Renewable Energy Technology2004 Energy Workshop

Andy AdenNational Renewable Energy Laboratory

June 17, 2004

Major NREL ThrustsVehicle Technologies• Hybrid Vehicles• Alternative Fuels

UtilizationBuilding Technologies• Building Efficiency• Zero Energy BuildingsFederal Energy

Management

Basic Energy Science• New Materials• Chemical and

Biological SciencesAnalytical StudiesInternational

WindSolar• Photovoltaics• Solar ThermalBiomass• Biorefineries• BiosciencesGeothermal

Hydrogen• Production• Storage• Delivery and End

Use• Systems IntegrationDistributed Energy• Distribution and

Interconnection• Thermal Systems• Superconductivity

Why Renewable Energy?• Energy Security

– Dramatically reduce dependence on foreign oil• Biomass is the only renewable that directly reduces our dependency

on liquid transportation fuels

• Economics– Trade deficit reduction– Job creation potential, especially in rural areas

• Environment / climate change– Much lower environmental impact– Fuels and power

• Sustainability– Renewable technologies are more sustainable

U.S. Energy Consumption Trend

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1850 1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990

Qua

drill

ion

BTU

s

Source: 1850-1949, Energy Perspectives: A Presentation of Major Energy and Energy-Related Data, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1975; 1950-2000, Annual Energy Review 2000, Table 1.3.

Coal

Crude Oil

Natural Gas

Nuclear

Hydro

Non-hydro Renewables

Wood

Changes in Atmospheric ConcentrationCO2, CH4, and N20 – A Thousand Year History

Source: IPCC Third Assessment Report (2001)

Atm

osph

eric

con

cent

ratio

n N

2O (p

bb)

310

290

270

2501000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Atm

osph

eric

con

cent

ratio

n C

O2

(ppm

)

360

340

320

300

280

260

1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Atm

osph

eric

con

cent

ratio

n C

H4

(ppb

)

1750

1500

1250

1000

750

1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Renewable Share of U.S. Energy Supply(data for 2002)

Coal 23%

Petroleum 39%

Renewable 6%

Natural Gas 24%

Nuclear 8%

Wind 2%

Biomass 46%

Hydroelectric 46%

Geothermal 5%

Solar <1%

Source: AEO 2004 tables (released in December 2003) based on US energy consumption. Overall breakdown Table A1 (Total Energy Supply and Disposition), and Renewable breakdown Table A18 (Renewable Energy, Consumption by Section and Source).

While the growing need for sustainable electric power can be met by other renewables…

The Unique Role of Biomass

Biomass is our only renewable source of carbon-based fuels and chemicals

Sole Supply

SustainableResources

Sunlight

Wind

Ocean/hydro

Geothermal

Nuclear

Minerals

Food

HumanNeeds

EnergyMotors/LightsHeat

Transport.

Materials

Organic

Inorganic

PrimaryIntermediates

Biomass

Electricity

Secondary Intermediates

Hydrogen

Animals

OrganicFuels

Batteries

Choices

Imagining a Sustainable World

The Environment

Water Soil Wildlife habitat/biodiversityAir ClimateNutrient

cyclesAdvanced Technology Scenarios for Production of Fuels and ChemicalsLee Lynd, Dartmouth College, 25th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels & Chemicals, Breckenridge, CO, May 4-7, 2003

U.S. Renewable Energy Resources

• 6366 MW installed in U.S., 34,000 MW worldwide

• Current levelized electricity cost is 3-5¢/kWh at 15 mph; 2012 goal is 3¢/kWh for land based; 2012 goal is 5¢/kWh for offshore

• Strong European competition

• R&D: improvements in turbine and tower designs, structural dynamics, lower cost GE Wind 1.5 MW turbines installed near

