YOU ARE DOWNLOADING DOCUMENT

Please tick the box to continue:

Transcript
Page 1: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

Opportunities and Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Biomass Heat and Power

Systems in AlabamaSystems in Alabama

Dave GambleDave GambleGreen Energy TechnologiesGreen Energy Technologies

Page 2: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

Small Scale SystemsSmall Scale Systems

How Small?How Small? To operate a vehicle – To operate a vehicle – To operate lumber dry kilns -To operate lumber dry kilns - To operate saw mills -To operate saw mills - To operate poultry processing plants -To operate poultry processing plants - To operate brick kilns –To operate brick kilns –

Up to 20 MMBTU/Hr as thermal energyUp to 20 MMBTU/Hr as thermal energy Up to 1000 KW as electrical energyUp to 1000 KW as electrical energy

Page 3: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

Types of SystemsTypes of Systems

Combustion – Biomass FuelsCombustion – Biomass Fuels Proven Technologies Proven Technologies

Gasification – Biomass FuelsGasification – Biomass Fuels New TechnologiesNew Technologies Beginning to gain acceptanceBeginning to gain acceptance Sizes up to 10 MMBTU/Hr availableSizes up to 10 MMBTU/Hr available Bigger sizes too costly for “Small Systems”Bigger sizes too costly for “Small Systems”

Landfill Gas RecoveryLandfill Gas Recovery

Page 4: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

ChallangesChallanges Keep capital costs lowKeep capital costs low

Gasification systems are a move in the right direction, the Gasification systems are a move in the right direction, the bio-gas can be used in existing boilers and engine bio-gas can be used in existing boilers and engine generatorsgenerators

Does not require special boilers or steam turbine generator Does not require special boilers or steam turbine generator systemssystems

Keep fuel costs low Keep fuel costs low Utilize waste materialsUtilize waste materials Utilize low cost wood residuals from forestsUtilize low cost wood residuals from forests Utilize agri-wastes such as cotton hulls or peanut shellsUtilize agri-wastes such as cotton hulls or peanut shells

Page 5: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

Keep Capital Cost LowKeep Capital Cost Low

A real “worthy” technologyA real “worthy” technology Too many ContendersToo many Contenders We must select a few “great” candidatesWe must select a few “great” candidates We must help pass the word on those that can We must help pass the word on those that can

make the cutmake the cut We must help those who have a real “worthy” We must help those who have a real “worthy”

technologytechnology

Page 6: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

Keep Capital Cost LowKeep Capital Cost Low

A “corporate” commitmentA “corporate” commitment Consumers can make a big impactConsumers can make a big impact A commitment by key consumers can create a A commitment by key consumers can create a

market for these “worthy” technologiesmarket for these “worthy” technologies Example – Jenkins Brick CompanyExample – Jenkins Brick Company

Utilizing landfill gas for drying of bricksUtilizing landfill gas for drying of bricks

Example – AMCO ProduceExample – AMCO Produce Utilizing wood wastes to replace natural gas for heatingUtilizing wood wastes to replace natural gas for heating

Page 7: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

OpportunitiesOpportunities“overcoming the obstacles”“overcoming the obstacles”

There are many businesses that can utilize There are many businesses that can utilize Biomass Energy , if…..Biomass Energy , if…..

Fuel supplies can be guaranteedFuel supplies can be guaranteed Technologies can be represented by Technologies can be represented by

“Bankable” manufacturers.“Bankable” manufacturers. Suppliers are viewed as “Bankable” by lending Suppliers are viewed as “Bankable” by lending

institutions.institutions.

Page 8: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

OpportunitiesOpportunities “overcoming the obstacles” “overcoming the obstacles”

There are many businesses that can utilize There are many businesses that can utilize Biomass Energy , if…..Biomass Energy , if…..

Fuel supplies can be guaranteedFuel supplies can be guaranteed The risk is that fuel prices will increase over The risk is that fuel prices will increase over

time time The risk is that the supply will disappear The risk is that the supply will disappear The risk is that the fuel may become more The risk is that the fuel may become more

valuable to othersvaluable to others

Page 9: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

OpportunitiesOpportunities “overcoming the obstacles” “overcoming the obstacles”

There are many businesses that can utilize There are many businesses that can utilize Biomass Energy , if…..Biomass Energy , if…..

Technologies can be represented by Technologies can be represented by “Bankable” manufacturers.“Bankable” manufacturers.

Small companies do not give potential Small companies do not give potential customers a real sense of being “established”customers a real sense of being “established”

Startup companies are a source of great Startup companies are a source of great concern to those making equipment loans or concern to those making equipment loans or leasesleases

Page 10: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

OpportunitiesOpportunities “overcoming the obstacles” “overcoming the obstacles”

There are many businesses that can utilize There are many businesses that can utilize Biomass Energy , if…..Biomass Energy , if…..

Suppliers are viewed as “Bankable” by lending Suppliers are viewed as “Bankable” by lending institutions.institutions.

This is probably the biggest single obstacle to This is probably the biggest single obstacle to developing the small biomass energy systems.developing the small biomass energy systems.

Page 11: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

OpportunitiesOpportunities Even with the obstacles, there are systems that will be Even with the obstacles, there are systems that will be

installed.installed. These will be in the areas of greatest need, and consequently These will be in the areas of greatest need, and consequently

where some levels of risk will be tolerated.where some levels of risk will be tolerated. These will be in places where energy is consumed in large These will be in places where energy is consumed in large

quantities and/or waste disposal is a critical issue.quantities and/or waste disposal is a critical issue. And, where the wastes can be converted to energy.And, where the wastes can be converted to energy. This is what the past has shown to us…This is what the past has shown to us…

Paper mills, saw mills, furniture manufacturers, are great examplesPaper mills, saw mills, furniture manufacturers, are great examples And, we should really listen to what the past has to tell us… And, we should really listen to what the past has to tell us… Convert low cost feedstocks into high priced energyConvert low cost feedstocks into high priced energy

Page 12: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

Wood Gasifier Wood Gasifier at Brick Manufacturerat Brick Manufacturer

Page 13: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

Gasifier Gasifier Operating on Chicken LitterOperating on Chicken Litter

Courtesy of Power Reclamation, Inc. NOAH Clean Burning Cool Fuel Gas Generator

Page 14: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

Using SwitchgrassUsing Switchgrass

Courtesy of Power Reclamation, Inc. NOAH Clean Burning Cool Fuel Gas Generator

Page 15: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

Landfill Gas SuppliesLandfill Gas Supplies

Page 16: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

LFG as a Waste ProductLFG as a Waste Product

Page 17: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

LFG to EnergyLFG to Energy

Page 18: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Biomass Heat and Power Systems in Alabama Dave Gamble Green Energy Technologies.

A Real ChallengeA Real Challengean opportunity to commercializean opportunity to commercialize

Low cost feedstocks converted into high value/cost energy

Courtesy of Renewable Energy Systems, Inc and Wayne Keith