Renewable Working Group Meeting Summary - April 2, 2002
Department of Energy Headquarters, Forrestal Building; Room 6E-069
Executive Summary
Extended Summary
Update from the Federal Energy Management Program Director
Framework for Meeting the Federal Renewable Energy Goal
Technical Assistance Support for Renewable Energy Projects in 2002
Update on the Million Solar Roofs (MSR) Initiative
Project Update - PV Array at the GSA Suitland Federal Center
The Use of Renewable and Distributed Technologies to Improve Energy Security on Military Facilities (Unclassified)
Department of Defense Renewable Energy Assessment
Executive Summary
Anne Sprunt Crawley substituted for Beth Shearer, who was unable to participate. Anne reviewed the principal themes in The National Energy Policy: (1) Enhance energy conservation; (2) Modernize infrastructure; (3) Increase supplies; (4) Accelerate protection and improvement of the environment; and (5) Improve energy security. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy priorities are complementary to that policy. There are various initiatives in the Congress, including new energy reduction goals. We are tracking progress toward meeting renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals. One goal is to expand use of renewable energy to 2.5% of Federal facility electricity consumption by 2005—presently it is 0.4%. Another goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2010 relative to 1990; as of the end of 2000, we had achieved 13.6% . FEMP is in the process of developing a document called Framework for Meeting the Federal Renewable Energy Goal by 2005 and Continuing Growth. In the 1990 — March 2002 time period, renewables produced 206 GWh annual output. Biomass and geothermal heat pumps were the largest segments of that.
Skye Schell, Agency Services Supervisor for FEMP, attended briefly and emphasized Beth's commitment to supporting renewable energy.
Nancy Carlisle outlined the near term technical assistance calls applicable to renewable energy. There will be a technical assistance call in June for FY 2003 projects—$600K is available. The call for DER projects has just been released—$600K is available. Nancy also reviewed the upcoming training opportunities.
Lynne Gillette (DOE Solar Program) provided an update on the Million Solar Roofs (MSR) Initiative. Perhaps the biggest development is that there is a MSR initiative—that was in doubt. There are many changes in progress regarding MSR. The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) will be taking on many MSR tasks including the electronic newsletter. There will be a new approach to MSR system definitions and counting systems. The next annual meeting will be on June 15 in Reno at Solar 2002.
Steve White and Pat Dawson of GSA provided a project update on the PV Array at the GSA Suitland Federal Center near Washington. Since its dedication in October, 2000, it had a few problems in the first few months of operation; however since then it has performed flawlessly and has had many visitors.
Dave Menicucci and Abbas Akhil, of Sandia National Laboratories provided an unclassified presentation on using renewable and distributed technologies to improve energy security on military facilities. The discussion used the electric infrastructure on a hypothetical military base to show vulnerabilities that could be exploited by terrorists. He explained how renewable and distributed technologies could lessen that vulnerability. Commander Kelly Snook of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Installations & Environment) gave an update on a DoD renewable energy assessment being done in response to language in the FY 2002 Military Construction Appropriations Act directing DoD to perform a renewable energy assessment. That assessment, which will cover wind, geothermal, and solar technologies, is just being organized. Expected results include a detailed assessment of potential for renewable energy use both on and near bases. Final assessment is due in April 2003.
Extended Summary
Nancy Carlisle, of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory opened the meeting and asked that each attendee introduce themselves and invited anyone to make general announcements.
Anne Sprunt Crawley announced that the deadline for submission of nominations for the FEMP awards is May 17, 2002. The 2002 awards will recognize achievements accomplished in fiscal year 2001 where installation has been completed and savings have begun to accrue. There is a separate category for renewable projects. Please see details for award categories and eligibility and submission guidelines on the FEMP web site.
Attendance List: (PDF 34 KB, 1 pp). Download Adobe Reader.
Update from the Federal Energy Management Program Director
Anne Sprunt Crawley (for Beth Shearer, who was unable to attend the meeting) (PDF 121 KB, 8 pp)
Anne announced that the FEMP staff had learned the day before that Beth Shearer would continue in her present position as director of FEMP. (There had been a reorganization in the DOE Office of the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) in which many people changed positions.)
The National Energy Policy has five themes: (1) Enhance energy conservation; (2) Modernize infrastructure; (3) Increase supplies; (4) Accelerate protection and improvement of the environment; and (5) Improve energy security. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy priorities are to dramatically reduce or even end dependence on foreign oil; reduce the burden of energy prices on the disadvantaged; increase the viability and deployment of renewable energy; increase the reliability and efficiency of electricity generation, delivery, and use; increase the efficiency of buildings and appliances; increase the efficiency/reduce the energy intensity of industry; create the new domestic bio-industry; and lead by example through the Government's own actions.
