So the ride home starts and another Euroland chapter is complete. This one is the start of a new major section: a transition from facility management to energy management and more specifically community microgrids.
Check out my eco-blog for a 'cultural crossroads' perspective.
I look forward to seeing the 'no smoking' sign at 30k feet upon entering California. As an ex-smoker, I abhor 2nd hand smoke. One of the most unappetizing aspects of Europe is the incessant smoking everywhere - except inside offices. Problem is everyone smokes just outside every building... there's no way to enter any building without smoking at least 1/2 a cigarette! Inside restaurants and bars they're not supposed to smoke. The saddest thing is to see the number of young kids smoking and trying to look cool. Thank you Hollywood. So my de-tox begins in a few hours. My rare, subtle headaches will be gone. And then again, maybe my brain has been on overload for a few weeks - continually balancing two languages and cultures.
I look forward to hi-altitude quality air and serenity of WinSol3.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Winding down
As another European sojourn comes to a close, I'd like to summarize a few things with my 'german brain'. As with every trip, this one was like none before.
The European Energy award was an insight worth the trip alone. The town of Virgen in Austria won it (see earlier blog) It looks for communal thinking on energy supply + distribution with a focus on sustainable renewables. Then there was Bad Aiblingen - i wish i had the wherewithal to have scheduled a meeting with contracting firm B+O and with the town's chamber of commerce... maybe next year.
But the overall success of this european trip for me was to experience the warmth of the community here, the unversity staff and faculty and most importantly the students. I did get some feedback that both of my presentations went over very well and caused some students to come up to me with comments.
One of the comments I really enjoyed was the student who indicated that his father is a farmer up the hill from here, and that my comment about 'Austrian farmers in the mountains would barely notice when the trucks stop (post peak oil)'... was not true. That the Austrian farms are now so dependent on the trucks and cars for supplies that they too would suffer. I did get the student to agree that it wouldn't take much for his father's farm to operate without external supplies.
I wonder how far European family farms have gone toward the fossil fuel driven economy without realizing it? From my first hand observations, I think not very far. At least the ones away from the large urban centers. Most small towns still have family butchers and bakers that have been in their families for hundreds of years.
Whenever I look at Europe, I have to realize that this culture is over 2500 years old. Our American culture is barely 400 years old.
There's something familiarly comfortable (gemuetlich) with an old culture that's integrated into modern technology. It works at tying communities together, yet on the other hand also creates age-old nationalistic tendencies.
We decimated our own very old culture - the native americans - and i know that i will be spending much more time in the next few years, trying to learn some of their knowledge of the land.
Two years ago, I came here with a unique concept called 'energy commons' and got absolutely no traction. This year, a matured concept of community microgrid got a bit more traction, but again many townships are already doing this. What's unique is the concept of not tying to the grid - what i've termed 'lazy renewable systems' which include solar PV and a grid tie-in.
Differences?
There are so many subtle differences between the European and American cultures, it is difficult to compare. There are probably way more similarities.
The one that always strikes me though is the subtle difference in Customer Service. Business here is different than in the USA daaaaa..... I had my baptism by fire with the regular business world almost a decade ago with a GMBH, and gave up trying to understand all the unique aspects after a couple years. Let's just say that the cat + mouse game between business + government is a bit more pronounced here and totally different than in the USA. Case law vs. Common Law: I was told by a high priced US lawyer that the Treaty of Geneva has several unique aspects. Government is not embedded here with business - there's no overwhelming lobbying like in the US. Labor is THE big difference here - as they actually have a saying and some control over business decisions.
It will be interesting next year, when the Winter student project deals with hotel (a service industry) and I'll be curious to see how much priority the customer gets behind the scenes in strategic planning from tomorrow's business leaders.
On the retail side of things: stores have their own little quirks - the one that always pisses me off is that any advertising (including posted prices) can be trumped by a computer and the computer is always right... no make that the customer is always wrong if they complain.
Trains are getting later than usual. German trains use to be a favorite punching bag for foreigners in that you could set your watch by their punctuality (as if that was a bad thing). Well, guess what? More and more trains have delays. I experienced on 94 minutes and one 25 minute late train this year... twice the normal! Last year I experienced my first german railway strike - set me back 9 hours.
Sports are so cool over here. I love watching world class soccer anytime... I'm watching Arsenal vs. Ashton V right now... and with the ski World Cup last weekend at 'Kitz' there were over 56,000 people there. TV sports usually has skiing, x-country skiing, ski jumping, soccer, handball or something like that on all the time. There are minimal commercials (they still tend to pack them together once an hour or so).
A personal note:
After a while, Europe always closes in on me. There is something tightening (engt) about the congestion, busyness, closeness, and general pace of life. Whenever i experience of long ques or traffic gridlock in the US - I just think about how much MORE there is of that here... imagine common freeway gridlock lasting over 10 miles: commonplace here. I saw it yesterday on the way back from Kitzbuhl. While I can find many, many wonderful walkways and peaceful hide-outs, mass humanity is never far away.
I yearn for the peace and quiet of Beserkeley... and of course my sanctuary in the mountains. And I also look forward to coming back. Is that contradictory? no - it just is.
The European Energy award was an insight worth the trip alone. The town of Virgen in Austria won it (see earlier blog) It looks for communal thinking on energy supply + distribution with a focus on sustainable renewables. Then there was Bad Aiblingen - i wish i had the wherewithal to have scheduled a meeting with contracting firm B+O and with the town's chamber of commerce... maybe next year.
But the overall success of this european trip for me was to experience the warmth of the community here, the unversity staff and faculty and most importantly the students. I did get some feedback that both of my presentations went over very well and caused some students to come up to me with comments.
One of the comments I really enjoyed was the student who indicated that his father is a farmer up the hill from here, and that my comment about 'Austrian farmers in the mountains would barely notice when the trucks stop (post peak oil)'... was not true. That the Austrian farms are now so dependent on the trucks and cars for supplies that they too would suffer. I did get the student to agree that it wouldn't take much for his father's farm to operate without external supplies.
I wonder how far European family farms have gone toward the fossil fuel driven economy without realizing it? From my first hand observations, I think not very far. At least the ones away from the large urban centers. Most small towns still have family butchers and bakers that have been in their families for hundreds of years.
Whenever I look at Europe, I have to realize that this culture is over 2500 years old. Our American culture is barely 400 years old.
There's something familiarly comfortable (gemuetlich) with an old culture that's integrated into modern technology. It works at tying communities together, yet on the other hand also creates age-old nationalistic tendencies.
