Andrea Colnes, Policy Director Biomass Energy Resource Center
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Best-in-Class Community- Scale Biomass Systems Case Study Series Sustainable Forest Biomass Energy: Connecting Forests and Communities Public Policy Issues & Opportunities USFWS Region 5 Biological Conference February 16, 2011 Andrea Colnes, Policy Director Biomass Energy Resource Center
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Sustainable Forest Biomass Energy: Connecting Forests and Communities Public Policy Issues & Opportunities USFWS Region 5 Biological Conference February 16, 2011. Andrea Colnes, Policy Director Biomass Energy Resource Center. Local Energy – - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Andrea Colnes, Policy Director Biomass Energy Resource Center
Best-in-ClassCommunity-Scale Biomass Systems
Case Study SeriesSustainable Forest Biomass Energy: Connecting Forests and Communities
Public Policy Issues & Opportunities
USFWS Region 5 Biological ConferenceFebruary 16, 2011
Andrea Colnes, Policy DirectorBiomass Energy Resource Center
Best-in-ClassCommunity-Scale Biomass Systems
Case Study SeriesLocal Energy –A new way to look at the relationship between communities and forests
Best-in-ClassCommunity-Scale Biomass Systems
Case Study SeriesWhy Woody Biomass is a Good Energy Choice for the Northeast
Best-in-ClassCommunity-Scale Biomass Systems
Case Study Series
Approximately one third of US energy consumption is Thermal
Best-in-ClassCommunity-Scale Biomass Systems
Case Study Series
12.6 million homes nation - wide use home heating oil or propane
Residential Heating Oil and Propane Use By Region
• 16.8 million barrels propane used annually in western region
• 1.7 million homes use propane for space heating or water heating in western region
Energy Information Administration
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Case Study Series
Comparative Cost of Heat
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Case Study Series The ChallengeWill the US become a leader in the innovation, production, and sustainable use of biomass energy, biofuels, and bioproducts created from local wood and agricultural resources?
Or, will the shift from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based economy lead to exploitation of biomass in a boom-and-bust cycle that does not sustain our region’s economy, communities, energy supply, agricultural base or forests on a long-term basis?
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Case Study SeriesCritical Issues for Sustainable Biomass Energy
Sustainable Forestry – ensure overall ecological integrity and function
Maximized Efficiency – ensure the energy value of biomass is utilized as fully and cleanly as possible
Local Energy – use local wood resources for community and regional needs and keep investment and returns local
Energy Security – provide communities with a stable, affordable clean, and locally produced source of energy
Climate Change Mitigation – reduce net carbon emissions and increase carbon sequestration
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Case Study Series
Northern Forest Biomass Energy Action Plan2007 Collaboration, 40 Endorsers
Purpose: “To explore the potential for woody biomass from the Northern Forest to provide an increased source of renewable, sustainable energy for the region, and to determine what needs to happen in the region for that potential to be realized.”
Convened by BERC, the Northern Forest Center, and the Carsey Institute
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Wood SupplyBiomass energy applications must be consistent with a reliable and sustainable wood supply
Forestland Area and Ownership Data
Forest Inventory and Composition Data
Forest Growth and Mortality Data
Current Forest Harvesting Data
•Market Development
•Dependable Supply -Public/private sector roles-Anticipated losses
•Inclusive Definition
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Case Study SeriesSustainable Harvesting:Removals must be consistent with long-term forest health and productivity through an integrated approach
Options:- Biomass Harvesting Guidelines or Standards
- Forest Guild Retention and Harvesting Guidelines for the Northeast and other regions- Forest Guild Revised Assessment of Biomass Retention and
Harvesting Guidelines- Wood Fuel Procurement Standards- Best Management Practices
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Scale & Efficiency: If used efficiently, woody biomass could replace significant portions of the nation’s petroleum use with a local renewable fuel source.