There are several pieces of energy-related legislation that are in various stages of progression in Congress. These include:
New energy reduction goals; the House version has 45% by 2020 (1985 baseline), and the Senate 2% per year, (2000 baseline that will run through 2011—a 20% improvement)
Federal Energy Bank (Senate)
Expand ESPC authority
Codify UESC authority (House)
Interval metering
Progress Toward Renewable Energy Goals. The goal is to expand use of renewable energy by 2.5% of Federal facility electricity consumption by 2005; presently renewable energy use is 0.4%. From June 1997 to the end of 2000, the Federal Government installed 2,745 solar energy systems. The Federal government is also purchasing renewable power and renewable energy credits.
Progress Toward Greenhouse Gas Goal. The overall federal government goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2010 relative to 1990. As of the end of 2000, we have achieved 13.6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990. As an aid, FEMP has established a number of technology-specific Super Energy Savings Performance Contracts for renewable energy technologies. These contracts can be used nationwide and projects in Federal facilities overseas. The four technologies are (1) geothermal heat pumps, (2) photovoltaics, (3) concentrating solar collectors, and (4-just announced) biomass and alternative methane fuels. Areas of emphasis include Distributed Energy Resources (DER), Combined Heat and Power (CHP), Industrial and Laboratory Facilities, Whole Building Design, Operation and Maintenance/Commissioning, Peak Load Management.
Note: On March 15, 2002, DOE announced that five energy service companies have been selected to use performance-based contracts to reduce energy use, manage utility costs and promote renewable energy at federal facilities by using biomass and alternative methane energy sources. Biomass includes dedicated energy crops and trees, agricultural crop residues, aquatic plants, wood and wood residues, animal wastes and other organic waste materials. Alternative methane is generated in landfills, wastewater treatment plants and coalbeds. The energy service companies selected for the Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) program for biomass and alternative methane are:
- Constellation Energy Source, Baltimore, MD
- DTE Biomass Energy Inc., Ann Arbor, MI
- Energy Systems Group, Evansville, IN
- Systems Engineering and Management Corporation, Knoxville, TN
- Trigen Development Corporation, Baltimore, MD
For more information on the Biomass and Alternative Methane ESPC, please visit the DOE FEMP web site.
Framework for Meeting the Federal Renewable Energy Goal
Anne Sprunt Crawley, Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) (PDF 126 KB, 12 pp)
FEMP is in the process of developing a document called Framework for Meeting the Federal Renewable Energy Goal by 2005 and Continuing Growth. The document is in draft form and the material that was presented at the RWG meeting is contained in that draft. The overall goal, as stated in E.O. 13123 and implementing guidance, is to expand the percentage of renewable energy use to 2.5 percent of federal electricity use by 2005. Because the figures are based on a variable (future annual electricity usage) it is not possible to determine an absolute numerical goal for 2005. Using the latest data available (2000), the amount of renewable energy usage would be 1422 gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually. Another way of looking at this is that it would take about 500 megawatts (MW) of wind (at a 31% capacity factor) to produce this amount of electricity. Currently, we are at a 206 GWh rate. Using the 2000 data as an approximation, this means that we have 1216 GWh to go. Skye Schell, Agency Services Supervisor for FEMP, attended briefly and emphasized Beth's commitment to supporting renewable energy.
In the 1990 — March 2002 time period, the following were the annual capacities (by technology):
| Technology | Capacity - GWh |
|---|---|
| Solar Water Heat | 4.7 |
| Biomass | 92.8 |
| Wind | 11.6 |
| Green Power | 13.5 |
| Photovoltaics | 11.1 |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | 71.9 |
| Total | 205.6 |
One way of setting about how to achieve the 1422 GWh goal is to look at different approaches as specified in E.O. 13123. These are: (1) projects, (2) renewable energy purchases, and (3) facilitated projects.
The Project Approach means on-site generation or low-energy design. Currently, we have 191 GWh from this source; we believe that 15% of the 1422 GWh (or 213 GWh) is achievable through this approach.
The Renewable Purchases Approach usually includes purchases of renewable power or renewable energy credits (REC)(a financial transaction that supports investment in renewable energy projects without the complications involved in the physical delivery of power). Purchases can also include purchases of renewable fuels, biomass or other renewable energy. Currently, we have 13.5 GWh from this source; we believe that 15% of the 1422 GWh (or 213 GWh) is achievable.
