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Combined Heat & Power
Focused New
News
ASHRAE Journal November 2022 Edition Publishes feature Article on The Role of CHP in Reducing Carbon Emissions
ASHRAE
Nov 21, 2022
change. Some suggest the key to immediate action on climate change is to replace all fossil-fueled
technologies with electric ones, while simultaneously moving the electrical grid to renewable sources
such as solar and wind power. The policy push to electrify in the built environment and throughout
industry has led some to state that combined heat and power (CHP) does not have a future.
CHP, also known as cogeneration, is an integrated set of technologies for the simultaneous on-site production of electricity and heat. On-site generation of electrical and thermal energy with CHP results in emissions reductions today primarily by displacing fossil fuel emissions from central electricity generation, eliminating transmission and distribution (T&D) losses and avoiding the use of an on-site boiler (to meet thermal needs). CHP systems are also widely applied for reliability, resilience and electric grid support and have also long used alternative fuels such as biomass and wood, biogas and landfill gas, municipal and process wastes, waste gas streams and hydrogen mixtures.
To download the full article, click the READ MORE button below.
... The importance of reducing carbon has become paramount in efforts to reduce global climate
change. Some suggest the key to immediate action on climate change is to replace all fossil-fueled
technologies with electric ones, while simultaneously moving the electrical grid to renewable sources
such as solar and wind power. The policy push to electrify in the built environment and throughout
industry has led some to state that combined heat and power (CHP) does not have a future.
CHP, also known as cogeneration, is an integrated set of technologies for the simultaneous on-site production of electricity and heat. On-site generation of electrical and thermal energy with CHP results in emissions reductions today primarily by displacing fossil fuel emissions from central electricity generation, eliminating transmission and distribution (T&D) losses and avoiding the use of an on-site boiler (to meet thermal needs). CHP systems are also widely applied for reliability, resilience and electric grid support and have also long used alternative fuels such as biomass and wood, biogas and landfill gas, municipal and process wastes, waste gas streams and hydrogen mixtures.
To download the full article, click the READ MORE button below.
News
New Training Certificate Series Released by the Performance Contracting National Resource Center
U.S. DOE
Oct 28, 2022
“The PCNRC training certificate series will strengthen the clean energy workforce to help deliver on the Biden Administration’s goals for expanding the use of performance contracting, increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
– Mary Sotos, FEMP Director
Get started with the first two of eight training modules:
Overview of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC)
Getting Started with an ESPC Project.
The series supports the professional development of emerging and experienced professionals alike and promotes the use of qualified owner’s representatives while planning and executing ESPC projects.
“The PCNRC training series provides a strong foundational curriculum that is valuable for prospective owner’s representatives and ESPC customers alike, and SCEP is pleased to offer this resource, in collaboration with FEMP, to support continued and expanded use of performance contracting to achieve state and local goals.”
– Dr. Henry McKoy, SCEP Director
The remaining six modules will be released on a rolling basis through early 2023.
News
The importance of natural gas rate design during the energy transition
ICF International
Oct 27, 2022
However, there are a number of potential catches to this solution, such as the lack of fuel diversity, the technical difficulties associated with electrification, and the uncertainty surrounding the reliability of the electric grid as the load increases. Another concern, which this article focuses on, is the consumer costs and equity issues. As demand for natural gas falls, the fixed costs of gas system operation and maintenance—including utilities’ return on investment—will be spread over a smaller amount of gas sales. The higher gas rate may drive away customers, which will intensify the cost acceleration for the remaining gas customers, exacerbating the issue. The result: a costly “death spiral” that heavily burdens customers who can’t transition, strands assets, and leaves public service regulators in an impossible bind.
Figure 1 Retail gas rate forecasts
To compound the problem that the financial impact of raising retail gas rates is likely to fall disproportionately on low-income individuals. As electrification necessitates upfront expenditure for the conversion of appliances or building renovation, low-income consumers may not be able to afford the switch and may instead continue using the gas system, even with financial incentives.
Is the gas utility death spiral real? It doesn’t have to be. While each has its advantages and drawbacks, there are several options to stabilize customers’ gas rates and bills.
Avert the hockey stick curve: the role of low carbon fuels
Electrification paired with low-carbon electricity is one of many potential decarbonization approaches. An alternative approach to achieve emission reduction goals is to utilize existing natural gas infrastructure, high-efficiency natural gas applications, and low carbon gases, such as renewable natural gas and hydrogen. For more information on these kinds of strategies and the potential benefits they may offer for decarbonization planning, read our recent paper Defining the role of gas utilities in a decarbonized energy future from the proceedings of the 2022 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings.
Utilizing low carbon fuels—especially in large commercial and institutional building types that are typically difficult and expensive to electrify (some building designs may not be conducive to electric heat pump installations)—could make reaching emission reduction goals more feasible and affordable. Combined with energy efficiency improvements, this approach reduces the demand for conventional natural gas and allows the continued use of existing natural gas delivery infrastructure.
For remaining gas customers, this pathway shows an advantage in minimizing the growth in gas rate. Contrary to the hockey stick shape in the Aggressive Electrification Scenario, the Low Carbon Fuels Scenario avoids the exponential growth in gas rate while achieving the same emission reduction goal. The more gradual increase in the gas rate in the Low Carbon Fuels Scenario is driven by the reduction in gas throughputs (caused by increased energy efficiency and partial electrification) and the use of RNG and hydrogen, which are more expensive than conventional natural gas. Furthermore, the Low Carbon Fuels Scenario continues to utilize the existing natural gas infrastructure, which has the ability to store and transport large amounts of energy to meet seasonal and peak day energy demand. It is a valuable resource for ensuring energy system resilience.
News
IEA 2022 World Energy Outlook: Sees 2050 Role for Efficient natural gas, Hydrogen and CCUS
IEA
Oct 27, 2022
Just under 100 EJ of fossil fuels are consumed in 2050 in the NZE Scenario. Just over 40% of this, including 65% of natural gas and 90% of coal, is consumed in facilities equipped with CCUS. A further 40% – including more than 70% of the oil still being used – is consumed in applications where the carbon is embodied in the product and there are no direct CO2 emissions (examples include chemical feedstocks, lubricants, paraffin waxes and asphalt).
The remaining 20% is used in sectors where clean energy technologies are least feasible and cost effective: for example, oil still accounts for around 20% of fuel use in aviation in 2050 in the NZE Scenario. ... Oil, natural gas and coal accounted for around four‐fifths of total energy supply worldwide in 2021. In the NZE Scenario, this share falls to around two‐thirds in 2030 and less than one‐fifth in 2050, a proportion of which is used with CCUS and for non‐energy uses. Between 2021 and 2050, coal demand declines by 90%, oil declines by around 80%, and natural gas declines by more than 70%.
Just under 100 EJ of fossil fuels are consumed in 2050 in the NZE Scenario. Just over 40% of this, including 65% of natural gas and 90% of coal, is consumed in facilities equipped with CCUS. A further 40% – including more than 70% of the oil still being used – is consumed in applications where the carbon is embodied in the product and there are no direct CO2 emissions (examples include chemical feedstocks, lubricants, paraffin waxes and asphalt).
The remaining 20% is used in sectors where clean energy technologies are least feasible and cost effective: for example, oil still accounts for around 20% of fuel use in aviation in 2050 in the NZE Scenario.
Natural gas demand drops from around 4 200 bcm in 2021 to 3 300 bcm in 2030, and 1 200 bcm in 2050. Rates of decline are fastest in the 2030s, when natural gas use falls by 7% per year on average. Natural gas use continues to fall in the 2040s, but at a slower rate (around 3% per year) as reductions in gas use in power generation, industry and buildings are partly offset by increases in the volumes of gas being converted to low‐emissions hydrogen.
News
A Broad Range of Energy Solutions are needed to deliver Zero-Emission Buildings
COGEN Europe
Oct 26, 2022
On 25 October, EU Energy Ministers adopted the Council’s General Approach on the European Commission’s proposal for a new edition of the EPBD. COGEN Europe, representing the European cogeneration sector, welcomes some elements of the Council’s position, including its recognition of the role of efficient district heating and the need to deploy a broad range of renewable energy sources so that all buildings can meet the zero-emission buildings (ZEB) standard. ... COGEN Europe welcomes the Energy Council’s agreement on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) as a starting point for higher ambition on buildings decarbonisation that fosters energy system efficiency, resilience and consumer empowerment.
On 25 October, EU Energy Ministers adopted the Council’s General Approach on the European Commission’s proposal for a new edition of the EPBD. COGEN Europe, representing the European cogeneration sector, welcomes some elements of the Council’s position, including its recognition of the role of efficient district heating and the need to deploy a broad range of renewable energy sources so that all buildings can meet the zero-emission buildings (ZEB) standard.
Hans Korteweg, Managing Director of COGEN Europe, commented: “The EPBD will be key to ensuring that the whole of Europe’s building stock can transition towards zero-emission buildings by 2050. High ambition in demand reduction must be complemented by measures to smartly and cost-effectively cover remaining demand with efficient, flexible and increasing renewable energy sources.”
“High-efficiency cogeneration is a cost-effective way to provide electricity, heating and cooling as well as hot water to buildings, either via district heating or by installing micro-CHP systems in individual buildings,” continued Mr Korteweg. “Cogeneration not only improves buildings’ energy efficiency, but by running on clean hydrogen or renewable energy sources it can also contribute towards the objective of zero emissions. Moreover, cogeneration generates controllable electricity and heat close to the point of consumption, thereby reducing the strain on electricity grids during periods of peak demand and at times when the supply of energy from intermittent renewables is insufficient.”
Mr Korteweg added: “We call on the European Parliament to ensure an ambitious framework for decarbonising Europe’s building stock while providing a level playing field for all efficient, smart and renewable energy solutions.”
News
DOER Issues An Updated Stretch Code – Are Net-Zero Energy Buildings Really Coming Soon?
