Alternative Energy

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Alternative Energy Energy ConservationClimate
Friendly Parks WorkshopRocky Mountain National
ParkMarch 21, 2007

• Alicen Kandt
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory

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Realize the Benefits

• Reliable, distributed power supplies and fuel
  diversification, which enhance energy security
• Fewer (or no) emissions or greenhouse gases
  associated with energy production
• Greater energy price stability
• Lower utility bills
• More power for peak-use
• Lower risk of fuel spills in environmentally-sensi
  tive, remote locations
• Less need for imported fuels
• Reduced OM costs

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Conserve Energy

• Efficiency First!
• EPAct 2005 E.O.13423
• Reduce utility-billed energy consumption
• Increase use of renewable energy
• Apply High Performance Sustainable Buildings
  MOU Guidelines

• Lighting
• Implement Lighting Retrofit Workbook A Practical
  How To Guide for National Park Service Visitor
  Centers
• OM
• Utilize Best Practices (several DOE/FEMP guides)
• Employ commissioning metering when possible

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Tap into Renewable Energy Sources

• Electricity
• Solar Photovoltaics (PV)
• Wind
• Micro-hydro
• Thermal
• Daylighting and Passive Solar
• Solar water heating
• Solar ventilation preheat
• Geothermal heat pump or GeoExchange
• Biomass
• Conversion produce electricity and heat
• Combustion or Gasification
• Biofuels ethanol, methane, bio-oil, and
  biodiesel
• Green Power Purchase

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When to Consider Solar PV

• Small or Stand Alone Loads
• Emergency call boxes or security gates
• Parking lot lights or sign lighting
• Communications/monitoring equipment
• Comfort station lights and ventilation
• Fee collection stations
• Avoided Line Extensions
• 20k/mile or more
• New loads beyond electrical distribution system
• Water pumping
• Remote Diesel Generators
• Producing power at 0.20/kWh or more
• Buildings Integrated PV
• Peak shaving and UPS or emergency power
• PV replaces part of building skin costs

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When to Consider Geothermal

• New construction or existing facility with
  hydronic piping
• Major renovation when existing systems obsolete
• High water table or relatively moist, damp soil
• Ground-level parking area or open land for loop
  installation, or access to ground or other water
• Mixture of heating and cooling needs
• Multiple zones, both core and perimeter
• Water heating, snow melt, and process applications

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When to Consider Biodiesel

• Diesel vehicles and engines
• B20 is most common use, 20 bio and 80 petroleum
  diesel blend
• B100 has cold start and storage shelf life
  limitations
• Purchase B20 through DESC at prices similar to
  diesel
• Hundreds of engines already use biodiesel in 20
  Parks
• Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier
• Pictured Rocks
• B20 blended into diesel fuel tanks
• Soy-based lubricants, hydraulic fluid, 2-cycle
  oil, crankcase oil

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Purchase Green Power

• Three methods
• Regulated Utility Green Pricing Programs
• Xcel Energy WindSource program
• Competitive Renewable Power
• Currently does not apply in Colorado
• Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
• A.k.a. tradeable renewable certificates,
  renewable energy credits, green energy
  certificates, or green tags
• Represent environmental attributes of renewable
  generation and can be sold separately from the
  electricity
• GSA, DESC, and WAPA can assist with purchases
• Wind energy is the most common form
• Good option when on-site renewable energy is not
  possible or cost effective

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Get Started

• What renewable resources are available in my
  area?
• What applications are best for my facility?
• What are the objectives of my renewable energy
  project?
• How big (or small) should my project be?
• What are the costs and benefits of my project?
• How much funding do I need?
• What kind of assistance can FEMP, State Energy
  Office, NREL or others provide?

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In closing