Remote Alaskan Environments Cory Luker Biomass Energy Research Technician Summer 2014 Fairbanks Alaska Energy Challenges in Remote Alaskan Villages 2 Sparsely populated isolated communities ID: 686030
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Slide1
Suitability of Woody Biomass Heating in
Remote Alaskan Environments
Cory Luker
Biomass Energy Research Technician
Summer 2014 | Fairbanks, AlaskaSlide2
Energy Challenges in
Remote Alaskan Villages
2
Sparsely populated, isolated communities
=
some of the
highest energy costs
in the nation
Extreme arctic climate = some of the
highest heating demands
in nation
High cost
of imported fuel oil is impeding
economic
development
Need
for an alternative cost-effective heating
solution
Woody biomass, a saving grace?
TCC communities that have either installed or have considered installing a biomass heating systemsSlide3
Motivation for Research
3
Renewable Energy Fund (REF)
–
Millions
of dollars of government funding going towards biomass systems since 2007
focuses on resource assessments, feasibility, design, and construction
NO
focus on long term
business
and logistical
studies
The long term sustainability of biomass heating systems are
unproven
in rural Alaska
Why are some projects exceeding expectations and other faltering?Slide4
Scope of Work
4
Case study for the TCC community of Tanana, Alaska’s biomass heating systems
Quality, source, and sustainability of wood resource
Feedstock logistics
Biomass heating systems integration
Operation, maintenance, and repair
Project economics and business model
Miscellaneous tasks:
Writing monthly newsletter articles
Biomass Report Consolidation
Develop interview questions and metrics for wood heating systemsSlide5
Biomass in the City
of Tanana
Longest continually operating biomass heating systems in TCC
Currently has 5 individual biomass initiatives and 13 woody biomass boilers
Using cordwood boilers to generate heat for:
School, water treatment facility, teacher public housing, fire station, and the city’s water
l
ines
5
C
ordwood boiler installation in the City of Tanana’s schoolSlide6
Tanana: Economic Assessment
6
Location
Avoided Fuel Oil Costs @$5.75/gal (dollars/year)
Wood Fuel Cost @$300/cord (dollars/year)
Labor Cost @ $16 dollars/hour (dollars/year)
Maitenance and Repair Cost (dollars/year)
Net Annual Savings (dollars/year)
20% MC
@10 hrs/cord
@18 hrs/cord
@10 hrs/cord
@18 hrs/cord
Washateria
$42,693.75
$(24,000.00)
$(12,800.00)
$(23,040.00)
$(1,200.00)
$4,693.75
$(5,546.25)
Fire Station
$5,336.72
$(3,000.00)
$(1,600.00)
$(2,880.00)
$(150.00)
$586.72
$(693.28)
City Shop
$6,404.06
$(3,600.00)
$(1,920.00)
$(3,456.00)
$(180.00)
$704.06
$(831.94)
School
$53,367.19
$(30,000.00)
$(16,000.00)
$(28,800.00)
$(1,500.00)
$5,867.19
$(6,932.81)
Public Housing
$1,601.02
$(900.00)
$-
$-
$(45.00)
$656.02
$656.02
Total
$109,402.73
$(61,500.00)
$(32,320.00)
$(58,176.00)
$(3,075.00)
$12,507.73
$(13,348.27)
Location
Avoided Fuel Oil Costs @$5.75/gal (dollars/year)
Wood Fuel Cost @$300/cord (dollars/year)
Labor Cost @ $16 dollars/hour (dollars/year)
Maitenance and Repair Cost (dollars/year)
Net Annual Savings (dollars/year)
35% MC
@10 hrs/cord
@18 hrs/cord
@10 hrs/cord @18 hrs/cord Washateria $34,679.69 $(24,000.00) $(12,800.00) $(23,040.00) $(1,200.00) $(3,320.31) $(13,560.31)Fire Station $4,334.96 $(3,000.00) $(1,600.00) $(2,880.00) $(150.00) $(415.04) $(1,695.04)City Shop $5,201.95 $(3,600.00) $(1,920.00) $(3,456.00) $(180.00) $(498.05) $(2,034.05)School $43,349.61 $(30,000.00) $(16,000.00) $(28,800.00) $(1,500.00) $(4,150.39) $(16,950.39)Public Housing $1,300.49 $(900.00) $- $- $(45.00) $355.49 $355.49 Total $88,866.70 $(61,500.00) $(32,320.00) $(58,176.00) $(3,075.00) $(8,028.30) $(33,884.30)
Table 1: Economic analysis of Tanana's biomass heating systems assuming 20% moisture content
Table 2: Economic
analysis of Tanana's biomass heating systems
assuming 35%
moisture contentSlide7
Tanana: Primary Conclusions
There is a current lack of organization and coordination between wood harvesters, city officials, and boiler operators
Burning wet wood is drastically reducing the efficiency of the cities biomass heating systems
Operational costs are significant with the installed cordwood boilers
Biomass systems promote
a sustainable
village economy
through job growth and new local wood fuel markets even if they themselves are not economically viable
7Slide8
8
A Special Thanks To
My mentors Amanda Byrd & David
Pelunis
-Messier and the wonderful staff and interns at ACEP