We decimated our own very old culture - the native americans - and i know that i will be spending much more time in the next few years, trying to learn some of their knowledge of the land.
Two years ago, I came here with a unique concept called 'energy commons' and got absolutely no traction. This year, a matured concept of community microgrid got a bit more traction, but again many townships are already doing this. What's unique is the concept of not tying to the grid - what i've termed 'lazy renewable systems' which include solar PV and a grid tie-in.
Differences?
There are so many subtle differences between the European and American cultures, it is difficult to compare. There are probably way more similarities.
The one that always strikes me though is the subtle difference in Customer Service. Business here is different than in the USA daaaaa..... I had my baptism by fire with the regular business world almost a decade ago with a GMBH, and gave up trying to understand all the unique aspects after a couple years. Let's just say that the cat + mouse game between business + government is a bit more pronounced here and totally different than in the USA. Case law vs. Common Law: I was told by a high priced US lawyer that the Treaty of Geneva has several unique aspects. Government is not embedded here with business - there's no overwhelming lobbying like in the US. Labor is THE big difference here - as they actually have a saying and some control over business decisions.
It will be interesting next year, when the Winter student project deals with hotel (a service industry) and I'll be curious to see how much priority the customer gets behind the scenes in strategic planning from tomorrow's business leaders.
On the retail side of things: stores have their own little quirks - the one that always pisses me off is that any advertising (including posted prices) can be trumped by a computer and the computer is always right... no make that the customer is always wrong if they complain.
Trains are getting later than usual. German trains use to be a favorite punching bag for foreigners in that you could set your watch by their punctuality (as if that was a bad thing). Well, guess what? More and more trains have delays. I experienced on 94 minutes and one 25 minute late train this year... twice the normal! Last year I experienced my first german railway strike - set me back 9 hours.
Sports are so cool over here. I love watching world class soccer anytime... I'm watching Arsenal vs. Ashton V right now... and with the ski World Cup last weekend at 'Kitz' there were over 56,000 people there. TV sports usually has skiing, x-country skiing, ski jumping, soccer, handball or something like that on all the time. There are minimal commercials (they still tend to pack them together once an hour or so).
A personal note:
After a while, Europe always closes in on me. There is something tightening (engt) about the congestion, busyness, closeness, and general pace of life. Whenever i experience of long ques or traffic gridlock in the US - I just think about how much MORE there is of that here... imagine common freeway gridlock lasting over 10 miles: commonplace here. I saw it yesterday on the way back from Kitzbuhl. While I can find many, many wonderful walkways and peaceful hide-outs, mass humanity is never far away.
I yearn for the peace and quiet of Beserkeley... and of course my sanctuary in the mountains. And I also look forward to coming back. Is that contradictory? no - it just is.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
in the land of...
Europe is just loaded with public transportation, 90%+ plastic recycling, small cars going too fast, busy/busy/busy, congested, micromanaged sustainable parks everywhere, pedestrian priorities, mega walkways and bikeways everywhere, clean diesel (at the same price as regular gas!), on and on....
Over 70% of Europeans want the government to TOTALLY eliminate plastic bags and containers. In the store the other day I saw an entire display shelf of bio-kitchen utensils. This kind of 'bio' is different than ours. Bio here used to be synonymous with 'Demeter' or bio-dynamics... ala Rudolph Steiner/Waldorf type philosophy which is highly respected here and not some fringe group as viewed by some in the USA. These bio utensils were made from recycled other biodegradable things - a sort of second generation. They were primarily made of corn and root-beet products and designed to be reused and re-manufactured as such if the consumer wanted to discard it. WOW - that's a whole new generation of products. Cradle-to-Cradle is alive and well!
Over 70% of Europeans want the government to TOTALLY eliminate plastic bags and containers. In the store the other day I saw an entire display shelf of bio-kitchen utensils. This kind of 'bio' is different than ours. Bio here used to be synonymous with 'Demeter' or bio-dynamics... ala Rudolph Steiner/Waldorf type philosophy which is highly respected here and not some fringe group as viewed by some in the USA. These bio utensils were made from recycled other biodegradable things - a sort of second generation. They were primarily made of corn and root-beet products and designed to be reused and re-manufactured as such if the consumer wanted to discard it. WOW - that's a whole new generation of products. Cradle-to-Cradle is alive and well!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Catch-up Time: Tour Pictures
I have now recovered a bit from the 10 continuous work/activity days of the most dynamic learning experience I have ever been involved with - what a treat! I must say that this ole brain with its 600+TB hard drive has been a bit reformated, defragged and gotten a little higher access speed.
Here are a few pictures from the past week's Tuesday tours with explanations:
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The first few pictures are from Bad Aiblingen (see my Blog http://eurolearn12.blogspot.com/2012/01/vision-realized-cmg-community-microgrid.html)
This wooden house is an example of a European sustainable all-wood construction technique. To the far right there are 100% round logs attached to the siding, then 1/2 round logs, then 1/4 round logs as one moves toward the left, and then square boards.
Here's the official german write-up (google translated):
At the World Ski Championships in Winter 2011 the wooden pavilion standing in the pedestrian zone in Garmisch is reminiscent of a ''pile of wood" in its design and shape. That was the challenge for the students of the Institute for Architecture and Urbanism of the University of Biberach: the classic wood house should be re-interpreted. Under the direction of Prof. Matthias Loebermann, the students were show the various forms of wooden building material: from the tree trunk to the planed wooden section. The pavilion was built within the main topic "Experimental Build" and was of the Bavarian Forest Minister Helmut Brunner with the "Timber Price Bavaria 2010". The research project is thus one of the outstanding timber buildings in Bavaria. this house was once the wooden station for ticket sales in the Garmisch Winter 2011 Games and served as a focal point for information about the World Cup.
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This is FHS Rosenheim's entry into the USA Solar Decathlon competition. You can read and see more inside details of it here (click on this). Very cool sliding steel louvers which where computer controlled to let in maximum daylight and heating/cooling. The top of the house is covered with solar (both thermal + PV) collectors.
yours truly...
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Here's the entire group (Masters Students, Teachers, Coaches, tour guides, etc) at LilienHof in downtown Munich. The apartments behind us are the 'LilienHof' zero-energy buildings (ZEB) as described on the link here. These apartments' energy retrofits are heavily subsidized by the german government, and have plenty of support in R+D projects from the Fraunhofer Institute (yeah - the same guys that invented the mp3 format). My own thoughts were that the mechanical rooms had a bit too much hi-technology in them, and there would be a lot of maintenance and upkeep on such sophisticated technology. It contained one of the world's first large geothermal heat pumps driven directly by warm ground water.