• Used for heat or heat-led CHP, woody biomass is approximately 75% efficient• Used for generating electricity alone, woody biomass is 20-25% efficient•Used for making ethanol, woody biomass is 40-50% efficient
The transition to modern wood heating: Efficiency increase from 50% to >90%
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Case Study Series
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Technology
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Thermal
Wood to Energy Conversion Efficiency(available technology)
Best-in-ClassCommunity-Scale Biomass Systems
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About how much wood might the potential uses consume?
Industrial Uses:• Bio-oil 50,000-100,000 tons/plant?• Cellulosic ethanol (at scale) 300,000-1,500,000 tons/plant• Power plants 200,000-600,000 tons/ plant
Community Uses:• One school 200-1,000 tons• 30 Schools 15,000 tons• All schools in Maine 250,000 tons• Middlebury College 30,000 tons• VT State office complex 5,000 tons• Crotched Mountain Rehab Ctr. (NH Hospital) 3,000 tons• Public housing (50 units) 450 tons
All in Green Tons
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Emissions:Minimize emissions and meet or surpass stringent public health and air quality standards through:
• Efficient combustion technologies• Best air pollution control strategies• Best management practices
Emissions from wood boilers – down by a factor of 1000
Opportunity:New EPA Area Source Rule for Wood Boilers
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Case Study Series Biomass Energy & Carbon:Historic Claims and Recent Rhetoric
Best-in-ClassCommunity-Scale Biomass Systems
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Climate Change:Used efficiently and from sustainably managed forests, woody biomass has the potential to displace fossil fuels and reduce atmospheric CO2 emissions.
Forest ManagementNet Changes in Carbon Stocks Over Time and Over the LandscapeLand Use ChangeEfficiencyFossil Fuel Offsets
Opportunities:•Invest RGGI funds in efficient biomass energy technologies•Develop national carbon policy that links biomass energy to carbon sequestration role of forests•Use state, regional or national carbon registries to measure, aggregate and verify carbon offsets
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Case Study SeriesNational Energy Policy
Develop an “outcome-based” energy policy based on achieving efficiency, sustainability, renewability and security
- Rather than a “sector-based” approach boosting one technology over another
Existing public policy is creating market distortions that are undermining these policy objectives
-Must look at all energy sectors-Must look beyond short-term pricing-Need to develop a new paradigm – not just new fuels
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Case Study Series$29 Billion on Renewable Energy Subsidies
$72 Billion on Fossil Fuel Subsidies(2002-2008)
Transportation fuels: $16 billion – through the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit Program (VEETC) ($11 billion) and the corn-based ethanol grant program ($5 billion). Renewable electricity generation: $6 billion – through the Production Tax Credit ($5 billion), the Investment Tax Credit ($250 million), the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System ($200 million), and the Clean Renewable Energy Bond program ($85 million). Thermal energy: $0 – no significant subsidies.
Environmental Law Institute, 2009
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Case Study SeriesPublic Policy to Support Efficient, Sustainable Biomass Energy
Comprehensive National Energy Policy (Electric, Transportation and Thermal)
• All Fuels/All Sector Renewable Energy Standard with efficiency threshold• Carbon policy that supports the most efficient uses of biomass and links to carbon sequestration role of biomass• Federal incentives, grants and loans• Inclusive definition of Biomass• Sustainability requirements
Additional critical issues at the state and/or national levels:
• Sustainable Woody Biomass Supply• Sustainable Forest Management and Use• Air Emission Standards and Regulations
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Case Study SeriesCurrent Biomass Energy Public Policy InitiativesNational ProgramsCommunity Wood Energy ProgramEnergy Independence and Security Act of 2007 - Sec 399aBiomass Crop Assistance ProgramDOE & USDA grant programs