Energy Central
Oct 24, 2022
Under the new regulations, each municipality must apply one of the following:
Stretch Code - The updated Stretch Code creates stricter guidelines on energy-efficiency for almost all new constructions and alterations in municipalities that have adopted the previous Stretch Code. The updated Stretch Code will automatically become the applicable code in any municipality that previously opted-in to the Stretch Code.
Specialized Code - The newly created Specialized Code includes additional requirements above and beyond the Stretch Code, designed to get to ensure that new construction is consistent with a net-zero economy by 2050. Municipalities must opt-in to adopt the Specialized Code by vote of City Council or Town Meeting.
The new codes are much too detailed to summarize in a blog post. You can read more here. Without going into those details here, it is worth noting a few significant policy implications of the new regulations:
Although some concerns have been raised about the cost of compliance, particularly in a period of high inflation, our understanding is that many developers have indicated that they can work with the new regulations without significant adverse impacts.
Of course, the success of the new codes depends on the success of the Commonwealth's efforts to transition quickly to a zero-carbon electrical grid. If the cost of doing so is higher than expected, there could well be public resistance. If new transmission doesn't get built out sufficiently quickly or other problems occur, such that the power is not available to electrify all new construction, that would be a much more significant problem - for many reasons!
In short, the new regulations unquestionably set the Commonwealth on a course to electrify new construction and squeeze carbon emissions out of new buildings. However, as with the rest of our climate goals, there are a lot of moving pieces that are going to have to come together to make the zero-carbon economy a reality.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
News
Virginia governor launches Virginia Power Innovation Fund
Energy Central
Oct 19, 2022
The fund will focus on R&D for nuclear, hydrogen, carbon capture and utilization, and battery storage innovations, among others. Approximately $5 million of this funding will go toward nuclear energy innovation through the Virginia Nuclear Innovation Hub. The funds will also be put toward grants for higher education institutions to study Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMR) technology, funding for nuclear workforce development, and additional money for SMR site exploration, including in Southwest Virginia.
“Today I am pleased to propose a $10 million investment in the upcoming budget to turn Virginia into a leader in energy innovation,” Youngkin said. “With technologies like carbon capture and utilization, and resources like critical minerals, hydrogen, and nuclear, we will make Virginia the epicenter for reliable and affordable energy innovation.”
The announcement was made at a reclaimed mine site in Norton, in the heart of Southwest Virginia’s coalfield region. The site is a possible location for an SMR or other energy facility.
Abandoned underground mines contain billions of gallons of water and naturally seep methane which can be captured and used to create hydrogen to heat homes, fuel industrial processes, and generate electricity. Thus, carbon capture and utilization technologies offer a chance to capture CO2, store it in abandoned mines and coal seams, and use it in industrial and chemical processes like concrete and paint manufacturing.
The Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority (VNECA) will facilitate the innovation hub and its activities.
“This is a proud day for the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium. The nuclear industry here in Virginia has always led the way in energy innovation. The Virginia nuclear innovation hub will unite academic research and the public and private sectors to leverage the Commonwealth’s tremendous nuclear capability in pursuit of next-generation advanced nuclear technologies,” VNECA Co-Chair and Founder Alireza Haghighat said.
News
The Path Forward
U.S. DOE
Oct 18, 2022
At AMO we know that the clean energy future of tomorrow begins with the work we’re doing today. From machine learning and 3D printing, to supercomputing and rare earth element extraction, our office is pioneering manufacturing processes and technologies to keep our manufacturing sector competitive in the global clean economy. AMO’s investments in innovation are building domestic supply chains that are robust, sustainable, and agile, relying on recycled materials and materials from waste streams. Our commitment to training and workforce development is creating the clean energy workforce of tomorrow with good-paying jobs for Americans across the country. And we’re engaging with communities and small businesses to shape manufacturing and transition to a cleaner, healthier, more equitable future for all Americans.
AMO continues to lead on DOE-wide initiatives to tackle the climate crisis and turn ideas into real-world impact. AMO launched seven Clean Energy Manufacturing Institutes and two Energy Innovation Hubs, each focusing on applied research and technology development to solve unique manufacturing challenges. From increasing the adoption of next-generation processes like smart manufacturing to securing clean energy supply chains, AMO’s public-private collaborations are bringing game-changing innovations to the factory floor. As part of DOE’s Next Generation of Electric Machines program, AMO has worked with researchers to change the way industry powers its operations— from building cheaper more efficient semiconductors to redefining power converters for wind turbines.
In addition to our strong collaborative partnerships, AMO has invested billions to spur novel innovation across the industrial sector. AMO’s investments span the full research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) continuum – developing technologies that reduce industrial emissions and propel the manufacturing sector forward. We’ve collaborated with our industry partners to improve energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint for chemical manufacturing of essential products, like ethylene and partnered with clean tech entrepreneurs to increase the safety, reliability and longevity of lithium-metal batteries, facilitating faster-charging for new electric vehicles.
AMO also equips the current and future American manufacturing workforce with the in-demand skills they need to advance their careers, boost domestic energy productivity, and decarbonize their industrial operations while simultaneously providing technical assistance to meet the immediate needs of the manufacturing sector. Through our Better Plants program, we’ve helped 270 manufacturers save more than $10 billion in energy costs and keep more than 130 million metric tons of carbon dioxide out of our atmosphere. Furthermore, AMO’s Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program has provided early-stage funding and entrepreneurial training to 120 startups with promising clean technology ideas who have collectively raised $918 million in follow-on funding and created nearly 1,000 jobs.
The Path Forward
As we look back at how we got here today, the unprecedented opportunity in front of us is the real cause for celebration. Now more than ever—with historic investments in domestic manufacturing through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act—DOE is poised to make America a global leader in clean energy manufacturing and innovation, and AMO will play a critical role in ensuring that happens.
We’re in a position to implement solutions and advance innovation for exciting new technologies that not only reduce emissions, but also foster job growth and economic opportunity. Now is the time for DOE to rapidly accelerate the innovation pipeline for American manufacturing. That’s why we’re announcing the formation of two industrial and manufacturing technology offices within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Over the next year, AMO’s existing RDD&D portfolio will transition and expand into the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) and Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO), and we are tremendously excited for what will be achieved through this re-alignment.
These offices will each focus on discrete pieces of the manufacturing puzzle we’ll bring together for success. AMMTO will work to advance energy-related materials and manufacturing technologies to increase domestic competitiveness and IEDO to reduce industrial emissions. These two offices will operate hand-in-hand to make sure we advance the materials and manufacturing innovations required for the next-generation technologies needed to drive economy-wide decarbonization. This is what a clean energy future made in America looks like.
And we cannot build this clean energy future alone. DOE has recently created the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains to further strengthen America’s manufacturing enterprise. We’ll continue to work with other program offices within EERE, the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, the Office of Technology Transitions, the Office of Science, and the Loan Programs Office to support innovation across the board – from early-stage R&D all the way to deployment as well as continuing our outstanding support for technology assistance and workforce development to the nation’s manufacturers.
Finally, we’ll continue to collaborate with you, our valued partners who have been at our side since the beginning. The moment for American manufacturing is here, so let us seize the moment together.
News
Hydrogen? A demonstration project yields some early clues
IDEA
Oct 17, 2022
Hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels are showing promise as a zero-or low-carbon alternative to carbon-based fuels. Hydrogen can be produced from water and electricity, and it can be stored for months and used across various industries and applications. When burned, hydrogen produces thermal energy while emitting water vapor. When used in an appropriate generating asset such as a gas turbine, it can be a zero-carbon-emitting load-following resource, or ZELFR, enabling more grid-connected renewable resources. With certain modifications to gas turbines and with the development of a robust hydrogen supply chain, hydrogen could reduce the use of fossil fuels.
In early 2021, Clemson University, Duke Energy and Siemens Energy teamed up to research the use of green hydrogen for energy storage and as a low/no carbon fuel source for a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. Siemens Energy was awarded $200,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy for the demonstration research project, called H2-Orange, which aims to evaluate hydrogen production, storage and co-firing with natural gas. The team studied the use of Siemens Energy’s Silyzer electrolyzer technology to produce hydrogen fuel to help power an existing SGT-400 natural gas turbine at the Duke Energy Clemson CHP plant. The Silyzer can use electricity from sources that include solar, wind, nuclear and hydro to produce hydrogen without carbon emissions, and the project supports all three partners in pursuing their respective decarbonization goals. Duke Energy aims to cut carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and attain net-zero by 2050; Siemens Energy supports customers in their transition to greater sustainability; and Clemson aims to achieve net neutrality by 2030.
ESTABLISHING A BASELINE AND MULTIPLE SCENARIOS
Two years before H2-Orange, in 2019, Duke Energy began operating a state-of-the-art 14.3-megawatt CHP plant at Clemson. The plant, owned by Duke, produces electricity and utilizes residual heat to provide steam to the 1,400-acre campus, which has a total student enrollment of about 25,000.
Using Siemens Energy’s multi-model energy system optimization software, the research team analyzed electric, heating and cooling demands across the entire campus. The optimization model was formulated as a mixed-integer linear program based on an energy superstructure approach that considered both existing energy assets and new ones being examined, including an on-campus photovoltaic arrays, solar PPAs, lithium-ion battery energy storage, chilled water storage, thermal storage, and co-firing H2 in the CHP facility.
The optimization problem was formulated for a reference year using a perfect foresight model with an hourly resolution that allowed for capture of intra-day fluctuations in energy supply and demand while achieving optimization over a typical year. The model solves for the lowest net present cost of supplying the required energy demands under varying CO2 emissions constraints. To establish a baseline for comparison to other scenarios, a reference was calculated that considered only existing campus assets without a CO2 constraint. To determine the most cost-effective pathway to decarbonizing the campus, five additional scenarios were analyzed with 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% reduction of CO2 levels from the reference outline. In this modeling, hydrogen is assumed to be available whenever needed, with two scenarios assuming either $4.50/kg or $2.00/kg as shown in Figure 1.