Quay, De Baca County, New Mexico©2003 GE Wind Energy All Rights Reserved

1293

2

Wind Energy

U.S. Wind Power Capacity

• About 350 MW installed in U.S.; 40% off grid

• 742 MW sales in 2003; ~33% per year growth

• Current cost is 24–30¢/kWh, 2010 goal is 12–14¢/kWh, 2020 goal is 6–8¢/kWh

• Strong competition, government support from Japan and Germany

• R&D: device efficiency, crystalline and thin film technologies, manufacturing process development, lower cost

Sacramento Municipal Utility District

0102

6

Solar Photovoltaics

• Electricity: parabolic troughs, power towers, dish/Sterling systems

• Current levelized electricity cost is 10¢/kWh; 2010 goal is 6¢/kWh

• 350 MW capacity in U.S. (trough) with new 50 MW solar-only trough plant currently planned for Nevada

• R&D: improve efficiency, increased annual capacity factor using thermal storage, lower capital cost

1107

0

Concentrating Solar Power

Solar power facility located near Kramer Junction, CA

Electricity from Biomass

• Existing Industry (~9,000 MW in U.S.)– Direct combustion, residues, ~20%

eff.

• Near Term– Co-firing with coal, ~35% eff.– Several successful demonstrations– SOx and some NOx reductions– Encourages feedstock

supply/infrastructure

Chariton ValleyChariton ValleySwitchgrass FieldSwitchgrass Field

Alliant Ottumwa Generating Station,Chillicothe, Iowa

700 MW PC

Electricity from Biomass (cont.)• Mid Term

– Modular Systems (village power)– Micro turbines, Stirling engines– Simple to operate in remote

locations

• Long Term– Integrated Gasification Combined

Cycle, ~40+% eff.– 2012 goal is syngas at $5.28/GJ– Advanced gas turbines, fuel cells– Demonstrations in U.S. and Europe

Fuels from Biomass

Existing and emerging technology supports targets of a renewable fuel standard

Advanced technology provides the leap to substantial oil displacement

Government role in high risk R&D

Industry role is to commercialize

Grain

Cellulose

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Year

Eth

an

ol

(Bil

lio

ns

of

gal/

yr)

EXISTING

AdvancedCornMills

EMERGING

SugarPlatform-New Enzymes-Pretreatment-Fermentation

ADVANCED

FundamentalAdvances inLignocelluloseProcessingand fermentation

Renewable Fuel Standard5 bgy in 2012

The New Industrial Biorefinery

ConversionConversionProcessesProcesses

– Trees – Grasses– Agricultural Crops– Agricultural Residues– Animal Wastes– Municipal Solid Waste

USESUSESFuels:– Ethanol– Renewable Diesel

Power:– Electricity– Heat

Chemicals– Plastics– Solvents– Chemical Intermediates– Phenolics– Adhesives– Furfural– Fatty acids– Acetic Acid– Carbon black– Paints– Dyes, Pigments, and Ink– Detergents– Etc.

Food and Feed

- Enzymatic Fermentation- Gas/liquid Fermentation- Acid Hydrolysis/Fermentation- Gasification- Combustion- Co-firing

BiomassBiomassFeedstockFeedstock

Cargill Dow Dedicates PLA Refinery April 2002

NREL / DOE- Industry PartnershipsExample: DuPont’s Integrated Biorefinery

• Chemical co-products lower cost of fuel EtOH

• Advanced collaborative R&D (CRADA)

IntegratedCorn

Biorefinery(ICBR)

corn

corn stoverpower

bioethanol

chemicals SoronaSorona®®

building block

for Sorona®

polyester

Things to Remember

• Minnesota is a leader in renewable energy implementation– Ethanol and biodiesel fuels– Solar and wind power

• Renewable resources are plentiful• Renewable energy technology is technically feasible today and

in some cases cost competitive• Continued rapid growth anticipated over the next decade• Cost and technology barriers are being overcome through R&D• Industry participation is vital for continued commercialization

For Additional Information…

Email: andy_aden@nrel.gov

Web: http://www.nrel.govhttp://www.eere.energy.gov