Our last stop after LiLienHof was at Ernst+Young with an urban rail-yard redevelopment process where I was reacquainted with how the lucky 1% get to leverage 4% of their money into a 17% return.
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And here's a couple pictures of our international coaching and coordination team (along with some Norwegian students) and the last one: yours truly in the middle of a student advisement session (gee, am I really losing that much hair :-)??
Here are a few pictures from the past week's Tuesday tours with explanations:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first few pictures are from Bad Aiblingen (see my Blog http://eurolearn12.blogspot.com/2012/01/vision-realized-cmg-community-microgrid.html)
This wooden house is an example of a European sustainable all-wood construction technique. To the far right there are 100% round logs attached to the siding, then 1/2 round logs, then 1/4 round logs as one moves toward the left, and then square boards.
Here's the official german write-up (google translated):
At the World Ski Championships in Winter 2011 the wooden pavilion standing in the pedestrian zone in Garmisch is reminiscent of a ''pile of wood" in its design and shape. That was the challenge for the students of the Institute for Architecture and Urbanism of the University of Biberach: the classic wood house should be re-interpreted. Under the direction of Prof. Matthias Loebermann, the students were show the various forms of wooden building material: from the tree trunk to the planed wooden section. The pavilion was built within the main topic "Experimental Build" and was of the Bavarian Forest Minister Helmut Brunner with the "Timber Price Bavaria 2010". The research project is thus one of the outstanding timber buildings in Bavaria. this house was once the wooden station for ticket sales in the Garmisch Winter 2011 Games and served as a focal point for information about the World Cup.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is FHS Rosenheim's entry into the USA Solar Decathlon competition. You can read and see more inside details of it here (click on this). Very cool sliding steel louvers which where computer controlled to let in maximum daylight and heating/cooling. The top of the house is covered with solar (both thermal + PV) collectors.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our last stop after LiLienHof was at Ernst+Young with an urban rail-yard redevelopment process where I was reacquainted with how the lucky 1% get to leverage 4% of their money into a 17% return.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
And here's a couple pictures of our international coaching and coordination team (along with some Norwegian students) and the last one: yours truly in the middle of a student advisement session (gee, am I really losing that much hair :-)??
Friday, January 20, 2012
a better CMG OMG ... like a virgen
A short blog update: Just got through attending an all 'German'... no make that all 'Austrian' language Energy discussion where the best cities were profiled regarding renewable energy... and the winner is 'Virgen'... Ok, I can see the next comment (thanks Trevor for the OMG connection :-)... being 'like a Virgen'... renewed for the very first time?? (yikes! a bit over/under the top? my adolescent apologies)
This City does it all... microhydro power from 3 rivers, big biomass CHP (Combined Heat + Power), zero energy and PassivHaus standard homes, geothermal heat pumps (GSHP)... along with a transportation infrastructure plan to reduce their overall CO2 footprint.
The city won a Gold Award in the Europe Energy City program for 2010... I'll blog more about it and other cities later. Most importantly, I am learning the analysis, GIS overlays, and infrastructure development process that engineering consulting firms and city planners go through in conceptualizing a 100% renewable energy city.
This gentleman did the presentation in a VERY HEAVY austrian accent and i got only about 20-30% of his speech but have access to all his powerpoints... truly AMAZING...
These cities (1-2000+ inhabitants) here are so, so far ahead of us on switching away from centralized grids and fossil based energy sources.
This City does it all... microhydro power from 3 rivers, big biomass CHP (Combined Heat + Power), zero energy and PassivHaus standard homes, geothermal heat pumps (GSHP)... along with a transportation infrastructure plan to reduce their overall CO2 footprint.
The city won a Gold Award in the Europe Energy City program for 2010... I'll blog more about it and other cities later. Most importantly, I am learning the analysis, GIS overlays, and infrastructure development process that engineering consulting firms and city planners go through in conceptualizing a 100% renewable energy city.
This gentleman did the presentation in a VERY HEAVY austrian accent and i got only about 20-30% of his speech but have access to all his powerpoints... truly AMAZING...
These cities (1-2000+ inhabitants) here are so, so far ahead of us on switching away from centralized grids and fossil based energy sources.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
the vision realized ... CMG.. community microgrid
WOW - what a field trip yesterday. A 12 hour day on a bus tour of zero-emission developments... and ONE site did the REAL THING... Bad Aiblingen. I mean they rock and rolled on everything regarding effective development, renewable energies, system integrations, business and construction management... and they are looking to hire 500 people in Germany because of increasing demand for the product. there's only one little problem with this re-developer: the company name is B+O... now who was their PR and marketing advisor - didn't anyone tell them what the Brits would consider BO to stand for?
My apologies for not being able to write further on this right now.. I'm in the middle of intense 6, 12 hour days and a bit tired... and conserving my own energies as much as possible to be available for student consultations all day today. So I will just share a web site and picture.
couple web links: B+O redevelopment company... has english version.
.... and German utube video showing the village
The short summary is that they use a 1000 hectare forest for biomass CHP, a 20 hectare corn field for biogas, large solar PV arrays and even larger solar hot water arrays... geothermal pre-heating, GSPH: ground source heat pumps... and a storage system that integrates all these renewable energies into one central control system with smart controls for distribution. like I said... WOW. It is possible to do community microgrids in a re-development AND for a commercial/industrial/residential 'eco-village'.... no that's a model for a truly sustainable future. There is hope!
I have not been on a facilities tour that got me this excited since 1988 when I first embarked on a career in facility management. Bad Aublingen eco-industrial park was TRULY inspiring. I hope to go back next week and spend an entire day looking around.
My apologies for not being able to write further on this right now.. I'm in the middle of intense 6, 12 hour days and a bit tired... and conserving my own energies as much as possible to be available for student consultations all day today. So I will just share a web site and picture.
couple web links: B+O redevelopment company... has english version.
.... and German utube video showing the village
The short summary is that they use a 1000 hectare forest for biomass CHP, a 20 hectare corn field for biogas, large solar PV arrays and even larger solar hot water arrays... geothermal pre-heating, GSPH: ground source heat pumps... and a storage system that integrates all these renewable energies into one central control system with smart controls for distribution. like I said... WOW. It is possible to do community microgrids in a re-development AND for a commercial/industrial/residential 'eco-village'.... no that's a model for a truly sustainable future. There is hope!