The least-cost Clemson-decarbonization solutions consist of a combination of various technologies and assets. Scenarios that exceed 60% CO2 reduction see a significant cost (Totex) increase, of more than 200%. With an assumed hydrogen price of $2.00/kg, hydrogen is selected for a 40% CO2 reduction scenarios or above in combination with lithium-ion batteries. For deep decarbonization, it’s not hydrogen or batteries but rather hydrogen and batteries to meet both heat and electricity demand.
PROMISING APPLICATIONS STILL IN THEIR INFANCY
Although using hydrogen in re-electrification or CHP applications does not yet provide least-cost generation, it remains a deep-decarbonization option for the early 2030s or 2040s. Technology advancements and cost reductions will be required before hydrogen storage can be a viable long-duration storage option. Much of the required technological development and commercial proof for hydrogen is similar to what is needed for the broader adoption of hydrogen as a fuel, including improved hydrogen production efficiencies, reduced costs and scaling. Further, hydrogen storage technologies must be improved. Possibilities include non-geological storage (e.g., compressed hydrogen, liquified hydrogen, metal hydride storage and ammonia storage) to improve the viability of large-scale use.
That said, the project offers a unique, current opportunity to evaluate hydrogen as a dispatchable low-carbon fuel. The SGT-400 industrial-combustion turbine has a similar design and uses similar technologies to larger combustion turbines. To achieve a similar demonstration with a baseload unit and hydrogen blends like those used on the Clemson project at a typical utility-scale combustion turbine would require significantly larger hydrogen process equipment, as well as larger piping and combustion turbine scope, resulting in much higher demonstration costs.
The H2-Orange demonstration project integrates a hydrogen energy storage system into the CHP plant. It consists of an advanced 8-MW proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer, more than 20MWh of hydrogen storage and the 14.3-MW gas turbine with hydrogen cofiring capability. Co-location of hydrogen production and consumption brings synergies, reducing the initial investment because it requires limited hydrogen transportation infrastructure. In the case of the Clemson project, a capital-expenditure savings is achieved by utilizing demineralized water and instrument air from the existing CHP plant and implementing a water-cooling tower as compared to a typical fin-fan cooler. Additional savings are accrued by utilizing a common control room and current plant personnel.
News
Department of Energy Issues Notice of Intent to Fund Applied Research and Development for Materials and Technologies to Drive Innovation in Clean Manufacturing
U.S. DOE
Oct 14, 2022
U.S. manufacturing is vital to our nation’s clean energy future. It is the backbone of our economy, providing millions of good-paying jobs for American workers across the country. Meeting our nation’s climate goals will require research and development as well as demonstration to enable a rapid scale-up and full-scale deployment of next-generation manufacturing technologies to build competitive, sustainable, and resilient manufacturing systems and domestic supply chains.
The “FY22 Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies—Building Technologies Office Multi-topic FOA” is expected to include the following topics that will accelerate research and development (R&D) leading to the adoption of innovative materials and manufacturing technologies in support of a clean, decarbonized economy.
Next Generation Materials and Manufacturing — This topic will focus on RD&D of novel materials with improved properties such as high pressure, high-temperature performance, and/or enhanced conductivity. Specific areas of interest include increased conductivity materials, harsh environment materials, and AI/machine learning for aerostructures.
Secure and Sustainable Materials — This topic will focus on R&D of material and process innovation in support of secure and sustainable supply chains for a clean economy. A specific area of interest includes materials circularity regional pilot demonstrations with a focus on accelerating pilot-scale demonstrations of circular economy technologies such as innovative material recovery, end-of-life processing, and recycling for key regional material supply chains.
Energy Technology Manufacturing and Workforce — This topic will focus on R&D of innovative manufacturing technologies to advance a clean energy economy. Specific areas of interest include building dehumidification scale-up and electric vehicle battery manufacturing to develop, scale-up, and pilot demonstrate chemistry-agnostic processing technologies to manufacture state-of-the-art cathode active materials (CAM) for current domestic manufacturing.
EERE plans to issue the FOA via EERE Exchange in November 2022. The funding opportunity is expected to include approximately $52 million in federal funding. EERE envisions awarding multiple financial assistance awards in the form of cooperative agreements. The estimated period of performance for each award will be approximately one to three years.
Combined Heat & Power
Upcoming Events
Upcoming
Event
CHP and Community Energy Systems
DOE’s Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership
November 29, 2022, 11:00 ET am to 12:00 pm
Join a panel of experts to learn how CHP, as part of a community energy system, can provide local communities with reliable power enabling the lights to stay on when the grid goes down. Supplying continuous thermal and electric energy, CHP systems utilize natural gas infrastructure and as part of a microgrid are a resilient, cost-effective solution to support critical infrastructure.
SPEAKERS
• Sergio Grado, Director of Business Development, CenTrio Energy
• Carlos Gamarra, Assistant Director, Southcentral CHP TAP
• Christian Jones, Research Assistant, Southcentral CHP TAP
Upcoming
Event
4th Annual DERS & Microgrids Connect Summit
RSC
November 29 – 30, 2022
Upcoming
Event
Learn About the IRA and Changes to the ITC and PTC
NAESCO
December 5, 2022, 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET
Upcoming
Event
“Best Practices in District Thermal Energy Networks in New York State
NYSERDA
December 6, 2022
The planned agenda will include:
• Business development strategies for aggregating customer thermal demand
to achieve community scale
• Business models for municipalities, regulated and unregulated entities
• Various technologies to consider when planning and designing thermal
systems
• Case studies of successful district energy systems, and more…
Format will include presentations, moderated panel discussions, open discussions
and networking opportunities. This workshop is intended for municipalities, gas
and electric utilities, agencies, developers and institutions interested or actively
engaged in deployment of district energy systems in New York State.
Upcoming
Event
Ground Source Heat Pumps and Available Tax Incentives Under IRA
NAESCO
December 8, 2022, 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET
Upcoming
Event
2022 RNG CONFERENCE
Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas
December 12-15, 2022
Upcoming
Event
CampusEnergy2023
IDEA
February 2 - March 2, 2023
District energy systems on college and university campuses continue to set higher standards for efficiency, resiliency and environmental performance. As institutional carbon reduction targets rapidly approach, campus energy systems will be critical to achieving results at community scale. IDEA members are actively planning, designing, partnering, constructing and commissioning a wide range of innovative energy and environmental technologies.
Now in its 36th year, the IDEA Campus Energy Conference has earned a reputation for excellent technical content, valuable peer exchange and engaging dialogue with business partners in a relaxed, collegial atmosphere, bringing the industry together from across North America and around the globe.
Upcoming
Event
CO2 Capture, Storage & Reuse 2023
Fortes
May 16-17, 2023
After Russian-Ukraine conflict emerged in 2022 shaking all economies relying on fossil fuels, making decision makers turn heads towards renewables & decarbonization technologies that will help make their businesses more independent. One of possibilities is carbon capture and utilization, giving a chance for energy-intensive industries to decarbonize and reach climate goals.
This year we are focusing on utilisation of captured CO2 and its use for production of building materials like cement, concrete, steel, but also production of advanced fuels that will contribute to further decarbonization of other sectors. Also, as 2022 was a breakthrough year in terms of policies and regulations for green technologies we will be discussing the influence of legislation on the state of carbon capture and utilization technologies.
This event is set to bring industry stakeholders, unique content, workshops discussions and networking. Showcase your products and services in the networking area and hold meetings with leaders from the industry. The commercial aspect of the event will create you a perfect intimate environment for doing business
Combined Heat & Power
Partner News
Partner
News
The first of three CHP plants in Alfhausen Germany with electricity to the grid and heat piped to homes
Caterpillar
Oct 25, 2022
The 19-km district heat network in Alfhausen was set up by Rasche & Weßler GmbH, a local company specializing in energy management and automation technology. The concept is based on the use of biomethane as a regenerative energy source and fuel for the MWM gas engines. The gas will come from the natural gas network of Westnetz GmbH in Osnabrück. In addition, biogas from other plants in Germany will be fed into the natural gas network at another location.
The industrial zone where the plant is located includes a hot water storage tank with a roughly 2500 cu. meter capacity. The water will be heated using the exhaust heat of the two MWM gas engines and transported to individual homes through the district heat network. In the event of a cogeneration power plant outage or unexpected cold spells, the storage facility can be used as an additional buffer to continue to supply Alfhausen with heat for several days.
The Likeng wastewater treatment plant is equipped with three MWM TCG 2020 V20 gas engines that produce sustainable power from biogas. (Photo: 博威能源Pauway)
The Alfhausen cogeneration power plant was set to begin producing heat and power for the local population in fall of 2022. A second identical district heat plant is being built in Fürstenau and is scheduled to go live in 2023, with a third 9 MW biomethane plant planned a few miles from the Alfhausen site.
Partner
News
next-generation Future-proof fuel flexible Jenbacher 3F engine
INNIO
Oct 19, 2022
“INNIO’s innovative engine technology is engineered to help drive industries and communities to net zero power generation,” said Dr. Olaf Berlien, INNIO’s president and CEO. “INNIO’s hydrogen-ready Jenbacher 3F technology is the latest energy solution committed to a climate-neutral, greener and more secure energy future.”
Building on the Jenbacher Type 3 engine that has more than 35 years of experience, a field population of more than 11,000 engines worldwide and has amassed more than 130,000 operating hours, INNIO said the new generation Jenbacher Type 3 brings numerous advantages to customers. These include:
- Future-proof fuel flexibility with a “Ready for Hydrogen” option that facilitates a transition from traditional fuels to H2 operation once H2 becomes readily available.
- Up to a 2% fuel efficiency boost over current engines.
