obtaining heat from the ground with an incremental input of electrical power or conversely, obtaining air conditioning and rejecting heat to the ground. There are a number of systems to be designed depending on the application: open loop, closed loop, well, horizontal laid in place piping or even piping into lakes and ponds. The goal is to be able to bring in a relatively consistent temperature water to the heat pump system such that it is not affected by the season of he year or outside temperature. We design our GHPS to be closed loop so that there is no reason to consider any cross contamination. In addition, a closed loop allows us to know precisely what we are dealing with regarding flows, temperatures and capacilities.

If we consider a well type GHPS, then we need enough well depth to take care of the heating of the building. Multiple wells are often needed to provide enough length so that the system will function as proposed. The IGSHPA has set forth guidelines for the depth, the contact length, optimum length for pumping circuits and similar design guidelines. We have taken our first GHPS design course in 1978 from IGSHPA and would suggest that you contact their web page at Heat Spring at http://www.heatspring.com/  for additional information.

Of course, the geothermal design for a home, a small commercial building and a large commercial or institutional building are all treated differently and uniquely designed. Care needs to be taken when considering soil type, heat transfer coefficients and other factors when the design is completed for a particular building.

The benefit of the GHPS is that although the capital cost is higher for the initial installation, the operating cost is significantly lower over the length of the building system Typically, we see energy savings in the 30 to 50% range with this type of heat pump system when it is properly designed. Therefore, the Life Cycle Cost is relatively short for a system such as this one when done for a project of any size. In addition this is a sustainable energy solution so from a High Performance Building, LEED, Green Globes or Energy Star approach this provides additional incentives.

In addition a geothermal heat pump system can be coupled to other sustainable technologies easily such as solar, CHP and some other inelligent energy solutions to further enhance efficiencies. Certainly call on us should you have any questions that you believe we can assist with!

Moving into an Organized Methodology of Calculating Energy Efficiencies for Your Facility

We need to begin the energy story somewhere and clearly it is a large subject, one that will require many installments to even begin to address the different levels of the appropriate solutions that are out there for each of us in the various parts of the United States that makes sense either from an economic or technological evaluation to move forward. Also just as clearly, energy solutions that apply in the Northeastern US, will not apply in the Southwestern US, for example. A KW and a BTUH is the same whereever it is used, and to that end all energy is created equal, but the thermal electric balance, physical proximity to the end use and fuel supply to generate energy be it electric only, thermal electric or thermal varies with each application.

Obiously if we look at the following general outline, we can look at the following as a general outline: a) implementing energy conservation to reduce energy consumption; b) integrating more efficient equipment and systems; c) implementing technologies such as combined heat and power or tri generation to optimize efficiencies; d) implementing local independemt power producers for local power generation along with thermal production; e)  utilizing systems that allows the use of alternative energy source such as solar, biomass, wind, micro hydro, and others; f) utilizing other technologies that allow green solutions such as geothermal heat pump solutions, carbon neutral applications and similar systems; g) utilizing systems that have been developed and been implemented in other parts of theworld that can now be applied effectively here in the US, for example chilled ceilings, using ORC technology, and other successful energy technologies that have used in both a commercial and industrial arena; h) evaluation of "cutting edge technologies"  that are presently being developed under some of the DOE Research Funding along with DOE and EPA funding grants as well as more specific state specific "Clean Energy" or USDA energy grants..

It should be noted that in many of these systems and subsystems, the true life is in excess of 25 years and with proper maintenance, approaches or exceeds 40 years. In addition with the present funding that is availabel for energy, incentives and grants are available to accelerate payback on projects. We use a number of pieces of software to evaluate many of the factors for projects including but not limited to capital cost, savings, life cycle costs, operating costs, depreciation, available grants and funding as well as many other factors. We use software that is well recognized by a number of Federal Agencies, as well recognized in the economic community so it is excellent to compare technologies one with another. We are firm believers in modeling and completed models of many different projects in course of optimizing and intergrating systems.

The evaluation of energy conservation issues is easy and the attached link will get you to a link that addresses architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and other elements that should be addressed when looking at implementing energy conservation especially in a commercial or industrial facility. In many of these cases we begin with the concept that we need or want to achieve a "green" building, one with lttle or no carbon footprint, per haps a "net zero" facility achieved with highly efficient systems and subsystems or at the vary least a sustainable energy sourced building with minimum carbon footprint.  Obviously USGBC is the organization that controls all LEED Certified Buildings and information can be found at this link:

http://www.usgbc.org/

In addition, some other links that provide information which can be helpful include:

http://www.energy.gov/

http://www.epa.gov/chp/

http://www.urbangreencouncil.org/

http://www.plantservices.com/industrynews/2004/42.html

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=labeled_buildings.locator

In the past few years we are seeing the general trend going toward "High Performance Buildings and Building Systems" as being a more focused use of capital dollars when considering the implementation of larger capital intensive projects.  Depending on  your specific project, and the goal that you wish to achieve with the overall affect of either building certification, energy savings, cost optimization or the balance between these factors, proceeding along the High Performance project route may be an appropriate choice for you.

Here is a link that might help you decide-

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/commercial_initiative/

So in recap, this becomes an economic, societal, and engineering decision as these projects are evaluated in a long term committment. It takes the combined knowledge of all stakeholders to evaluate of all aspects of the building systems and subsystems to properly make a correct plan and decision for the good of the project and the client's long term success.

Energy is our most important commodity

Since energy of all types is so important to us throughout the world to drive our economic engine, we need to optimize the use use of all forms of energy, use alternative energy sources and be intelligent about the proper balance of energy throughout our world. We have been active in the energy world since the 1970's so beginning today, we will be posting a weekly blog about different types of energy opportunities to assist in lowering energy use and costs be it through energy conservation, use of alternatitve energy, carbon reduction or improved technology that allows energy users to save money and reduce energy.

Over the next few months we will address individual energy approaches and attributes. Thanks for checking in today!