I have not been on a facilities tour that got me this excited since 1988 when I first embarked on a career in facility management. Bad Aublingen eco-industrial park was TRULY inspiring. I hope to go back next week and spend an entire day looking around.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
renewable energy ski lifts
In perusing around Austrian sustainability news (I'm preparing for a presentation at the Austrian university here tomorrow)... i ran across this little item: A ski lift powered by solar and wind. WOW! Take that Kirkwood and Sierra club.*... both fast asleep in approving this crazy power grab... no make that SNORINGly asleep. And it turns out that a couple resorts in North America are also doing this.
* This is in reference to the proposed (already received prelim approval from NSF) 20+ mile power line installation along the hwy88 corridor - because poor and ignorant and mis-managed Kirkwood can't seem to get its head out of its collective diesel generators.
What an ingenious concept: String the PV panels between the guy wires supporting the chairlift. Hey - the chair lift seats are even heated! The also seem to have another, larger ground mounted solar array for summertime activities.
It can even power the snowmaking equipment
----------------------------------------------------
So here's the translation of the article (which appeared in 'Der Spiegel' magazine about a month ago):
The first ski lift in the world in solar Tenna opened in the Grisons. At the facility, which replaced the small mountain village in Safiental a 40-year-old ski lift, allowing one run on the lift mast cable design, the solar panels are mounted directly on the ski lift. They will track the sun during the day and placed upright in snow.
The 460 meter long lift needed in a winter season 22,000 kilowatt hours of electricity and will, whenever possible, by operated by specially-produced solar power. Overall, it expects a profit of 90,000 kilowatt hours per year. The sale of surplus power is used to finance the new lifts, including the 420,000 francs solar system.
The Swiss ski resort is so popular. Energy is an increasingly important factor of production alpine skiing: more powerful and more comfortable lifts, some of which have heated seats, and the expansion of the snowmaking equipment drives power consumption ever higher. Rising prices means the operator is now increasingly looking for alternatives to electricity from the main grid. Thus they avoid rising costs and still achieve a good image.
Giant wind turbine instead of chairlift
For years, the weather station provided in the ski resort of Styria in Salzstiegl data on temperature, humidity and wind speed. They were used for the snow and weather report. Until part-time owner Friedl Kaltenegger noted that many of the best wind conditions would provide for the installation of a wind turbine.
Instead of a new chair lift, he has invested around € 2.1 million in a 105 meter high wind turbine. The energy supplied by the wind generator powered, five lifts, and the hotel Moasterhaus. Excess wind power is fed at night and during the summer in the local network.
Since the mountains blow much wind, they are ideal for this type of power generation. A plant with 1.5 MW capacity, as it stands at the Salzstiegl and also in Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts can provide a year around 4.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity.
Jiminy Peak has 20 km of slopes, 350 snow guns completely and a large part of it lit every night during the winter season to 10pm, the wind turbine covers a third of the annual energy use. It also increases revenue, because half of the electricity generated is fed into the net. An additional benefit is the saving of 3300 tonnes of CO2 per year.
A rotor as a viewing platform
A completely different additional benefits does the Grouse Mountain ski area above the Canadian metropolis of Vancouver from his windmill: The hub of the rotor was extended to viewing platform for visitors. The technology comes from South Tyrol, where there are also already some plants.
Problems in Europe are more an aesthetic issue than energy production issues. An alternative is to use small wind systems with so-called H-rotor, as the Swiss ski resort Sattel installed in 2010. Instead of sweeping propellers, which rotate around the horizontal axis, move the wing of an H-rotor about the vertical axis. The low and sleek plants produce less power, but are better aesthetically.
The wind is not the only resource that exists in the mountains. Even the sun shines longer on the peaks: the Zugspitze as 1850 hours per year, while there are only 1390 Bayrischzell hours. The Schmittenhöhebahn in Zell am See is currently investing 3.5 million euros in the construction of 6000 square meters of photovoltaic systems on mountain restaurants and other commercial buildings. Expected annually 900,000 kilowatt hours of solar electricity, no less than ten percent of the demand of the company. In Winterberg in the Sauerland they feed a 5,000-square-meter photovoltaic system per year of "green" electricity into the grid, as much as the local snow machines need during the season for snow production.
Hydroelectric power for the fog horn
Wind and solar energy are weather dependent. During calm or overcast sky, it looks dim for the production of electricity. Here comes the water power into play. The infrastructure of the most energy-intensive snowmaking equipment can be used for hydropower production. The fog horn at Oberstdorf runs from February to November from the water stream through the main pipe lines of the snowmaking system.
After 200 meters to reach a maximum of 100 liters of water per second, a small, hidden turbine house is used. There, 16 blades are driven to produce 700,000 kWh of electricity per year. "That's enough to operate the main line of Oberstdorf in the fog horn peak," says Alfred Spötzl, technical manager of the railway. In the future, one looks forward to the fog horn because there are fewer guests, but you earn more money with the generation of electricity.
A special role in the transition to renewable energy could even use the numerous large ponds which were built to supply water to the snowmaking systems in the Alps. A study in the province of Salzburg came to the conclusion that the use would be economically feasible as a pumped-storage plants in about half of these ponds. A total of approximately 1070 megawatts of power could thus be installed, each with a standard capacity of 1.4 TWh year!
Such pumped storage plants are even more important with the increased usage of wind energy, biomass and photovoltaics.
* This is in reference to the proposed (already received prelim approval from NSF) 20+ mile power line installation along the hwy88 corridor - because poor and ignorant and mis-managed Kirkwood can't seem to get its head out of its collective diesel generators.
It can even power the snowmaking equipment
So here's the translation of the article (which appeared in 'Der Spiegel' magazine about a month ago):
The first ski lift in the world in solar Tenna opened in the Grisons. At the facility, which replaced the small mountain village in Safiental a 40-year-old ski lift, allowing one run on the lift mast cable design, the solar panels are mounted directly on the ski lift. They will track the sun during the day and placed upright in snow.
The 460 meter long lift needed in a winter season 22,000 kilowatt hours of electricity and will, whenever possible, by operated by specially-produced solar power. Overall, it expects a profit of 90,000 kilowatt hours per year. The sale of surplus power is used to finance the new lifts, including the 420,000 francs solar system.
The Swiss ski resort is so popular. Energy is an increasingly important factor of production alpine skiing: more powerful and more comfortable lifts, some of which have heated seats, and the expansion of the snowmaking equipment drives power consumption ever higher. Rising prices means the operator is now increasingly looking for alternatives to electricity from the main grid. Thus they avoid rising costs and still achieve a good image.
Giant wind turbine instead of chairlift
For years, the weather station provided in the ski resort of Styria in Salzstiegl data on temperature, humidity and wind speed. They were used for the snow and weather report. Until part-time owner Friedl Kaltenegger noted that many of the best wind conditions would provide for the installation of a wind turbine.