- Lower THC emissions and greater efficiency, leading to a smaller environmental footprint
- Reduced oil consumption while providing longer lube oil lifetime and lower engine oil life-cycle costs
- Convenient upgrades for currently installed engines, ideally applied during minor/major overhaul/
“We have been working with the Jenbacher Type 3 engines for over 20 years,” said Thomas Roth, head of power and engineering at Dominikust-Ringeisen-Werk and operator of one of the field test plants. “Given our positive experience with the upgrade of the first engine to the new Jenbacher 3F generation model in 2020, it was an easy decision for us to implement this current upgrade. Thanks to the improved fuel usage of the Jenbacher 3F generation engine, we have been able to both increase our profitability and to reduce our environmental footprint.”
The Jenbacher Type 3F is available for applications in 50 Hz countries and will be available in 60 Hz countries in 2024, the company said.
Partner
News
Cummins to supply 20 MW electrolyzer for Canada
DIESEL & GAS TURBINE WORLDWIDE
Oct 13, 2022
Cummins’ proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis system will be manufactured at the company’s its Mississauga, Ontario, facility and will be the centerpiece of Atura Power’s Niagara Hydrogen Centre. Powered by renewable hydroelectricity, the electrolyzer system will split water into oxygen and green hydrogen. The carbon-free green hydrogen will then be provided to industrial customers for immediate consumption and will be transported and blended into the fuel stream at Atura Power’s Halton Hills Generating Station, creating cleaner electricity for Ontario.
“The Niagara Hydrogen Centre is our flagship facility that will set the pace for our green and low-carbon hydrogen projects,” said Shelley Babin, president and CEO of Atura Power. “The heart of the facility is the electrolyzer, and we are excited to be working with an experienced and accomplished industry leader in Cummins.”
Detailed design work and system integration is underway, with plans to bring the Niagara Hydrogen Centre online in early 2024.
Atura Power conducted a competitive procurement process in early 2022 and said Cummins provided a strong technical solution for the Niagara Hydrogen Centre. Cummins acquired Mississauga-based Hydrogenics in 2019 and has continued to expand its hydrogen and other zero-emissions technologies portfolio, which includes PEM and alkaline electrolyzer solutions.
Atura Power is implementing a low-cost, low-carbon hydrogen program that will help reduce greenhouse gases, while supporting economy-wide decarbonization. Green and low-carbon hydrogen will reduce or offset emissions in a variety of applications, including:
- As a low-carbon fuel substitute for feedstock in high-emitting industrial processes
- Blending hydrogen with natural gas to reduce its carbon impact.
- Powering fuel cells in vehicles which could help decarbonize the heavy-duty and long-haul trucking industry.
“We are thrilled to partner with Atura Power to provide green power in Ontario,” said Alexey Ustinov, vice president of Electrolyzers at Cummins. “This project is a great demonstration of the potential of PEM electrolyzer technology to decarbonize our power sources and lay the groundwork for a sustainable future.
“Once completed, this project will be the second 20 MW electrolyzer installation for Cummins in Canada and an important milestone in scaling the green hydrogen economy in North America.”
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Cogeneration Unit in Puerto Rico, Continues Through Hurricane Outages
2G
Oct 3, 2022
Puerto Rico’s grid has long been criticized as unreliable and unstable, but residents have complained that the outages have increased in recent years. After the 2017 hurricane Maria tore through the island, it took more than 11 months to restore power to normal operations.
“The 2G propane CHP system allowed us to continue operations through the storm while the majority of facilities struggled to remain online. As part of the territory continues without power weeks later, the system has allowed us to continue operating on ‘island mode’.” – Eduardo Somoza, Rincon Beach Resort
This site utilizes one of 2G’s systems with a generating capacity of 240 kW electrical and 367 kW thermal. This unit is generating both the heat and power for the local resort with propane as the fuel source. It is fully containerized with ‘Island Mode’ for built-in resiliency and continuation during a blackout or natural disaster and is rated to withstand tropical winds and seismic activity.
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2G and Enbridge Gas Collaborate for North America's First 100% H2 CHP
2G
Sep 30, 2022
2G looks forward to working with Enbridge and CEM on this project that builds upon the success of Enbridge’s Power-to-Gas plant and hydrogen blending program, which will advance its hydrogen hub in Ontario. Innovative and collaborative solutions are needed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and this project demonstrates Enbridge’s commitment to the energy transition.
CHP is an efficient and clean way of generating electric power and thermal energy from a single source. The onsite hydrogen energy is generated by an existing electrolyzer and piped to the state-of-the-art 2G CHP system, which will be engineered and constructed for the TOC by CEM. The engine drives the generator, producing electricity, and the residual heat created during this process is recaptured and turned into useful heat.
The process is nearly twice as efficient compared to traditional systems. With hydrogen fuel flexibility, this mature technology is being deployed as one of the most viable ways to green the building sector.
Once installed, the system will enable Enbridge to evaluate the feasibility of designing, building, operating, and maintaining a 115kW hydrogen-fueled system to support or replace up to 90 percent of the facility’s energy. The overall goal is to power the facility on a mix of hydrogen and natural gas, or on 100 percent of either fuel source. The transitional nature of the system optimizes efficient energy use and reduces emissions while maintaining maximum reliability.
The system will consume approximately 78,000 kg of hydrogen annually, and the expected greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction when it’s operating solely on hydrogen is approximately 133 tons of CO2e—that’s roughly equivalent to removing 28 passenger vehicles off the road each year.
While this project is smaller in scale, its implications are impressive. Building heat is the second largest source of GHG emissions in Ontario and contributes to over 31 percent of all GHG emissions globally. The CHP system has the potential to provide reliable, cost-effective, and clean energy to many different building types such as hospitals, manufacturing plants, airports, and hotels.
It’s also important to note that this system will initially rely on natural gas-fired generators in the event of an outage. However, CHP systems overall are extremely resilient when the power goes out, which is critical to industries such as healthcare and farming. They are also versatile and can be employed in a wide range of sizes, and have demonstrated compatibility with different applications, fuel sources, and technologies.
"Green hydrogen is a viable contender in Ontario's shift to clean energy solutions. We are proud to work with 2G Energy to advance this technology and expand our hydrogen hub in Markham, Ontario. This is an important example of the investments Enbridge Gas is making across multiple markets to green the natural gas grid while continuing to meet the demand for safe, reliable, and affordable energy. " – Michele Harradence, President, Enbridge Gas Inc.
"Having already sold several hydrogen CHP units to European countries outside Germany and especially to Japan, we are now pleased that our hydrogen solutions are also gaining recognition in North America. Our first successful placement of a hydrogen CHP in North America is also an incentive to further strengthen and expand our global technology leadership in hydrogen." – Christian Grotholt, CEO, 2G Energy
“We are excited for the opportunity to support Enbridge’s commitment to Ontario and Canada to reduce carbon emissions while providing low-cost resilient energy. Having completed several successful natural gas-fueled CHP projects with Enbridge over the past several years this project represents the next phase of practical and reliable energy systems.” – Dan Jones, CEO, 2G Energy, North America
“We are thrilled to work with Enbridge, bringing our 20 years of experience developing and implementing CHP systems to show how hydrogen-fueled CHP can support North America’s energy transition, and pave the way for a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Ontario.” – Lisa Katz, Director of Business Development & Marketing, CEM Engineering
“This is another great example of how investing in clean technologies will help secure a cleaner, more prosperous Ontario for generations to come. I commend Enbridge Gas, 2G Energy, and CEM Engineering for their leadership towards a low-carbon hydrogen economy that will create jobs and reduce emissions.” – David Piccini, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
"Our government’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy has ensured Ontario is well-positioned to become a leader in the growing hydrogen economy. I commend Enbridge Gas on continuing to work on innovative solutions that are helping to transform its natural gas grid and support our work on building a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future for our province.” – Todd Smith, Ontario’s Minister of Energy
“I applaud Enbridge Gas, 2G Energy, and CEM Engineering on this exciting collaboration that reflects their bold vision and steady commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Investing in this Hydrogen Hub in the City of Markham will boost our city’s energy security, resilience, and reduce emissions.” – Mayor of Markham, Frank Scarpitti
Key Facts
The 115 kW CHP unit will be provided by 2G and will operate the H2CHP with a high blend of natural gas in the initial years.
The annual consumption of the CHP plant will be approximately 78,000 kg of hydrogen The expected greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction is approximately 133 tonnes of CO2e annually when the system is being powered by 100 percent hydrogen—roughly equivalent to removing 28 passenger vehicles off the road each year.
To learn more about hydrogen storage and blending visit enbridgegas.com/hydrogen.
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Martin Energy systems, in Puerto Rico, operate through Hurricane Fiona
Martin Energy
Sep 22, 2022
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Biogas plant in Maine partners with Clarke Energy USA
Clarke Energy
Sep 4, 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 decarbonisation 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, business development associate at 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."
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Tecogen Receives Order for Two InVerde CHP Systems for NYC
Tecogen
Aug 31, 2022
The order includes engineered components, system controls, Tecogen’s CHPInsight remote monitoring system, and a service contract which will be based out of Tecogen’s Brooklyn service center. The order is the third project with the same property developer using Tecogen equipment.
“We are excited to be working with this property developer again on their new building in New York City,” commented Benjamin Locke, Tecogen’s CEO. “Our work on previous buildings with this developer created confidence in expanding the scope of this project to include important ancillary components such as pre-engineered load modules, control panels, utility relays, and engineering support. From the customer perspective, the CHPInsight system allows them to monitor and verify system performance and document savings from their desktop or mobile device.”
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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.
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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.
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ASHRAE Journal November 2022 Edition Publishes feature Article on The Role of CHP in Reducing Carbon Emissions
ASHRAE
Nov 21, 2022
change. Some suggest the key to immediate action on climate change is to replace all fossil-fueled
technologies with electric ones, while simultaneously moving the electrical grid to renewable sources
such as solar and wind power. The policy push to electrify in the built environment and throughout
industry has led some to state that combined heat and power (CHP) does not have a future.