The Facilitated Project Approach is where the agency's actions encourage or facilitate an increased use of renewable energy even though the agency may not use the renewable energy directly, or at all. The potential is high because these projects are not constrained by Federal demand, but can take advantage of prime resource locations. They are generally much larger in size than on-site projects supplying an individual facility. Currently, we have 1 GWh, but 740 GWh are pending. We believe that 70% of the 1422 GWh (or 995 GWh) is achievable.
Below are representative costs of some renewable energy systems:
| Technology | Savings - Cents/kWh (or otherwise noted) |
Initial Cost - $/kW (or otherwise noted) |
|---|---|---|
| Geothermal Heat Pump | 35 - 62% cost savings | $2,200 - $3,000/ton |
| Biomass power | 6-20 | 1,700 |
| Solar-Photovoltaics 2 kW system 20 kW system |
18—36 15—21 |
6,500—13,000 5,300—7,500 |
| Wind On-Site — 20kW | 8—12 | 1,500—2,500 |
| Wind Power Purchase | 1.2—2.6 (premium) | NA |
| Solar — Hot water | ($50-80/sf of collector area) |
A copy of the Table of Contents and Introduction of the draft Framework for Meeting the Federal Renewable Energy Goal by 2005 and Continuing Growth Next Steps was distributed to participants at the RWG meeting. The plan is to finish the draft and circulate formally. We want to continue to collect information on progress and integrate that with the Annual Report where possible and finally—help make projects happen!
Technical Assistance Support for Renewable Energy Projects in 2002
Nancy Carlisle, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (PDF 251 KB, 9 pp)
FEMP distributes funding for Technical Assistance (TA) in the following manner:
- Issues an annual "Call for Projects" (RE, Design Assistance, Water, O&M and more)
- Issues a separate annual DER "Call for Projects"
- Selects and funds projects best meeting predetermined criteria
Watch the FEMP web site for more information:
FEMP Technical Assistance Call. The Technical Assistance Call will be issued in June 2002 for FY 2003 projects; $600K is available in the form of technical assistance from the national laboratories. FEMP supports a small number of ad hoc projects throughout the year based on the "Call for Projects" criteria. We anticipate approximately 20-40 projects being selected. Criteria for selection includes: agency cost sharing, energy savings impact, FEMP impact, replication, champions, schedule, showcase possibility, and level of effort requested. Technical Assistance is to assist Federal agencies implement projects by overcoming technical obstacles. FEMP offers opportunity assessments, feasibility studies, financing strategies, technical specifications, proposal reviews & support in negotiation, design review, and acceptance testing. Renewable projects can include low energy design in buildings, solar water heating and air heating, photovoltaics, wind, geothermal heat pumps or geothermal heating and cooling, and on-site biomass electricity and thermal generation.
Examples of FEMP Assistance for Renewable Energy Projects include the GSA Main Interior Building—PV and green roof; Vandenberg AFB—Avian and visual study for 3MW wind farm, National Weather Service—Miramar Site—10 KW PV system; Norfolk Naval Base—Solar ventilation preheat system; Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory—Building Integrated PV system; and the US Forest Service/Yavapai-Apache Nation feasibility of 2-10 MW wood-chip/biomass electric generating plant.
FEMP Distributed Energy Resources (DER). FEMP has just issued a Call for Projects in DER; $600K is available for technical assistance and hardware. FEMP anticipates five awards for both on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems. Criteria include; agency cost sharing, technical merit, cost effectiveness and value, showcase potential, agency support, project implementation plan, strategic value.
Renewable Power Purchasing. FEMP supports Federal agencies that procure power from renewable sources. The FEMP Headquarters contact is Dave McAndrew - 202-586-7722.
FEMP Resources
FEMP Web Site: www.eere.energy.gov/femp
FEMP Help Desk: 877-337-3463
FEMP Focus Newsletter
FEMP HQ Office
DOE Regional Office FEMP Team
DOE National Laboratory Liaisons
NREL, ORNL, LBNL, PNNL, NETL, SNL
Upcoming Renewable Training Opportunities
Implementing Renewable Energy projects course—May 21-22, 2002 in DC. Contact: Annett Eiffert (916) 721-7473 Annett@solarstreetfurniture.com
Energy 2002—FEMP Annual Conference—June 2-5, Palm Springs, CA, Contact: 800-395-8574
Wind Power 2002, June 2-5, 2002, Portland, OR. Contact: AWEA.org
June 15-19—ASES Annual Conference in Reno, NV. Contact: ASES.org
Next RWG meeting — late summer in DC
Update on the Million Solar Roofs (MSR) Initiative
Lynne Gillette, DOE Solar Program (PDF 366 KB, 8 pp) Download Adobe Reader.