Instead of a new chair lift, he has invested around € 2.1 million in a 105 meter high wind turbine. The energy supplied by the wind generator powered, five lifts, and the hotel Moasterhaus. Excess wind power is fed at night and during the summer in the local network.
Since the mountains blow much wind, they are ideal for this type of power generation. A plant with 1.5 MW capacity, as it stands at the Salzstiegl and also in Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts can provide a year around 4.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity.
Jiminy Peak has 20 km of slopes, 350 snow guns completely and a large part of it lit every night during the winter season to 10pm, the wind turbine covers a third of the annual energy use. It also increases revenue, because half of the electricity generated is fed into the net. An additional benefit is the saving of 3300 tonnes of CO2 per year.
A rotor as a viewing platform
A completely different additional benefits does the Grouse Mountain ski area above the Canadian metropolis of Vancouver from his windmill: The hub of the rotor was extended to viewing platform for visitors. The technology comes from South Tyrol, where there are also already some plants.
Problems in Europe are more an aesthetic issue than energy production issues. An alternative is to use small wind systems with so-called H-rotor, as the Swiss ski resort Sattel installed in 2010. Instead of sweeping propellers, which rotate around the horizontal axis, move the wing of an H-rotor about the vertical axis. The low and sleek plants produce less power, but are better aesthetically.
The wind is not the only resource that exists in the mountains. Even the sun shines longer on the peaks: the Zugspitze as 1850 hours per year, while there are only 1390 Bayrischzell hours. The Schmittenhöhebahn in Zell am See is currently investing 3.5 million euros in the construction of 6000 square meters of photovoltaic systems on mountain restaurants and other commercial buildings. Expected annually 900,000 kilowatt hours of solar electricity, no less than ten percent of the demand of the company. In Winterberg in the Sauerland they feed a 5,000-square-meter photovoltaic system per year of "green" electricity into the grid, as much as the local snow machines need during the season for snow production.
Hydroelectric power for the fog horn
Wind and solar energy are weather dependent. During calm or overcast sky, it looks dim for the production of electricity. Here comes the water power into play. The infrastructure of the most energy-intensive snowmaking equipment can be used for hydropower production. The fog horn at Oberstdorf runs from February to November from the water stream through the main pipe lines of the snowmaking system.
After 200 meters to reach a maximum of 100 liters of water per second, a small, hidden turbine house is used. There, 16 blades are driven to produce 700,000 kWh of electricity per year. "That's enough to operate the main line of Oberstdorf in the fog horn peak," says Alfred Spötzl, technical manager of the railway. In the future, one looks forward to the fog horn because there are fewer guests, but you earn more money with the generation of electricity.
A special role in the transition to renewable energy could even use the numerous large ponds which were built to supply water to the snowmaking systems in the Alps. A study in the province of Salzburg came to the conclusion that the use would be economically feasible as a pumped-storage plants in about half of these ponds. A total of approximately 1070 megawatts of power could thus be installed, each with a standard capacity of 1.4 TWh year!
Such pumped storage plants are even more important with the increased usage of wind energy, biomass and photovoltaics.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
my learnings begin - energy resources GIS
In one of my coffee discussions with an office mate who just started working at the FHS two days ago, he indicated that he was working on renewable energy systems for cities in Austria. So, I inquired into the GIS systems that are prevalent over here and how they can help assess available and potential local energy resources. He showed me by typing in 'tiris maps' into google search, which showed a topographic map of Austria. Selecting from a large menu, I asked to see what the biomass resources were... as in forests. Turns out that 40% of Austria is covered in forests and they have a 250 year sustainability plan for them... so I was curious what the reality of this was on the ground, and how they were protecting this valuable resource. I was overwhelmed with a lot of bureaucratic talk and a general love of trees and that 100% of all parts of a tree are harvested only at the right time and pattern. Over the years, I've seldom seen ANY kind of smoke from fire burnings or slash piles that we commonly have in California forests.
----------------------------------------------------
Here's some links to the Austrian GIS system. Unfortunately, when you select 'english' in the upper right corner a lot of the maps and details are unavailable - only accessible in german.
map info: https://portal.tirol.gv.at/mapAccelWeb/ClientServlet?CMD=Init&VIEWID=-139&MAPWIDTH=807&MAPHEIGHT=569&OVMAPWIDTH=200&OVMAPHEIGHT=122&ACTION=0&TYPE=-1
If you click on the 'umschutzwelt' (environmental) in the lower right screen you'll get all kinds of information about recylcing centers, air quality, etc. Use your cursor to enlarge any area on the map for incredible local details including the final google earth map of 'reality' on the ground.
Now where is this similar GIS available in the public domain in the USA?
If you want to see some of the forestry details:
http://www.tirol.gv.at/themen/umwelt/wald/
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Counting bullshit?
The project applications for renewable energy resources in developing a community microgrid are pretty obvious. One can assess all the natural resources, biomass plants, farms, waterways, etc within a 5km area. I asked if one can count the amount of 'cowshit' (as in # of cows available for biogas/methane production) and they said this was a privacy issue for the farmers, and that information was not available.
---------------------------------------------
Personal note: I spend the last couple days translating a detailed german project work scope document (9 pages) into working english (as opposed to the queen's english) and I found that google translator was about 30% accurate at best. My own reading of the sense of the german sentence, and my knowledge of facility + real estate management along with the technical energy systems verbage, proved invaluable.
So, although I am learning SO much from everyone here, I think I'm also returning a little bit a value myself.
----------------------------------------------------
Here's some links to the Austrian GIS system. Unfortunately, when you select 'english' in the upper right corner a lot of the maps and details are unavailable - only accessible in german.
map info: https://portal.tirol.gv.at/mapAccelWeb/ClientServlet?CMD=Init&VIEWID=-139&MAPWIDTH=807&MAPHEIGHT=569&OVMAPWIDTH=200&OVMAPHEIGHT=122&ACTION=0&TYPE=-1
If you click on the 'umschutzwelt' (environmental) in the lower right screen you'll get all kinds of information about recylcing centers, air quality, etc. Use your cursor to enlarge any area on the map for incredible local details including the final google earth map of 'reality' on the ground.
Now where is this similar GIS available in the public domain in the USA?
If you want to see some of the forestry details:
http://www.tirol.gv.at/themen/umwelt/wald/
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Counting bullshit?
