Upcoming
Event
World Cogeneration Day
worldcogenerationday.org
September 4, 2022
Upcoming
Event
Gastech Milan 2022
Gastech
September 5-8, 2022
Governments and CEOs will take stock of the evolving energy landscape; assess the state of the industry post-pandemic and navigate a route to a ‘just’ energy transition whilst managing the current gas supply crisis.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in Milan, an international centre of business with a thriving gas industry, Gastech will gather Ministers, CEOs, policy makers, business leaders, engineers, innovators and disruptors.
Ideally timed 2-months ahead of COP-27, the four-day exhibition and conference will provide a forum for exhibitors, sponsors and speakers, to showcase to a global audience, their solutions to the challenges faced on the journey to net-zero.
News
DOE Announces $425 Million to Expand State Clean Energy Programs
U.S. DOE
Aug 31, 2022
“States are the vanguard of our nation’s energy planning and implementation efforts, driving the deployment of clean energy infrastructure to lower utility costs and ensure an equitable clean energy transition,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding expands foundational, longstanding programs like the State Energy Program to help every state and territory manage their energy resources and accelerate gains in energy efficiency and add more clean energy onto the grid.”
Today’s funding announcement will transform SEP by expanding formula grants to nearly 10 times of recent funding levels, allowing states to ramp up their clean energy planning and deployment efforts and deliver benefits to more American families, businesses, and communities. SEP funding affords states broad flexibility to finance a range of activities and projects, such as:
- Installation of renewable energy systems and clean energy infrastructure
- Innovative clean energy technology demonstration projects
- Energy efficiency upgrades
- Clean energy financing programs
- Critical planning for clean energy and workforce development programs
In recent years, states have used SEP funding for a variety of innovative and impactful clean energy and energy efficiency projects, from building solar canopies and electric vehicle charging stations in Maryland parking lots, to helping repurpose Kentucky mine lands as sites for solar energy generation. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law further expands the scope of SEP-supported activities by adding new elements states should include in their State Energy Conservation Plans—a foundational piece of a state’s SEP application. These new elements include a requirement covering transmission and distribution planning and optional activities focused on the promotion of demand-response technology and transportation efficiency and electrification.
DOE is prepared to support states’ clean energy deployment efforts with the recent establishment of the Office of State and Community Energy Programs, within the Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure. The Office of State and Community Energy Programs partners with state and local governments and organizations to significantly accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies, catalyze local economic development, create jobs, reduce energy costs, and reduce pollution. SEP will serve as the cornerstone of the office’s work and relationships with state governments and territories across the country.
DOE will also leverage funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to develop and deliver targeted technical assistance to states to help facilitate and amplify the impact of their SEP funding. This technical assistance strategy allows states to opt-in to cohort-based assistance built around an initial set of key topics aligned with state and Biden-Harris Administration priorities:
Transmission & Distribution Planning
System-wide Planning for Grid Expansion, Modernization, and Clean Energy Technology Integration
State Energy Security Plans
Community Energy Planning
Clean Energy Manufacturing Planning
Through these topic-based cohorts, states will invest portions of their SEP funding in related programs and projects and receive hands-on technical assistance from DOE, including modeling and analytics support, peer convenings and networking opportunities, and more. These cohorts will begin in 2023, and topics may change based on state input.
Funding guidance and application documents for states and formula funding allocations can be found here. For more information about SEP, visit the About State Energy Program and State Energy Program Impacts webpages.
News
DOE Announces $46 Million to Explore New Technologies That Convert Carbon and Waste Into Clean Energy
U.S. DOE
Aug 31, 2022
These innovative projects, led by universities, private companies, municipal resource management entities, and local governments, will develop waste conversion and carbon capture technologies to produce fuels from biomass and waste streams, and enable algal systems to capture carbon and turn it into alternative clean energy sources. Advancing renewable and sustainable energy sources through research and innovation will play a critical role in achieving President Biden’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
“Turning waste and carbon pollution into clean energy at scale would be a double win—cleaning up waste streams that disproportionately burden low-income communities and turning it into essential energy,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Biofuel energy has the unique ability to decarbonize high-emitting sectors, create good-paying jobs, and significantly clear away barriers on the path to America’s clean energy future.”
Waste streams can cause a multitude of health impacts for surrounding communities as they often include gaseous carbon emissions from power plants, municipal solid waste, animal manure, wastewater residuals, and other organic materials. They are also more likely found in low-income communities, disproportionately affecting people of color and underserved neighborhoods. Waste streams are also an untapped, key feedstock for biofuel production. Algae, also a key feedstock for biofuels and products, can help significantly decarbonize the transportation and power generation sectors through carbon utilization technologies.