The Million Solar Roofs program is partnering with the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). The next annual meeting will occur on June 15, 2002 in Reno, Nevada at Solar 2002. IREC will be taking on MSR tasks including the newsletter (electronic monthly or biweekly). The Website is moving to Solar Host in June, and the regional meeting facilitation will be handled by Larry Sherwood, formerly of the American Solar Energy Society.
The focus will be on Regional MSR meetings. We hope to bring in experts in regionally relevant barrier busting, survey implementation and outreach tools that are available, and highlight laboratory technical assistance.
There will be new MSR system definitions. We plan to include new types of systems including solar trough water heating, and solar space heaters. We plan to revise solar water heating size requirements, changing to BTUs rather than sq. ft. of collector. Sandia National Laboratory will be making recommendations which will be reviewed by MSR partners and stakeholders before changes are made.
There also will be a new approach to counting systems. We are considering allowing partners to count kWs or BTU and claim roof "equivalents". This eliminates pressure for a bunch of little systems rather than larger ones and gives partners credit for hundreds of "too small" systems. We are looking for ways to use information about solar markets to estimate solar installations. We are considering counting rehabilitated systems. The National Laboratory staff will be making recommendations which will be reviewed by MSR partners and stakeholders before changes are made.
In 2002 we offer two kinds of partnership grants—New partnerships grants (Phase 1) and meeting the Commitment (Phase 2) which builds on (forces completion of) prior grants. We also are encouraging grants offered via State Energy Programs for States and via standard grant solicitation for other type partnerships.
The DOE National Laboratories have an important role in MSR. They provide technical assistance, develop information and tools for partnerships, develop working MSR house models, advise on systems definitions and counting conventions, and conduct Annual MSR awards.
Project Update - PV Array at the GSA Suitland Federal Center
Steve White and Pat Dawson - General Services Administration
The Suitland Federal Center, five miles east of Washington, D.C. installed a photovoltaic (PV) system that was as part of President Clinton's "Million Solar Roofs" initiative. The General Services Administration (GSA) paid for the installation with help from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the Solar Electric Power Association TEAM-UP program. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on October 26, 2000. The installation site was a former cooling pond (like a swimming pool, 7 ft. deep and 320 ft. in diameter) that had been filled with soil, then compacted and graded. A total of almost 2,300 linear ft. of photovoltaic array structure, divided into 80-ft. bays, had to fit into an area just slightly longer than a football field. To minimize self-shading, the rows were spaced 25 ft. apart. The 100 kW AC photovoltaic array will produce 480 V AC and up to 150 amperes. This power is fed directly into the utility grid without storage.
Steve and Pat described their experience with the array as "kind of boring". They had some initial problems getting the array going, but since that time, have had almost no problems. They have had many visitors, including a TV crew from Russia and many school tours from all over the US.
The Use of Renewable and Distributed Technologies to Improve Energy Security on Military Facilities (Unclassified)
Dave Menicucci and Abbas Akhil, Sandia National Laboratories (PDF 742 KB, 13 pp)
Security issues are among Sandia's core competencies. Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratory were recently funded to develop the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center. Sandia is currently working with two bases on security and renewables projects. Energy security analysis has strategic value. Energy systems are critical infrastructure components of military bases.
Electricity and gas; inter-dependencies with water; command and control. Energy infrastructures presently offer easy targets — from simply annoying to severely impacting mission critical activities. Security analysis reveals vulnerabilities that could be exploited by terrorists. To illustrate vulnerability off-base, consider the electric infrastructure. Mr. Akhil showed a one-line electrical schematic of a hypothetical military installation illustrating the vulnerability of the transmission lines. Off-base facilities and information are owned by electric utilities, not the military base. There are vulnerable substations, switchyards, poles, and cables. Controlling this access and information off-base is not usually practical or enforceable. For instance, consider the following vulnerabilities: a single feeder to base; poles and conductors can be easily taken out with low probability of detection; line restoration could exceed several days. Substation transformers and hardware can be disabled with readily available tools such as a rifle or a hand drill. Transformers, breakers and other hardware are long-lead time items—spares are not usually stocked by the utility. Outage could last several months depending on spares availability.