The project applications for renewable energy resources in developing a community microgrid are pretty obvious. One can assess all the natural resources, biomass plants, farms, waterways, etc within a 5km area. I asked if one can count the amount of 'cowshit' (as in # of cows available for biogas/methane production) and they said this was a privacy issue for the farmers, and that information was not available.
---------------------------------------------
Personal note: I spend the last couple days translating a detailed german project work scope document (9 pages) into working english (as opposed to the queen's english) and I found that google translator was about 30% accurate at best. My own reading of the sense of the german sentence, and my knowledge of facility + real estate management along with the technical energy systems verbage, proved invaluable.
So, although I am learning SO much from everyone here, I think I'm also returning a little bit a value myself.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
chaos ensuing?
ok - so jet lag is comin' on big-time, along with the voluntary (or is it in-voluntary? :-) consumption of delicious Austrian (enriched white flour) pastries, rolls, pastries, rolls... and other delicacies.
As i launch into my 2nd day at the FHS (that's applied sciences university) here in Austria. The skies have cleared a bit and as usual, it is just breath-taking to look straight up in the Alp Valleys to see towering mountains. Although the actual elevations are around 5-6,000ft., they seem taller given the perspective from the low-lying valleys. somebody pinch me...
project scope
i'm getting a handle on the project that I'll be working on next week: there will be around 120+ students with ~12 teachers trying to advise and guide them in some sort of direction. This will surely result on some chaos: trying to herd all these students through an intense 4-day process within limited workspaces and teachers.
The project is an abandoned USA military base, although before that it was used by the German military - so perhaps there won't be the super-fund site issues of buried and ignored toxins all too commonplace in the continental US?
Yesterday, i already learned more cool things about eco-energy perspectives. i was polishing up some queen's english documents for the project and ran across a couple concepts called 'exergy' and ...
brannenburg project areas: Here are the five areas that each student group must assess in their submittals:
...stay tuned.... today there will be a 5 hour meeting with the core teacher team to coordinate student guidance activities.
As i launch into my 2nd day at the FHS (that's applied sciences university) here in Austria. The skies have cleared a bit and as usual, it is just breath-taking to look straight up in the Alp Valleys to see towering mountains. Although the actual elevations are around 5-6,000ft., they seem taller given the perspective from the low-lying valleys. somebody pinch me...
project scope
i'm getting a handle on the project that I'll be working on next week: there will be around 120+ students with ~12 teachers trying to advise and guide them in some sort of direction. This will surely result on some chaos: trying to herd all these students through an intense 4-day process within limited workspaces and teachers.
The project is an abandoned USA military base, although before that it was used by the German military - so perhaps there won't be the super-fund site issues of buried and ignored toxins all too commonplace in the continental US?
Yesterday, i already learned more cool things about eco-energy perspectives. i was polishing up some queen's english documents for the project and ran across a couple concepts called 'exergy' and ...
brannenburg project areas: Here are the five areas that each student group must assess in their submittals:
1. architectural and urban design
- urban swot analysis (geogr., exist buildings, transport infrastructure, open space)
- structural sketches of the urban development (redevelopment or new buildings)
- place and size of the different types of use and the buildings
- only for master degree: key data for the economic feasibility
2. energetic building optimization concept
- definition of the energetic building concept
- floor plan sketches of typical buildings
- energy consumption of the buildings kWh/m²a and overall kWh/a
- only for master degree: key data for the economic feasibility
3. local energy concept
- selection of local energy resources (solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, waste heat, )
- selection of technologies for a zero net energy / zero net CO2 - campus (including students and lecture transportation).
- CO2 balance for a year (heating/cooling, warm water & transportation)
- only for master degree: key data for the economic feasibility
4. mobility concept
- estimation of the future transportation needs
- concept for a low energy / emission transfer of students and lectures between Munich-campus and at the campus itself
- energy consumption for the mobility kWh/Person*a and overall kWh/a
- infrastructure design
- only for master degree: key data for the economic feasibility
5. economic feasibility & organisation (public private partnership) - only for master degree
- evaluation of economic efficiency
- proposal for a ppp-announcement
- economical prospects and risks
Monday, January 9, 2012
arrival - SNOW
I arrived OK in Munich on a 40 minute early United flight thanks for a 150mph tailwind. It was snowing at the airport but dry in old town - so i enjoyed walking around my standard venues - the English Garten, Museums quarters, MarienKirche, and of course Conrads - the Euro 'radio-shack'. I was fascinated by the addition of mainstream LEDs by Asian manufacturers that Lowe's and HD are selling under their own brands. Remote home monitoring and solar sections in the store seemed to be double the floor display size from what I remember last year.
However at the Munich train station, the EC83 to Verona was 94 minutes late! A rarity before, but train delays are getting more common in Central Europe. Turns out that Austria Tyrol has been BURIED in snow. I mean, over 15,000 people stranded in some very high-end resorts. Avalanche dangers, trains cancelled, roads closed. Looks like all the snow we're missing in California has ended up here.
However at the Munich train station, the EC83 to Verona was 94 minutes late! A rarity before, but train delays are getting more common in Central Europe. Turns out that Austria Tyrol has been BURIED in snow. I mean, over 15,000 people stranded in some very high-end resorts. Avalanche dangers, trains cancelled, roads closed. Looks like all the snow we're missing in California has ended up here.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Work Scope
1. architectural and urban design
- urban swot analysis (geography, existing buildings, transport infrastructure, open space)
- structural sketches of the urban development (redevelopment or new buildings)
- place and size of the different types of use and the buildings
- only for master degree: key data for the economic feasibility
2. energetic building optimization concept
- definition of the energetic building concept
- floor plan sketches of typical buildings
- energy consumption of the buildings kWh/m²a and overall kWh/a
- only for master degree: key data for the economic feasibility
3. local energy concept
- selection of local energy ressources (solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, waste heat, ...)
- selection of technologies for a zero net energy / zero net CO2 - campus (including students and lecture transportation).
- CO2 balance for a year (heating/cooling, warm water & transportation)
- only for master degree: key data for the economic feasibility
4. mobility concept
- estimation of the future transportation needs
- concept for a low energy / emission transfer of students and lectures between Munich-campus and at the campus itself
- energy consumption for the mobility kWh/Person*a and overall kWh/a
- infrastructure design
- only for master degree: key data for the economic feasibility
5. economic feasibility & organisation (public private partnership) - only for master degree
- evaluation of economic efficiency
- proposal for a ppp-announcement
- economical prospects and risks
Conference Paper (submitted)
Community Microgrids Process + Indonesia
by
Fred Klammt (Northern California, USA
A community microgrid (CMG) is a new model of energy supply and distribution that stands in contrast to the existing 100+ year-old centralized utility model. In the words of Bucky Fuller[1]:
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”
A CMG is a stand-alone, small interconnected energy grid based on 100% renewable supplies that are distributed only to local community residences and businesses. CMGs are an essential part of community self-reliance.