CHP, also known as cogeneration, is an integrated set of technologies for the simultaneous on-site production of electricity and heat. On-site generation of electrical and thermal energy with CHP results in emissions reductions today primarily by displacing fossil fuel emissions from central electricity generation, eliminating transmission and distribution (T&D) losses and avoiding the use of an on-site boiler (to meet thermal needs). CHP systems are also widely applied for reliability, resilience and electric grid support and have also long used alternative fuels such as biomass and wood, biogas and landfill gas, municipal and process wastes, waste gas streams and hydrogen mixtures.
To download the full article, click the READ MORE button below.
... The importance of reducing carbon has become paramount in efforts to reduce global climate
change. Some suggest the key to immediate action on climate change is to replace all fossil-fueled
technologies with electric ones, while simultaneously moving the electrical grid to renewable sources
such as solar and wind power. The policy push to electrify in the built environment and throughout
industry has led some to state that combined heat and power (CHP) does not have a future.
CHP, also known as cogeneration, is an integrated set of technologies for the simultaneous on-site production of electricity and heat. On-site generation of electrical and thermal energy with CHP results in emissions reductions today primarily by displacing fossil fuel emissions from central electricity generation, eliminating transmission and distribution (T&D) losses and avoiding the use of an on-site boiler (to meet thermal needs). CHP systems are also widely applied for reliability, resilience and electric grid support and have also long used alternative fuels such as biomass and wood, biogas and landfill gas, municipal and process wastes, waste gas streams and hydrogen mixtures.
To download the full article, click the READ MORE button below.
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New Training Certificate Series Released by the Performance Contracting National Resource Center
U.S. DOE
Oct 28, 2022
“The PCNRC training certificate series will strengthen the clean energy workforce to help deliver on the Biden Administration’s goals for expanding the use of performance contracting, increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
– Mary Sotos, FEMP Director
Get started with the first two of eight training modules:
Overview of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC)
Getting Started with an ESPC Project.
The series supports the professional development of emerging and experienced professionals alike and promotes the use of qualified owner’s representatives while planning and executing ESPC projects.
“The PCNRC training series provides a strong foundational curriculum that is valuable for prospective owner’s representatives and ESPC customers alike, and SCEP is pleased to offer this resource, in collaboration with FEMP, to support continued and expanded use of performance contracting to achieve state and local goals.”
– Dr. Henry McKoy, SCEP Director
The remaining six modules will be released on a rolling basis through early 2023.
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The importance of natural gas rate design during the energy transition
ICF International
Oct 27, 2022
However, there are a number of potential catches to this solution, such as the lack of fuel diversity, the technical difficulties associated with electrification, and the uncertainty surrounding the reliability of the electric grid as the load increases. Another concern, which this article focuses on, is the consumer costs and equity issues. As demand for natural gas falls, the fixed costs of gas system operation and maintenance—including utilities’ return on investment—will be spread over a smaller amount of gas sales. The higher gas rate may drive away customers, which will intensify the cost acceleration for the remaining gas customers, exacerbating the issue. The result: a costly “death spiral” that heavily burdens customers who can’t transition, strands assets, and leaves public service regulators in an impossible bind.
Figure 1 Retail gas rate forecasts
To compound the problem that the financial impact of raising retail gas rates is likely to fall disproportionately on low-income individuals. As electrification necessitates upfront expenditure for the conversion of appliances or building renovation, low-income consumers may not be able to afford the switch and may instead continue using the gas system, even with financial incentives.
Is the gas utility death spiral real? It doesn’t have to be. While each has its advantages and drawbacks, there are several options to stabilize customers’ gas rates and bills.
Avert the hockey stick curve: the role of low carbon fuels
Electrification paired with low-carbon electricity is one of many potential decarbonization approaches. An alternative approach to achieve emission reduction goals is to utilize existing natural gas infrastructure, high-efficiency natural gas applications, and low carbon gases, such as renewable natural gas and hydrogen. For more information on these kinds of strategies and the potential benefits they may offer for decarbonization planning, read our recent paper Defining the role of gas utilities in a decarbonized energy future from the proceedings of the 2022 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings.
Utilizing low carbon fuels—especially in large commercial and institutional building types that are typically difficult and expensive to electrify (some building designs may not be conducive to electric heat pump installations)—could make reaching emission reduction goals more feasible and affordable. Combined with energy efficiency improvements, this approach reduces the demand for conventional natural gas and allows the continued use of existing natural gas delivery infrastructure.
For remaining gas customers, this pathway shows an advantage in minimizing the growth in gas rate. Contrary to the hockey stick shape in the Aggressive Electrification Scenario, the Low Carbon Fuels Scenario avoids the exponential growth in gas rate while achieving the same emission reduction goal. The more gradual increase in the gas rate in the Low Carbon Fuels Scenario is driven by the reduction in gas throughputs (caused by increased energy efficiency and partial electrification) and the use of RNG and hydrogen, which are more expensive than conventional natural gas. Furthermore, the Low Carbon Fuels Scenario continues to utilize the existing natural gas infrastructure, which has the ability to store and transport large amounts of energy to meet seasonal and peak day energy demand. It is a valuable resource for ensuring energy system resilience.
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IEA 2022 World Energy Outlook: Sees 2050 Role for Efficient natural gas, Hydrogen and CCUS
IEA
Oct 27, 2022
Just under 100 EJ of fossil fuels are consumed in 2050 in the NZE Scenario. Just over 40% of this, including 65% of natural gas and 90% of coal, is consumed in facilities equipped with CCUS. A further 40% – including more than 70% of the oil still being used – is consumed in applications where the carbon is embodied in the product and there are no direct CO2 emissions (examples include chemical feedstocks, lubricants, paraffin waxes and asphalt).
The remaining 20% is used in sectors where clean energy technologies are least feasible and cost effective: for example, oil still accounts for around 20% of fuel use in aviation in 2050 in the NZE Scenario. ... Oil, natural gas and coal accounted for around four‐fifths of total energy supply worldwide in 2021. In the NZE Scenario, this share falls to around two‐thirds in 2030 and less than one‐fifth in 2050, a proportion of which is used with CCUS and for non‐energy uses. Between 2021 and 2050, coal demand declines by 90%, oil declines by around 80%, and natural gas declines by more than 70%.
Just under 100 EJ of fossil fuels are consumed in 2050 in the NZE Scenario. Just over 40% of this, including 65% of natural gas and 90% of coal, is consumed in facilities equipped with CCUS. A further 40% – including more than 70% of the oil still being used – is consumed in applications where the carbon is embodied in the product and there are no direct CO2 emissions (examples include chemical feedstocks, lubricants, paraffin waxes and asphalt).
The remaining 20% is used in sectors where clean energy technologies are least feasible and cost effective: for example, oil still accounts for around 20% of fuel use in aviation in 2050 in the NZE Scenario.
Natural gas demand drops from around 4 200 bcm in 2021 to 3 300 bcm in 2030, and 1 200 bcm in 2050. Rates of decline are fastest in the 2030s, when natural gas use falls by 7% per year on average. Natural gas use continues to fall in the 2040s, but at a slower rate (around 3% per year) as reductions in gas use in power generation, industry and buildings are partly offset by increases in the volumes of gas being converted to low‐emissions hydrogen.
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A Broad Range of Energy Solutions are needed to deliver Zero-Emission Buildings
COGEN Europe
Oct 26, 2022
On 25 October, EU Energy Ministers adopted the Council’s General Approach on the European Commission’s proposal for a new edition of the EPBD. COGEN Europe, representing the European cogeneration sector, welcomes some elements of the Council’s position, including its recognition of the role of efficient district heating and the need to deploy a broad range of renewable energy sources so that all buildings can meet the zero-emission buildings (ZEB) standard. ... COGEN Europe welcomes the Energy Council’s agreement on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) as a starting point for higher ambition on buildings decarbonisation that fosters energy system efficiency, resilience and consumer empowerment.
On 25 October, EU Energy Ministers adopted the Council’s General Approach on the European Commission’s proposal for a new edition of the EPBD. COGEN Europe, representing the European cogeneration sector, welcomes some elements of the Council’s position, including its recognition of the role of efficient district heating and the need to deploy a broad range of renewable energy sources so that all buildings can meet the zero-emission buildings (ZEB) standard.
Hans Korteweg, Managing Director of COGEN Europe, commented: “The EPBD will be key to ensuring that the whole of Europe’s building stock can transition towards zero-emission buildings by 2050. High ambition in demand reduction must be complemented by measures to smartly and cost-effectively cover remaining demand with efficient, flexible and increasing renewable energy sources.”
“High-efficiency cogeneration is a cost-effective way to provide electricity, heating and cooling as well as hot water to buildings, either via district heating or by installing micro-CHP systems in individual buildings,” continued Mr Korteweg. “Cogeneration not only improves buildings’ energy efficiency, but by running on clean hydrogen or renewable energy sources it can also contribute towards the objective of zero emissions. Moreover, cogeneration generates controllable electricity and heat close to the point of consumption, thereby reducing the strain on electricity grids during periods of peak demand and at times when the supply of energy from intermittent renewables is insufficient.”
Mr Korteweg added: “We call on the European Parliament to ensure an ambitious framework for decarbonising Europe’s building stock while providing a level playing field for all efficient, smart and renewable energy solutions.”
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DOER Issues An Updated Stretch Code – Are Net-Zero Energy Buildings Really Coming Soon?
Energy Central
Oct 24, 2022
Under the new regulations, each municipality must apply one of the following:
Stretch Code - The updated Stretch Code creates stricter guidelines on energy-efficiency for almost all new constructions and alterations in municipalities that have adopted the previous Stretch Code. The updated Stretch Code will automatically become the applicable code in any municipality that previously opted-in to the Stretch Code.