Now consider vulnerability of the on-base electric infrastructure. Unlike off-base facilities, controlling information and access to on-base facilities is achievable. On-base electric infrastructure elements, such as substations, switchyards, poles, cables are basically similar. Needed protection includes controlling physical access and camouflaging thermal and noise signatures. Typical vulnerabilities include sabotaging substations, stand-by generation and UPS equipment. Coordinated outages can be programmed through building energy management systems.
A typical terrorist attack strategy would be to use low-tech tools and low profile approach. The utility feeder line to the base could be cut. Conductors and insulators on key structural poles can be shot with a 30-06 rifle with a scope and ordinary ammo from a horse or All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). Damage could cause a base-wide outage of 1—3 days while line is rebuilt.
Another approach is to disable key substation transformer(s)—either on or off-base. The saboteur could break into a substation and loosen a transformer oil drain plug using simple tools such as a padlock cutter or hex wrench. The damage would be burnt transformers, for which a replacement can take 3—6 months based on transformer size and availability. Base power supply would be curtailed or severely limited for extended time period.
Role of Distributed and Renewable Source. Distributed resources are inherently dispersed and represent incrementally small power blocks. They offer less threat exposure than centralized generation. Distributed resources can be mobile. Sizes range from 10 kW to 3 MW. Mobility decreases threat risk; for instance, generator location can be changed unexpectedly and frequently.
A different integration approach is to pre-plan and build supporting infrastructure to respond in event of attack. For instance, one could identify and prepare several "nodes" where (mobile) distributed generation could be tied in quickly. One could also sectionalize distribution as necessary to isolate and serve critical loads/facilities, move switchgear underground or tightly integrate in building design, and reduce thermal and noise signatures.
In summary, energy security analysis must be performed in an appropriate controlled environment. Military bases are increasingly conscious of energy infrastructure vulnerabilities. Renewable energy and distributed energy resources (DER) could be a key element of the solutions portfolio. Off-base and on-base electric infrastructures share similarities but vulnerabilities differ. Renewable energy and DER can play a key role in enhancing survivability and operational continuity under severe threat conditions.
Department of Defense Renewable Energy Assessment
Commander Kelly Snook, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Installations & Environment) (PDF 335 KB, 3 pp)
The FY 2002 Military Construction Appropriations Act provided $6M to DoD to perform a renewable energy assessment. The following text consists of excerpts from Public Law 107-64, and associated committee reports:
....The conferees direct that $6,000,000 be used to conduct a service-wide assessment of renewable energy alternatives at or near Department of Defense installations....
Last winter's energy shortages, coupled with heightened national security concerns over the vulnerability of the existing power delivery system, transmission lines, and fuel supply sources, have underscored the need for the Department to increase its reliance on renewable energy resources, particularly solar, wind, and geothermal, at military installations and Department of Defense family housing complexes. It is the opinion of the Committee that renewable energy resources can help to improve energy reliability, independence, and security through diversification and distributed development, and in so doing, complement conventional energy resources.
To accomplish this goal, the Committee directs the Department to designate an executive agent among the services with field-level renewable energy purchasing experience, to assess the regional potential of renewal energy generation, transmission, and distribution by industry on or near Department of Defense installations in the United States. Because of the Air Force's scope and level of experience, the Committee recommends that the Air Force be designated the executive agent.
The assessment is expected to encompass installations in each of the services and should include an analysis of the overall cost, benefit, and risk of various renewable energy proposals. The Department is also directed to provide a plan for encouraging the participation of private industry in the development and provision of renewable energy, and address the Department's market, regulatory, legal, cost and other possible impediments to an increased reliance on renewable resources... The Department is directed to provide the congressional defense committees with an interim report on the scope and method of the assessment no later than April 30, 2002, and a final report no later than April 30, 2003.
The study effort is in the process of being organized. It will cover wind, geothermal, and solar technologies. Several DOE laboratories will be assisting DoD. They include: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Washington), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Colorado), and Sandia National Laboratories (New Mexico).
Major planned assessment results include detailed assessment of military installation potential for renewable energy use; selectively placing wind anemometers; develop renewable energy project documents; cost/benefit and risk assessment of potential projects; identification of renewable energy potential near bases; and recommendations to mitigate legal or regulatory impediments.
Other goals are to improve grid reliability, expand industry capacity, and to develop a roadmap to facilitate future renewable purchases.
Copies of Presentation Slides:
For copies of presentation slides, please contact:
Jim Hoelscher
e-mail: jhoelscher@antaresgroupinc.com
Telephone: 301-731-1900