- CMGs are connected to other similar CMGs within adjacent communities.
- CMGs are not tied to the main utility grid, they are stand-alone.
- CMGs provide 6sigma reliability and have safety as their primary objective.
- CMGs are developed, owned and maintained 100% by local citizenry.
- CMGs monitor and heal themselves.
more detailed information can be found at: http://cmgrid.blogspot.com/2011/06/introduction-to-microgrids-cmgs.html
CMGs are integrated into a whole systems process. All components of an energy system are inter-related. It is ideal to convert 100% of each available energy BTU to 100% useful energy work on behalf of the community. A best practice here can be found within California
Additionally, whole systems processes require that all players are at the table during the beginning of the CMG planning process. Collaboration between energy users and energy producers must be direct and ongoing. Various groups need to work together to solve problems.
Instead of just reducing our energy consumption and using renewable energy, we need to rethink how we produce and distribute energy. The centralized, monopolistic energy utility model has outlived its usefulness. Small, interconnected, smart community microgrids provide solutions to many of the issues that plague our current centralized energy production: transmission losses, effective and local smart control, storage, and above all providing local jobs and supporting a local economy while using natural resources in a sustainable manner.
Here are eight steps in building and operating a CMG:
1. Observation
2. Inventory
3. Assessment
4. Feasibility
5. Financing
6. Plan + Design
7. Implementation + CPM
8. Operations + Maintenance
- Observation
Process:
- Neutral, non-evaluative observation of site’s current natural resources
Tasks:
- Define site boundaries, adjacencies and surrounding culture + environs
- Observe regenerative capacities of site
- Observe site’s diversity of resources, interactions, transition zones.
- Recording of observations, sorting + documenting
Best Practices:
- Permaculture + scientific observation only practices
- Clear mind, no evaluation, no judgment
- http://www.neverendingfood.org/b-what-is-permaculture/
Tools:
- Shoes, eyes, clipboard, camera.
- Follow observation guidelines established within permaculture[3].
- Inventory
Process:
- Count available + potential resources within a 5km distance of CMG site
- Establish CMG’s energy needs and wants
Tasks:
- Within six permaculture zones, detailed inventory of available biomass, solar shading, wind velocities, water flowrates, underground temperatures,
- Static + dynamic:
o Available resources right now, what is present at this time
o potential annual growth, replenishment, food harvested, etc
- On-site, adjacent supply chain, future potential resources available.
- Prioritize CMG energy needs and wants
- Focus on reducing external energy needs as much as possible.
Best Practices:
- Asset management + inventory taking procedures
- Utility style connected load + demand requirements
- http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assistance/nrplanning/community/nrig/fullguide/invassess.html
Tools:
- NASA CERES satellite data + other databases
- GIS and mapping tools
- RE and energy modeling software
- Assessment
Process:
- Establish ecological relationships between site resources + CMG energy needs
- Assess eight+ renewable energy technologies’ applicably for CMG needs
- Assess current available solar income and on-site storage
- Assess prioritization, distribution, timing, storage of CMG energy rqm’ts
- Assess potential site risks and opportunities
Tasks:
- Assess RE resources applicability:
- Biomass, Biogas, MicroHydro, Geothermal, Wind, Solar HW, Solar PV +
- Establish ecological + energy criteria
- No financial considerations at this point
Best Practices:
- Permaculture principles also set up geographical zones within which each of the 12 principles are followed
- http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assistance/nrplanning/community/nrig/fullguide/howasses.html
Tools:
- System dynamics modeling, Software
- http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/nrplanning/community/index.html
- Feasibility
Process:
- Reality of site’s resources meets reality of CMG’s energy needs
- Establish whether specific renewable technologies are appropriate for CMG
- Feasibility of each RE extraction, distribution and storage infrastructure
- Approximate costs and ROI tradeoffs
- Develop CMG project work scope
Tasks:
- Gap analysis (CMG needs vs. available RE)
- % of current solar income that can meet CMGs daily energy needs
- Amount of storage required for daily nite-time, seasonal needs.
- Intertie with adjacent communities and supply chain resources.
- Provide estimates of RE availability + reliability. Rough first costs, extraction + delivery of each potential RE, conversion efficiencies (btu in/btu out), risks from toxic chemicals + security, , rough O+M costs, LCA, Carbon Footprints, Carbon intensity gCO2e/MJ, potential, power intensity.
- Include appropriate technology feasibilities:
- Technological complexities and innovations, social + political constraints
- Meeting and decisions
- Detailed work scope and contract docs
Best Practices:
- Closed loop, self-sufficient, waste = food
- output (waste) of process is input (food) for another process
- Various practices listed in: Energy Commons paper # 1[4]
- http://ec.europa.eu/environment/enveco/resource_efficiency/index.htm
Tools:
- Scenario Planning, System Dynamics, Sensitivity Analysis
- Various Software
- FM, CRE, CPM practices
- Financing
Process:
- Develop financing of CMG project along with timelines
- Make decision
Tasks:
- Develop accurate financials + budget for
- Planning + Design
- Construction Phases
- Continual Operations + Maintenance
- What-if scenarios, decision, fund project
Best Practices:
- Co-ops, Time banks, Micro-financing
- Phase-in certain RE technologies, Lo-cost energy technologies
- http://www.grameen-info.org/
- http://timebanks.org/
Tools:
- Software, Estimation guides, RS Means, etc.
- Plan + Design
Process:
- Master Planning and design of the CMG
Tasks:
· Contract specification and bid requirements are developed
· Generate approved Master plan
Best Practices:
- Include construction, FM, O+M aspects in design
- http://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/bestPractices.cfm
- http://nature.berkeley.edu/csrd/communities/communities.htm
- http://californiaseec.org/tools-guidance/best-practices
Tools:
- Software, Autocad
- Implementation + CPM
Process:
- Award construction contract
- Begin construction, progress milestones, quality assurance
- Complete construction, inspection, acceptance, occupancy.
Tasks:
- The contract documents are put out to bid to pre-qualified contractors and an award is made for the construction of the CMG.
- Construction is started, monitored, inspected, approved, and occupied.
Best Practices:
- Fast track project management processes
- Phase-in, pilot projects, Quality assurance, retention funds
- Standards, ISO9000 series, NMBQA criteria:
Tools:
- Software, MS Project +, www.pmi.org
- Operations + Maintenance
Process:
- Upkeep and quality assurance of facilities + infrastructure.