Specialized Code - The newly created Specialized Code includes additional requirements above and beyond the Stretch Code, designed to get to ensure that new construction is consistent with a net-zero economy by 2050. Municipalities must opt-in to adopt the Specialized Code by vote of City Council or Town Meeting.
The new codes are much too detailed to summarize in a blog post. You can read more here. Without going into those details here, it is worth noting a few significant policy implications of the new regulations:
Although some concerns have been raised about the cost of compliance, particularly in a period of high inflation, our understanding is that many developers have indicated that they can work with the new regulations without significant adverse impacts.
Of course, the success of the new codes depends on the success of the Commonwealth's efforts to transition quickly to a zero-carbon electrical grid. If the cost of doing so is higher than expected, there could well be public resistance. If new transmission doesn't get built out sufficiently quickly or other problems occur, such that the power is not available to electrify all new construction, that would be a much more significant problem - for many reasons!
In short, the new regulations unquestionably set the Commonwealth on a course to electrify new construction and squeeze carbon emissions out of new buildings. However, as with the rest of our climate goals, there are a lot of moving pieces that are going to have to come together to make the zero-carbon economy a reality.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
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Virginia governor launches Virginia Power Innovation Fund
Energy Central
Oct 19, 2022
The fund will focus on R&D for nuclear, hydrogen, carbon capture and utilization, and battery storage innovations, among others. Approximately $5 million of this funding will go toward nuclear energy innovation through the Virginia Nuclear Innovation Hub. The funds will also be put toward grants for higher education institutions to study Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMR) technology, funding for nuclear workforce development, and additional money for SMR site exploration, including in Southwest Virginia.
“Today I am pleased to propose a $10 million investment in the upcoming budget to turn Virginia into a leader in energy innovation,” Youngkin said. “With technologies like carbon capture and utilization, and resources like critical minerals, hydrogen, and nuclear, we will make Virginia the epicenter for reliable and affordable energy innovation.”
The announcement was made at a reclaimed mine site in Norton, in the heart of Southwest Virginia’s coalfield region. The site is a possible location for an SMR or other energy facility.
Abandoned underground mines contain billions of gallons of water and naturally seep methane which can be captured and used to create hydrogen to heat homes, fuel industrial processes, and generate electricity. Thus, carbon capture and utilization technologies offer a chance to capture CO2, store it in abandoned mines and coal seams, and use it in industrial and chemical processes like concrete and paint manufacturing.
The Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority (VNECA) will facilitate the innovation hub and its activities.
“This is a proud day for the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium. The nuclear industry here in Virginia has always led the way in energy innovation. The Virginia nuclear innovation hub will unite academic research and the public and private sectors to leverage the Commonwealth’s tremendous nuclear capability in pursuit of next-generation advanced nuclear technologies,” VNECA Co-Chair and Founder Alireza Haghighat said.
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The Path Forward
U.S. DOE
Oct 18, 2022
At AMO we know that the clean energy future of tomorrow begins with the work we’re doing today. From machine learning and 3D printing, to supercomputing and rare earth element extraction, our office is pioneering manufacturing processes and technologies to keep our manufacturing sector competitive in the global clean economy. AMO’s investments in innovation are building domestic supply chains that are robust, sustainable, and agile, relying on recycled materials and materials from waste streams. Our commitment to training and workforce development is creating the clean energy workforce of tomorrow with good-paying jobs for Americans across the country. And we’re engaging with communities and small businesses to shape manufacturing and transition to a cleaner, healthier, more equitable future for all Americans.
AMO continues to lead on DOE-wide initiatives to tackle the climate crisis and turn ideas into real-world impact. AMO launched seven Clean Energy Manufacturing Institutes and two Energy Innovation Hubs, each focusing on applied research and technology development to solve unique manufacturing challenges. From increasing the adoption of next-generation processes like smart manufacturing to securing clean energy supply chains, AMO’s public-private collaborations are bringing game-changing innovations to the factory floor. As part of DOE’s Next Generation of Electric Machines program, AMO has worked with researchers to change the way industry powers its operations— from building cheaper more efficient semiconductors to redefining power converters for wind turbines.
In addition to our strong collaborative partnerships, AMO has invested billions to spur novel innovation across the industrial sector. AMO’s investments span the full research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) continuum – developing technologies that reduce industrial emissions and propel the manufacturing sector forward. We’ve collaborated with our industry partners to improve energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint for chemical manufacturing of essential products, like ethylene and partnered with clean tech entrepreneurs to increase the safety, reliability and longevity of lithium-metal batteries, facilitating faster-charging for new electric vehicles.
AMO also equips the current and future American manufacturing workforce with the in-demand skills they need to advance their careers, boost domestic energy productivity, and decarbonize their industrial operations while simultaneously providing technical assistance to meet the immediate needs of the manufacturing sector. Through our Better Plants program, we’ve helped 270 manufacturers save more than $10 billion in energy costs and keep more than 130 million metric tons of carbon dioxide out of our atmosphere. Furthermore, AMO’s Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program has provided early-stage funding and entrepreneurial training to 120 startups with promising clean technology ideas who have collectively raised $918 million in follow-on funding and created nearly 1,000 jobs.
The Path Forward
As we look back at how we got here today, the unprecedented opportunity in front of us is the real cause for celebration. Now more than ever—with historic investments in domestic manufacturing through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act—DOE is poised to make America a global leader in clean energy manufacturing and innovation, and AMO will play a critical role in ensuring that happens.
We’re in a position to implement solutions and advance innovation for exciting new technologies that not only reduce emissions, but also foster job growth and economic opportunity. Now is the time for DOE to rapidly accelerate the innovation pipeline for American manufacturing. That’s why we’re announcing the formation of two industrial and manufacturing technology offices within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Over the next year, AMO’s existing RDD&D portfolio will transition and expand into the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) and Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO), and we are tremendously excited for what will be achieved through this re-alignment.
These offices will each focus on discrete pieces of the manufacturing puzzle we’ll bring together for success. AMMTO will work to advance energy-related materials and manufacturing technologies to increase domestic competitiveness and IEDO to reduce industrial emissions. These two offices will operate hand-in-hand to make sure we advance the materials and manufacturing innovations required for the next-generation technologies needed to drive economy-wide decarbonization. This is what a clean energy future made in America looks like.
And we cannot build this clean energy future alone. DOE has recently created the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains to further strengthen America’s manufacturing enterprise. We’ll continue to work with other program offices within EERE, the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, the Office of Technology Transitions, the Office of Science, and the Loan Programs Office to support innovation across the board – from early-stage R&D all the way to deployment as well as continuing our outstanding support for technology assistance and workforce development to the nation’s manufacturers.
Finally, we’ll continue to collaborate with you, our valued partners who have been at our side since the beginning. The moment for American manufacturing is here, so let us seize the moment together.
News
Hydrogen? A demonstration project yields some early clues
IDEA
Oct 17, 2022
Hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels are showing promise as a zero-or low-carbon alternative to carbon-based fuels. Hydrogen can be produced from water and electricity, and it can be stored for months and used across various industries and applications. When burned, hydrogen produces thermal energy while emitting water vapor. When used in an appropriate generating asset such as a gas turbine, it can be a zero-carbon-emitting load-following resource, or ZELFR, enabling more grid-connected renewable resources. With certain modifications to gas turbines and with the development of a robust hydrogen supply chain, hydrogen could reduce the use of fossil fuels.
In early 2021, Clemson University, Duke Energy and Siemens Energy teamed up to research the use of green hydrogen for energy storage and as a low/no carbon fuel source for a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. Siemens Energy was awarded $200,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy for the demonstration research project, called H2-Orange, which aims to evaluate hydrogen production, storage and co-firing with natural gas. The team studied the use of Siemens Energy’s Silyzer electrolyzer technology to produce hydrogen fuel to help power an existing SGT-400 natural gas turbine at the Duke Energy Clemson CHP plant. The Silyzer can use electricity from sources that include solar, wind, nuclear and hydro to produce hydrogen without carbon emissions, and the project supports all three partners in pursuing their respective decarbonization goals. Duke Energy aims to cut carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and attain net-zero by 2050; Siemens Energy supports customers in their transition to greater sustainability; and Clemson aims to achieve net neutrality by 2030.
ESTABLISHING A BASELINE AND MULTIPLE SCENARIOS
Two years before H2-Orange, in 2019, Duke Energy began operating a state-of-the-art 14.3-megawatt CHP plant at Clemson. The plant, owned by Duke, produces electricity and utilizes residual heat to provide steam to the 1,400-acre campus, which has a total student enrollment of about 25,000.
Using Siemens Energy’s multi-model energy system optimization software, the research team analyzed electric, heating and cooling demands across the entire campus. The optimization model was formulated as a mixed-integer linear program based on an energy superstructure approach that considered both existing energy assets and new ones being examined, including an on-campus photovoltaic arrays, solar PPAs, lithium-ion battery energy storage, chilled water storage, thermal storage, and co-firing H2 in the CHP facility.
The optimization problem was formulated for a reference year using a perfect foresight model with an hourly resolution that allowed for capture of intra-day fluctuations in energy supply and demand while achieving optimization over a typical year. The model solves for the lowest net present cost of supplying the required energy demands under varying CO2 emissions constraints. To establish a baseline for comparison to other scenarios, a reference was calculated that considered only existing campus assets without a CO2 constraint. To determine the most cost-effective pathway to decarbonizing the campus, five additional scenarios were analyzed with 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% reduction of CO2 levels from the reference outline. In this modeling, hydrogen is assumed to be available whenever needed, with two scenarios assuming either $4.50/kg or $2.00/kg as shown in Figure 1.
The least-cost Clemson-decarbonization solutions consist of a combination of various technologies and assets. Scenarios that exceed 60% CO2 reduction see a significant cost (Totex) increase, of more than 200%. With an assumed hydrogen price of $2.00/kg, hydrogen is selected for a 40% CO2 reduction scenarios or above in combination with lithium-ion batteries. For deep decarbonization, it’s not hydrogen or batteries but rather hydrogen and batteries to meet both heat and electricity demand.