State ProgramsPrimary focus on electric generation: RPS, REC’sTransportation: CA, MN, OR, PA, WA, WIThermal: AZ, CT, MS, OR, PA, VT, WA. WI)
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Proposed Biomass Energy PolicyBCAP Review: New Rules October 2010. Restricted Eligible fuels, smaller program
EPA Emission Standards for Biomass Boilers: EPA must promulgate emission standards for area source boilers (a.k.a. Boiler MACT) by February 21, 2011
Homestar: Rebates for energy efficiency products including wood/pellet stoves & boilers
Energy Bill: Electric Power focus; Carbon Accounting, Biomass Definition
EPA Tailoring Rule: EPA proposal to regulate CO2 emissions from biomass boilers under Clean Air Act on hold for 3 years
District Energy Financing• S.1621 Thermal Energy Efficiency Act• Energy & Water Development Appropriations Act ($15m for district energy feasibility studies)
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Residential Tax CreditsHR 2080, American Renewable Biomass Heating ActS.1643 Cleaner, Secure, Affordable Thermal Energy Act
Commercial/Industrial Tax CreditsS. 3188, American Renewable Biomass Heating Act
Production Tax CreditsS.1094 Renewable Energy Production ActHR.5805 Thermal Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act (Thermal PTC, bonding, DOE Grants)
Renewable Energy CreditsS.1462 American Clean Energy Leadership Act (telescoping REC’s for efficiency) (Shaheen)
District Energy FinancingS.1621 Thermal Energy Efficiency ActEnergy & Water Development Appropriations Act ($15m for district energy feasibility studies)
Proposed Biomass Energy Policy
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Case Study Series Applications
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The Vermont Experience
• 2 power plants• 44 Public Schools
• 43 Woodchip / 1 Pellet• 1 Hospital
• 5 State Office Complexes• 3 Housing Complexes• 3 College Campuses• Dozens of businesses
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• Used 23,271 green tons of woodchips to offset more than 1.425 million gallons of oil
• Saved more than $1.7 million on heating costs (an average of $40,600 or 46% per school)
In the 2009/10 Heating Season, VT’s 43 Woodchip Heated Schools:
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District Heating - Campus• District heating & cooling system
• Cutting fuel oil usage in half or 40% reduction (12,500 tons/yr CO2) greenhouse gas emissions
• Local fuel/local economy – 75 mile radius and Willow plantation, 20,000 – 21,000 tons chips/year
• At 2008 fuel prices, $2 million annual cost savings
• CHP – 2-2.5 million killowatt hours electricity (1/5 campus electricity needs)
• Student learning opportunity
Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont
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Case Study Series District Heating – Campus
Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation CenterGreenfield, New Hampshire
• 12 MMBtu/hr• 2007-08 fuel savings $250,000• 400,000 square feet• Baghouse, Cyclone emissions control systems
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WOODCHIP DISTRICT CHP SYSTEM
Towns of Toblach and OlangSOUTH TYROL, ITALY
• Heating Capacity (output): One 10 MW (34 MMBtu/hr) boiler and two 4 MW (14 MMBtu/hr) boilers
• Electrical Capacity: 1.5 MW • Emissions Reduction and Combustion Control
Equipment: Multi-cyclone, electrostatic precipitator, condensation plant, moving grates, O2 sensor control
• Year Installed: 1995• Thermal Output: Hot water• District Heating Network Length: 44 km (27 miles)• District Heating Customers: 900
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INDUSTRY WOOD PELLET HEATING SYSTEM
Headquarters and Manufacturing Plant, Xolar GroupEBERSTALZELL, UPPER AUSTRIA
• Heating Capacity (output): Three 100 kW (340,000 Btu/hr) boilers
• Emissions Reduction and Combustion Control Equipment: O2 sensor control
• Year Installed: 2008
• Thermal Output: Hot water
• Solar Hot Water Panels: for heating and cooling• Efficient, Super-Tight Building• Heated Insulated Soils beneath Building – Solar and Biomass
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Case Study Series What is the future role of wood energy in an oil and climate constrained world?
• Efficient Applications• Sustainable Forestry• Local Energy and Economic Systems• Effective Public Policy
Conclusion
Contact InformationAndrea ColnesPolicy and Development Director
Biomass Energy Resource Center43 State StreetMontpelier, VT 05601802-223-7770 X 129