Tasks:
- Weekly/Monthly/Annual predictive + preventive maintenance
- Breakdown repairing as needed.
- Emergency and disaster recovery planning
- Provide custodial, landscaping, food, etc. services
- Major (5 – 10 year) maintenance
- Short and long-term budgeting, financial contingencies.
Best Practices:
- Random inspections, customer service focus, www.boma.org, www.ifma.org
Tools:
- CMMS + CAFM, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/OM_9.pdf
Renewable Energy reSource Assessment summary
Ceres[5] Project Stats
Climate: Equatorial
Location: Lat -8.565o Long 115.164o Elevation: 73m
Average Mean Incident Radiation: 5.33 KWH/m2/day
Min. Avg Insolation over 7 day period: 63.4%
Average skin temp: ~28o C
Average Wind Speed: 4-7 m/s (8-15 mph)
Avg Rainfall: 0.53 – 8.89 mm/d (0.02 – 0.35 in/day)
Summary assessment of resources available on-site (CMG order)
- Biomass fuel is available from local rice and coconut husks.
- Solar hot water is readily available at very low cost.
- Geothermal is marginal due to moisture and unknown temps.
- Biogas is plentiful from nearby chicken farmers.
- MicroHydro with good static heads is available from adjacent subak canals.
- Solar PV is available, but expensive (per watt) due to import taxes.
- Wind is available for ventilation + cooling, not as direct power.
TABLE 1: Energy Harvesting + Availability Chart @ Penatahan
| | A. Local availability 10 = hi | B. Harvesting Cost/watt 10= hi | C. Energy Yield 10 = hi | D. First Cost 10= hi | E. Operations Cost 10=hi | F. Ease of Operation 10 = easy |
| 1. Biomass | 10 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 2 |
| 2. Solar Hot Water | 10 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 3. Geothermal | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 4. Biogas | 9 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| 6. Micro Hydro | 9 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| 7. Solar PV | 7 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 9 |
| 8. Wind | 2 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 6 |
Like any system, each RE technology has pros + cons. For example:
Small Scale Biomass requires a knowledgeable operator,
and given its large power output potential with ample
local rice husk supply, it should be given serious consideration
for the future.
Biogas is an accepted, local technology. But given the vegetarian focus of this project, using chickens may not be appropriate, and human waste is a ‘drop in the bucket’ along with other issues such as C:N ratio, sawdust addition, etc.
TABLE 2 Penatahan RE possible scenarios
| | A | B | C | D | E | F |
| | Simplest | Simple | Medium 1 | Medium 2 | High 1 | High 2 |
| Nite Lighting | LEDflashlights | Solar PV | Solar PV | Solar PV | 3 sources* | 3 sources* |
| Food Prep | LPG tank | LPG tank | Biogas | biogas | biogas | biogas |
| Food Storage | Ice Coolers | Ice Coolers | Solar PV | Solar PV | 3 sources* | 3 sources* |
| TeleData | ~100w PV | ~ 200w PV | ~500w PV | >1000W PV | 3 sources* | 3 sources* |
| Hot water | none | none | Solar HW | Solar HW | Solar HW | Solar HW |
| ElectrStorage | none | SmallBattery | Med | MedBattery | LargeBattery | Golf Carts |
| | | | | | | |
| ~relative Power needs | 1a | 10a | 20a | 40a | 100a | 200a |
| ~relative Front Cost | 2000 | 4000 | 6000 | 25000 | 35000 | 50000+ |
| ~relative Annual O+M | 2400 | 3000 | 5000 | 6000 | 15000 | 18000 |
* 3 sources = MicroHydro, Biomass genset, Solar PV
TABLE 3 Penatahan Available energy + economic yield potential
| | A. Avail.Energy | B. units | C. joules | D. watts/day | E. $0.10/kwh | F. $/year |
| | | | | | | |
| 1. Biomass | 80000 | watts/day | 2.88E+08 | 80000 | 8 | $2,920 |
| 2. Solar Hot Water | 16500 | btu/day | 1.74E+07 | 4832 | 0.4832 | $176 |
| 3. Geothermal | 2880 | btu/day | 3.04E+06 | 843 | 0.0843 | $31 |
| 4. Biogas | 4392 | Mbtu/day | 4.63E+09 | 18000 | 1.8 | $657 |
| 6. Micro Hydro | 1200 | watts/day | 4.32E+06 | 1200 | 0.12 | $44 |
| 7. Solar PV | 1250 | watts/day | 4.50E+06 | 1250 | 0.125 | $46 |
| TOTALS | | | 4.948E+09 | 106125 | | $3,874 |
Ranking of seven renewable resources with lowest life-cycle costs:
(1) The best RE is Solar hot water. Its use will be for domestic hot water and distilling water. Food prep and resident showers can be powered by 100% SHW. It is cheap and relatively easy to adapt within new construction.
(2) Biogas is a locally accepted RE technology with adequate local supply. A small barrel with delivered waste product will easily supply all the cooking gas needs.
(3) Micro-hydro from the subak canals and its endless supply of continuous flowing water presents the largest RE opportunity at the site. However, its reliability and the political nature of the subak system may pose long-term issues.
(4) Solar PV with appropriate controls, inverter and battery bank system can be easily adapted to the project site in various configurations, awnings, ground mounted, etc. The Indonesia
(5) Biomass has the best long-term potential for the substantial amount of energy is produces, and the high volume of lo-cost, dry rice husks that are locally available. It requires knowledgeable O+M operators.
(6) Geothermal can provide a contribution to cooling, especially in the food storage areas, if designed + installed properly. It has low initial cost and minimal O+M cost.
(7) Wind mean speeds are below minimal thresholds, and appear unfeasible for substantial electrical power contribution. Convection draws and thermal chimneys can harness the available wind energy.
Appendix: Energy Conversion Units
Joule (J) : energy expended when 1 kg is moved 1 m by a force of 1 Newton
Power = Volts (pressure) X Amps (flow)
1 therm = 100,000BTU
1 BTU = 1,055 Joules
1 Watt Hour = 3600 Joules
1 KWH = 3413 BTU
1 HP = 0.746 KWH
video links: http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/lcfs/images/biofuels.jpg
[4] FHS 2010 FM Congress paper: ‘Energy Commons’ www.winsol33.wordpress.com or www.fh-kufstein.ac.at/eng/content/download/500034/.../Klammt.pdf
[5] http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/PRODOCS/ceres/table_ceres.html
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