PROMISING APPLICATIONS STILL IN THEIR INFANCY
Although using hydrogen in re-electrification or CHP applications does not yet provide least-cost generation, it remains a deep-decarbonization option for the early 2030s or 2040s. Technology advancements and cost reductions will be required before hydrogen storage can be a viable long-duration storage option. Much of the required technological development and commercial proof for hydrogen is similar to what is needed for the broader adoption of hydrogen as a fuel, including improved hydrogen production efficiencies, reduced costs and scaling. Further, hydrogen storage technologies must be improved. Possibilities include non-geological storage (e.g., compressed hydrogen, liquified hydrogen, metal hydride storage and ammonia storage) to improve the viability of large-scale use.
That said, the project offers a unique, current opportunity to evaluate hydrogen as a dispatchable low-carbon fuel. The SGT-400 industrial-combustion turbine has a similar design and uses similar technologies to larger combustion turbines. To achieve a similar demonstration with a baseload unit and hydrogen blends like those used on the Clemson project at a typical utility-scale combustion turbine would require significantly larger hydrogen process equipment, as well as larger piping and combustion turbine scope, resulting in much higher demonstration costs.
The H2-Orange demonstration project integrates a hydrogen energy storage system into the CHP plant. It consists of an advanced 8-MW proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer, more than 20MWh of hydrogen storage and the 14.3-MW gas turbine with hydrogen cofiring capability. Co-location of hydrogen production and consumption brings synergies, reducing the initial investment because it requires limited hydrogen transportation infrastructure. In the case of the Clemson project, a capital-expenditure savings is achieved by utilizing demineralized water and instrument air from the existing CHP plant and implementing a water-cooling tower as compared to a typical fin-fan cooler. Additional savings are accrued by utilizing a common control room and current plant personnel.
News
Department of Energy Issues Notice of Intent to Fund Applied Research and Development for Materials and Technologies to Drive Innovation in Clean Manufacturing
U.S. DOE
Oct 14, 2022
U.S. manufacturing is vital to our nation’s clean energy future. It is the backbone of our economy, providing millions of good-paying jobs for American workers across the country. Meeting our nation’s climate goals will require research and development as well as demonstration to enable a rapid scale-up and full-scale deployment of next-generation manufacturing technologies to build competitive, sustainable, and resilient manufacturing systems and domestic supply chains.
The “FY22 Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies—Building Technologies Office Multi-topic FOA” is expected to include the following topics that will accelerate research and development (R&D) leading to the adoption of innovative materials and manufacturing technologies in support of a clean, decarbonized economy.
Next Generation Materials and Manufacturing — This topic will focus on RD&D of novel materials with improved properties such as high pressure, high-temperature performance, and/or enhanced conductivity. Specific areas of interest include increased conductivity materials, harsh environment materials, and AI/machine learning for aerostructures.
Secure and Sustainable Materials — This topic will focus on R&D of material and process innovation in support of secure and sustainable supply chains for a clean economy. A specific area of interest includes materials circularity regional pilot demonstrations with a focus on accelerating pilot-scale demonstrations of circular economy technologies such as innovative material recovery, end-of-life processing, and recycling for key regional material supply chains.
Energy Technology Manufacturing and Workforce — This topic will focus on R&D of innovative manufacturing technologies to advance a clean energy economy. Specific areas of interest include building dehumidification scale-up and electric vehicle battery manufacturing to develop, scale-up, and pilot demonstrate chemistry-agnostic processing technologies to manufacture state-of-the-art cathode active materials (CAM) for current domestic manufacturing.
EERE plans to issue the FOA via EERE Exchange in November 2022. The funding opportunity is expected to include approximately $52 million in federal funding. EERE envisions awarding multiple financial assistance awards in the form of cooperative agreements. The estimated period of performance for each award will be approximately one to three years.
Combined Heat & Power
Upcoming Events
Upcoming
Event
CHP and Community Energy Systems
DOE’s Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership
November 29, 2022, 11:00 ET am to 12:00 pm
Join a panel of experts to learn how CHP, as part of a community energy system, can provide local communities with reliable power enabling the lights to stay on when the grid goes down. Supplying continuous thermal and electric energy, CHP systems utilize natural gas infrastructure and as part of a microgrid are a resilient, cost-effective solution to support critical infrastructure.
SPEAKERS
• Sergio Grado, Director of Business Development, CenTrio Energy
• Carlos Gamarra, Assistant Director, Southcentral CHP TAP
• Christian Jones, Research Assistant, Southcentral CHP TAP
Upcoming
Event
4th Annual DERS & Microgrids Connect Summit
RSC
November 29 – 30, 2022
Upcoming
Event
Learn About the IRA and Changes to the ITC and PTC
NAESCO
December 5, 2022, 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET
Upcoming
Event
“Best Practices in District Thermal Energy Networks in New York State
NYSERDA
December 6, 2022
The planned agenda will include:
• Business development strategies for aggregating customer thermal demand
to achieve community scale
• Business models for municipalities, regulated and unregulated entities
• Various technologies to consider when planning and designing thermal
systems
• Case studies of successful district energy systems, and more…
Format will include presentations, moderated panel discussions, open discussions
and networking opportunities. This workshop is intended for municipalities, gas
and electric utilities, agencies, developers and institutions interested or actively
engaged in deployment of district energy systems in New York State.
Upcoming
Event
Ground Source Heat Pumps and Available Tax Incentives Under IRA
NAESCO
December 8, 2022, 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET
Upcoming
Event
2022 RNG CONFERENCE
Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas
December 12-15, 2022
Upcoming
Event
CampusEnergy2023
IDEA
February 2 - March 2, 2023
District energy systems on college and university campuses continue to set higher standards for efficiency, resiliency and environmental performance. As institutional carbon reduction targets rapidly approach, campus energy systems will be critical to achieving results at community scale. IDEA members are actively planning, designing, partnering, constructing and commissioning a wide range of innovative energy and environmental technologies.
Now in its 36th year, the IDEA Campus Energy Conference has earned a reputation for excellent technical content, valuable peer exchange and engaging dialogue with business partners in a relaxed, collegial atmosphere, bringing the industry together from across North America and around the globe.
Upcoming
Event
CO2 Capture, Storage & Reuse 2023
Fortes
May 16-17, 2023
After Russian-Ukraine conflict emerged in 2022 shaking all economies relying on fossil fuels, making decision makers turn heads towards renewables & decarbonization technologies that will help make their businesses more independent. One of possibilities is carbon capture and utilization, giving a chance for energy-intensive industries to decarbonize and reach climate goals.
This year we are focusing on utilisation of captured CO2 and its use for production of building materials like cement, concrete, steel, but also production of advanced fuels that will contribute to further decarbonization of other sectors. Also, as 2022 was a breakthrough year in terms of policies and regulations for green technologies we will be discussing the influence of legislation on the state of carbon capture and utilization technologies.
This event is set to bring industry stakeholders, unique content, workshops discussions and networking. Showcase your products and services in the networking area and hold meetings with leaders from the industry. The commercial aspect of the event will create you a perfect intimate environment for doing business
Combined Heat & Power
Partner News
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News
The first of three CHP plants in Alfhausen Germany with electricity to the grid and heat piped to homes
Caterpillar
Oct 25, 2022
The 19-km district heat network in Alfhausen was set up by Rasche & Weßler GmbH, a local company specializing in energy management and automation technology. The concept is based on the use of biomethane as a regenerative energy source and fuel for the MWM gas engines. The gas will come from the natural gas network of Westnetz GmbH in Osnabrück. In addition, biogas from other plants in Germany will be fed into the natural gas network at another location.
The industrial zone where the plant is located includes a hot water storage tank with a roughly 2500 cu. meter capacity. The water will be heated using the exhaust heat of the two MWM gas engines and transported to individual homes through the district heat network. In the event of a cogeneration power plant outage or unexpected cold spells, the storage facility can be used as an additional buffer to continue to supply Alfhausen with heat for several days.
The Likeng wastewater treatment plant is equipped with three MWM TCG 2020 V20 gas engines that produce sustainable power from biogas. (Photo: 博威能源Pauway)
The Alfhausen cogeneration power plant was set to begin producing heat and power for the local population in fall of 2022. A second identical district heat plant is being built in Fürstenau and is scheduled to go live in 2023, with a third 9 MW biomethane plant planned a few miles from the Alfhausen site.
Partner
News
next-generation Future-proof fuel flexible Jenbacher 3F engine
INNIO
Oct 19, 2022
“INNIO’s innovative engine technology is engineered to help drive industries and communities to net zero power generation,” said Dr. Olaf Berlien, INNIO’s president and CEO. “INNIO’s hydrogen-ready Jenbacher 3F technology is the latest energy solution committed to a climate-neutral, greener and more secure energy future.”
Building on the Jenbacher Type 3 engine that has more than 35 years of experience, a field population of more than 11,000 engines worldwide and has amassed more than 130,000 operating hours, INNIO said the new generation Jenbacher Type 3 brings numerous advantages to customers. These include:
- Future-proof fuel flexibility with a “Ready for Hydrogen” option that facilitates a transition from traditional fuels to H2 operation once H2 becomes readily available.
- Up to a 2% fuel efficiency boost over current engines.
- Lower THC emissions and greater efficiency, leading to a smaller environmental footprint
- Reduced oil consumption while providing longer lube oil lifetime and lower engine oil life-cycle costs
- Convenient upgrades for currently installed engines, ideally applied during minor/major overhaul/
“We have been working with the Jenbacher Type 3 engines for over 20 years,” said Thomas Roth, head of power and engineering at Dominikust-Ringeisen-Werk and operator of one of the field test plants. “Given our positive experience with the upgrade of the first engine to the new Jenbacher 3F generation model in 2020, it was an easy decision for us to implement this current upgrade. Thanks to the improved fuel usage of the Jenbacher 3F generation engine, we have been able to both increase our profitability and to reduce our environmental footprint.”