The selected project teams will support high-impact research and development to accelerate the growth of the bioeconomy by:
Developing improved organisms and inorganic catalysts that support the next generation of low-carbon biofuels and bioproducts, turning costly waste streams into valuable bioenergy resources; and
Increasing the capability of algal systems to
Partner
News
Summit Utilities, Support RNG Biogas Plant Resilience with CHP
Clark Energy
Aug 30, 2022
Peaks Renewables is partnering with Maine’s dairy industry to develop locally produced renewable natural gas at an anaerobic digestion facility in Clinton, Maine.
Cow manure will be collected and processed through the anaerobic digester owned and operated by Peaks. Once in the digester, the manure will be heated and decomposed, creating biogas. The gas then will be cleaned to make it pipeline quality. From there, Peaks will sell the renewable energy credits to third parties who need them for their own decarbonization requirements. The natural gas itself will be purchased by Peaks’ affiliate company, Summit Natural Gas of Maine, and will be used to provide reliable gas service to its thousands of customers throughout the state.
Clarke Energy’s CoEnergy products include CHP engines working in the sub 500kW range. These engines are assembled and containerized in an Upton, Massachusetts facility. The CHP system will deliver 280kW of electricity to support the operations and approximately 1.5 MMBtu of thermal energy which will be used to process hot water for the biogas plant. This is done at high efficiency – helping to reduce carbon emissions and save on fuel costs.
The CHP also has black start capability, meaning the facility can restore electric power without having to rely on the external electric power transmission network. In addition, Clarke Energy is supplying a 500kW KOHLER Power back up gas-fuelled generator. Both units will ensure energy efficiency and resilience for the project in the event of unexpected occurrences.
Ryan Morris, Peaks Renewables said:
“Our anaerobic digestion facility will enable us to treat farm waste sustainably and in parallel generate renewable natural gas which will help to reduce carbon emissions. We selected Clarke Energy to supply both our CHP plant and back up gas generator to deliver fuel efficiency and resilience to our operations.”
Clarke Energy USA’s Sales Director Alan Howard commented:
“We are delighted to be supplying a high efficiency CHP unit at Peaks Renewables anaerobic digestion facility in Maine. This CHP plant will reduce operational costs and carbon emissions for the site which is producing renewable natural gas.”
About Peaks Renewables, LLC
Peaks Renewables is a renewable energy development company specializing in the development of low carbon, carbon-neutral, and carbon-negative fuels like renewable natural gas and green hydrogen. Our goal is to help states, communities, utilities, homeowners, and industries reduce emissions while creating economic growth and providing access to clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy solutions.
Peaks is a subsidiary of Summit Utilities, Inc.
To learn more, visit: www.peaksrenewables.com
About Summit Utilities, Inc
Summit Utilities, Inc. owns natural gas distribution and transmission subsidiaries that operate in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. The company provides safe, clean and affordable natural gas to businesses and residents in six states through Arkansas Oklahoma Gas, Colorado Natural Gas, Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Summit Natural Gas of Missouri, Summit Utilities of Arkansas, and Summit Utilities of Oklahoma. Each of Summit’s natural gas distribution and transmission subsidiaries constructs and installs natural gas distribution systems with the goal of supporting economic development by providing clean-burning, safe and reliable natural gas to residential and commercial customers through exceptional customer service and commitment to community. Overall, Summit entities serve approximately 625,000 customers and operate more than 23,400 miles of pipeline.
Partner
News
PROPANE IS AN ECONOMICAL ALTERNATIVE TO NATURAL GAS
TEDOM
Aug 30, 2022
There are thus many suitable areas of application for cogeneration. The operation of such a unit is very reliable and its service life is calculated to be many years if properly serviced. Because of the current geopolitical situation in Europe, and also as a result of the completely non-standard situation on the electricity and natural gas markets, propane is another interesting and, above all, highly economical alternative, thanks to its significantly lower price compared to the current price of natural gas.
CHP units are thus proving once again that they can react quickly to market changes and offer a less common but functional solution.
TEDOM has extensive experience in the manufacture and operation of propane CHP units. We commissioned our first Propane-fired CHP unit in 2003 in Lithuania. Subsequent units have found applications in many areas such as industry, shopping centres, hotels, swimming pools and wellness centres. These are mostly so-called island operations with their own storage tanks, i.e. places where the necessary gas infrastructure is not available.
In the past, this was not a much sought-after solution, yet we have completed nearly 50 projects in 15 countries around the world where a Propane-burning unit has been commissioned. The most commonly installed models are the Micro 30, Cento 80 and Cento 150 units, but we are prepared to supply units with much higher outputs if required. In addition to new units, we also offer customers the option of converting existing natural gas CHP units to burn Propane.