The Jenbacher Type 3F is available for applications in 50 Hz countries and will be available in 60 Hz countries in 2024, the company said.
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Cummins to supply 20 MW electrolyzer for Canada
DIESEL & GAS TURBINE WORLDWIDE
Oct 13, 2022
Cummins’ proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis system will be manufactured at the company’s its Mississauga, Ontario, facility and will be the centerpiece of Atura Power’s Niagara Hydrogen Centre. Powered by renewable hydroelectricity, the electrolyzer system will split water into oxygen and green hydrogen. The carbon-free green hydrogen will then be provided to industrial customers for immediate consumption and will be transported and blended into the fuel stream at Atura Power’s Halton Hills Generating Station, creating cleaner electricity for Ontario.
“The Niagara Hydrogen Centre is our flagship facility that will set the pace for our green and low-carbon hydrogen projects,” said Shelley Babin, president and CEO of Atura Power. “The heart of the facility is the electrolyzer, and we are excited to be working with an experienced and accomplished industry leader in Cummins.”
Detailed design work and system integration is underway, with plans to bring the Niagara Hydrogen Centre online in early 2024.
Atura Power conducted a competitive procurement process in early 2022 and said Cummins provided a strong technical solution for the Niagara Hydrogen Centre. Cummins acquired Mississauga-based Hydrogenics in 2019 and has continued to expand its hydrogen and other zero-emissions technologies portfolio, which includes PEM and alkaline electrolyzer solutions.
Atura Power is implementing a low-cost, low-carbon hydrogen program that will help reduce greenhouse gases, while supporting economy-wide decarbonization. Green and low-carbon hydrogen will reduce or offset emissions in a variety of applications, including:
- As a low-carbon fuel substitute for feedstock in high-emitting industrial processes
- Blending hydrogen with natural gas to reduce its carbon impact.
- Powering fuel cells in vehicles which could help decarbonize the heavy-duty and long-haul trucking industry.
“We are thrilled to partner with Atura Power to provide green power in Ontario,” said Alexey Ustinov, vice president of Electrolyzers at Cummins. “This project is a great demonstration of the potential of PEM electrolyzer technology to decarbonize our power sources and lay the groundwork for a sustainable future.
“Once completed, this project will be the second 20 MW electrolyzer installation for Cummins in Canada and an important milestone in scaling the green hydrogen economy in North America.”
Partner
News
Cogeneration Unit in Puerto Rico, Continues Through Hurricane Outages
2G
Oct 3, 2022
Puerto Rico’s grid has long been criticized as unreliable and unstable, but residents have complained that the outages have increased in recent years. After the 2017 hurricane Maria tore through the island, it took more than 11 months to restore power to normal operations.
“The 2G propane CHP system allowed us to continue operations through the storm while the majority of facilities struggled to remain online. As part of the territory continues without power weeks later, the system has allowed us to continue operating on ‘island mode’.” – Eduardo Somoza, Rincon Beach Resort
This site utilizes one of 2G’s systems with a generating capacity of 240 kW electrical and 367 kW thermal. This unit is generating both the heat and power for the local resort with propane as the fuel source. It is fully containerized with ‘Island Mode’ for built-in resiliency and continuation during a blackout or natural disaster and is rated to withstand tropical winds and seismic activity.
Partner
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2G and Enbridge Gas Collaborate for North America's First 100% H2 CHP
2G
Sep 30, 2022
2G looks forward to working with Enbridge and CEM on this project that builds upon the success of Enbridge’s Power-to-Gas plant and hydrogen blending program, which will advance its hydrogen hub in Ontario. Innovative and collaborative solutions are needed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and this project demonstrates Enbridge’s commitment to the energy transition.
CHP is an efficient and clean way of generating electric power and thermal energy from a single source. The onsite hydrogen energy is generated by an existing electrolyzer and piped to the state-of-the-art 2G CHP system, which will be engineered and constructed for the TOC by CEM. The engine drives the generator, producing electricity, and the residual heat created during this process is recaptured and turned into useful heat.
The process is nearly twice as efficient compared to traditional systems. With hydrogen fuel flexibility, this mature technology is being deployed as one of the most viable ways to green the building sector.
Once installed, the system will enable Enbridge to evaluate the feasibility of designing, building, operating, and maintaining a 115kW hydrogen-fueled system to support or replace up to 90 percent of the facility’s energy. The overall goal is to power the facility on a mix of hydrogen and natural gas, or on 100 percent of either fuel source. The transitional nature of the system optimizes efficient energy use and reduces emissions while maintaining maximum reliability.
The system will consume approximately 78,000 kg of hydrogen annually, and the expected greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction when it’s operating solely on hydrogen is approximately 133 tons of CO2e—that’s roughly equivalent to removing 28 passenger vehicles off the road each year.
While this project is smaller in scale, its implications are impressive. Building heat is the second largest source of GHG emissions in Ontario and contributes to over 31 percent of all GHG emissions globally. The CHP system has the potential to provide reliable, cost-effective, and clean energy to many different building types such as hospitals, manufacturing plants, airports, and hotels.
It’s also important to note that this system will initially rely on natural gas-fired generators in the event of an outage. However, CHP systems overall are extremely resilient when the power goes out, which is critical to industries such as healthcare and farming. They are also versatile and can be employed in a wide range of sizes, and have demonstrated compatibility with different applications, fuel sources, and technologies.
"Green hydrogen is a viable contender in Ontario's shift to clean energy solutions. We are proud to work with 2G Energy to advance this technology and expand our hydrogen hub in Markham, Ontario. This is an important example of the investments Enbridge Gas is making across multiple markets to green the natural gas grid while continuing to meet the demand for safe, reliable, and affordable energy. " – Michele Harradence, President, Enbridge Gas Inc.
"Having already sold several hydrogen CHP units to European countries outside Germany and especially to Japan, we are now pleased that our hydrogen solutions are also gaining recognition in North America. Our first successful placement of a hydrogen CHP in North America is also an incentive to further strengthen and expand our global technology leadership in hydrogen." – Christian Grotholt, CEO, 2G Energy
“We are excited for the opportunity to support Enbridge’s commitment to Ontario and Canada to reduce carbon emissions while providing low-cost resilient energy. Having completed several successful natural gas-fueled CHP projects with Enbridge over the past several years this project represents the next phase of practical and reliable energy systems.” – Dan Jones, CEO, 2G Energy, North America
“We are thrilled to work with Enbridge, bringing our 20 years of experience developing and implementing CHP systems to show how hydrogen-fueled CHP can support North America’s energy transition, and pave the way for a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Ontario.” – Lisa Katz, Director of Business Development & Marketing, CEM Engineering
“This is another great example of how investing in clean technologies will help secure a cleaner, more prosperous Ontario for generations to come. I commend Enbridge Gas, 2G Energy, and CEM Engineering for their leadership towards a low-carbon hydrogen economy that will create jobs and reduce emissions.” – David Piccini, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
"Our government’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy has ensured Ontario is well-positioned to become a leader in the growing hydrogen economy. I commend Enbridge Gas on continuing to work on innovative solutions that are helping to transform its natural gas grid and support our work on building a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future for our province.” – Todd Smith, Ontario’s Minister of Energy
“I applaud Enbridge Gas, 2G Energy, and CEM Engineering on this exciting collaboration that reflects their bold vision and steady commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Investing in this Hydrogen Hub in the City of Markham will boost our city’s energy security, resilience, and reduce emissions.” – Mayor of Markham, Frank Scarpitti
Key Facts
The 115 kW CHP unit will be provided by 2G and will operate the H2CHP with a high blend of natural gas in the initial years.
The annual consumption of the CHP plant will be approximately 78,000 kg of hydrogen The expected greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction is approximately 133 tonnes of CO2e annually when the system is being powered by 100 percent hydrogen—roughly equivalent to removing 28 passenger vehicles off the road each year.
To learn more about hydrogen storage and blending visit enbridgegas.com/hydrogen.
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Martin Energy systems, in Puerto Rico, operate through Hurricane Fiona
Martin Energy
Sep 22, 2022
Partner
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Biogas plant in Maine partners with Clarke Energy USA
Clarke Energy
Sep 4, 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 decarbonisation 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, business development associate at 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."
Partner
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Tecogen Receives Order for Two InVerde CHP Systems for NYC
Tecogen
Aug 31, 2022
The order includes engineered components, system controls, Tecogen’s CHPInsight remote monitoring system, and a service contract which will be based out of Tecogen’s Brooklyn service center. The order is the third project with the same property developer using Tecogen equipment.
“We are excited to be working with this property developer again on their new building in New York City,” commented Benjamin Locke, Tecogen’s CEO. “Our work on previous buildings with this developer created confidence in expanding the scope of this project to include important ancillary components such as pre-engineered load modules, control panels, utility relays, and engineering support. From the customer perspective, the CHPInsight system allows them to monitor and verify system performance and document savings from their desktop or mobile device.”
Partner
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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.
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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.
1The Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act, passed into law in 1998 as part of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act provides safe harbour protection to "online service providers" for "online storage" in section 512(c). Section 512(c) applies to online service providers that store copyright infringing material. In addition to the two general requirements that online service providers comply with standard technical measures and remove repeat infringers, section 512(c) also requires that the online service providers: 1) do not receive a financial benefit directly attributable to the infringing activity, 2) are not aware of the presence of infringing material or know any facts or circumstances that would make infringing material apparent, and 3) upon receiving notice from copyright owners or their agents, act expeditiously to remove the allegedly copyright infringing material. These news items and event posting do not represent any guidance by the U.S. DOE, nor are they intended to influence any party. The news and events are only for the general interest information provided to CHP stakeholders.