News
ASHRAE and The International Code Council to Co-sponsor Whole Life Carbon Approach Standard
ASHRAE
Aug 30, 2022
Proposed ASHRAE/ICC Standard 240P - Evaluating Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and Carbon Emissions in Building Design, Construction and Operation, will provide a whole life carbon approach to support emissions reductions in buildings. The proposed standard establishes how to measure and verify the greenhouse gas (GHG) and carbon emissions of a building, or group of buildings, over the entire life cycle. The goal is to provide consistent procedures and data to be referenced by policies, codes, and other standards that address new and existing building performance.
“There is growing demand around the world for consistent building decarbonization guidance that acknowledges the impact of carbon emissions transpired at the beginning of the construction phase to demolition, and accounts for the changes in building operation and performance over time,” said 2022-23 ASHRAE President Farooq Mehboob, Fellow Life Member. “This proposed standard will offer a comprehensive structure for evaluating energy use and supporting greenhouse gas emission reductions, as well as serve as a keystone towards harmonizing guidance within the global marketplace. We appreciate the Code Council’s partnership on this important standard.”
The proposed standard will cover:
- All buildings including existing and new, residential and commercial, and groups of buildings, or portions of buildings.
- Determination, including the calculation methodology and expression of building zero net GHG and zero net carbon status in building operations.
- Calculation of GHG and carbon emissions associated with on-site and off-site material, energy and carbon flows.
- Embodied GHG and carbon emissions of building materials and systems.
“Buildings and the building construction sector are responsible for about 40 percent of total CO2 emissions globally. As energy codes continue to deliver increased reductions in building operational energy use, a holistic approach that addresses the entire building life-cycle is essential,” said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “The Code Council is dedicated to supporting communities worldwide in meeting their energy and decarbonization goals; the proposed standard 240P will be an essential tool towards reducing the impacts of buildings and adapting to an ever-changing climate. We look forward to our continued work with ASHRAE to provide new resources and help communities meet, and advance, their energy efficiency and decarbonization goals.”
A call for new committee members has been issued to develop proposed Standard 240P. Those interested in serving on the committee can find more information at ashrae.org/StandardsActions. Applications are due on September 26, 2022.
Combined Heat & Power eCatalog of Recognized Packaged CHP & WHP Systems
Packaged CHP Systems:
Rigorous Recognition Process
The Packaged Combined Heat and Power Catalog (eCatalog) is a voluntary public/private partnership designed to increase deployment of CHP in commercial, institutional and multi-family buildings and manufacturing plants. The core of the eCatalog are CHP Packagers who commit to provide pre-engineered and tested Packaged CHP systems that meet or exceed DOE performance requirements and CHP Solution Providers who commit to provide responsible installation, commissioning, maintenance and service of recognized Packaged CHP systems and also provide a single point of project responsibility.
Customer Engagement Networks: Incentivizing CHP in Your Area
Maximize Your CHP Investment When You Install Recognized Systems
An essential element in market success of energy efficient technologies, such as CHP, is a robust customer engagement network to educate end-users and provide assistance through the project development process. States, localities and utilities that are implementing programs and policies to increase the use of CHP in support of key economic, security, efficiency and environmental goals can integrate the eCatalog into their efforts by linking recognized CHP packages offered by Solution Providers or Packagers in their region to their programs. The eCatalog provides a unique platform for convening recognized CHP equipment and suppliers with state, local and utility market outreach, customer acquisition and incentive programs.
eCATALOG PACKAGED CHP SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
Packaged CHP System standardized1 electrical and thermal performance data presented for comparison in the eCatalog have been reviewed and recognized as accurate based on engineering data and available performance test data submitted by the Packagers. Emissions data presented in the eCatalog are based on either third-party emissions test results when available, or prime mover manufacture’s emissions certification data, both using standard EPA test methodologies or equivalent. When evaluating CHP performance for a particular project, it is important to use final performance data from the Packager or Solution Provider that reflects specific site conditions such as actual fuel characteristics, ambient temperatures and altitude, and thermal load temperatures or pressures. As an example, hot water thermal capacity ratings in the eCatalog are based on a standard hot water supply temperature of 180 F, with packager specified return temperatures for each system. Actual hot water available from a packaged CHP system for a project will depend on the specific temperature requirements of the hot water supply and return at the site, and may vary from data presented in the eCatalog.
“Even a small blip on the power grid can disrupt our production equipment and cause six to eight hours of lost production time. With the CHP systems, if there is a power blip we go into island mode and don't experience any disruption.”
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