1

Alternative Energy SourcesAlternative Energy Sources

Delivered on to:

Bill PykeHilbre Consulting Limited

October 2012

Generating ‘Green’ Electricity

2

Global Perspective

Energy Sources for Power Generation

Global Perspective

Energy Sources for Power Generation

Coal39%

Oil7%

Gas21%

Nuclear17%

Hydro15%

other1%

Source: IEA

3

Options for Large Scale Power GenerationOptions for Large Scale Power Generation

Thermal

• Coal

• Oil

• Gas

• Nuclear

• Geothermal

Non-Thermal

• Wind

• Hydro

• Wave

• Tidal

Fossil Fuels

4

Options for Smaller Scale Power Generation-at

present

Options for Smaller Scale Power Generation-at

present

Thermal

• CHP

• Biomass

Non-Thermal

• Wind

5

Carbon Neutral SourcesCarbon Neutral Sources

• Wind

• Wave

• Tidal

• Biomass

• Geothermal

6

Comparative Life Cycle

Carbon Emissions

Comparative Life Cycle

Carbon Emissions

Source: OECD Nuclear Energy Agency

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Lignite Coal Gas Biomass Wind Nuclear

Gm

sC

O2/k

Wh

7

Power Generation Forecast

8

Comparative Green Electricity Generating CostsComparative Green Electricity Generating Costs

Source: IEA

9

Green Electrical Energy

Falling Generating Costs with Time

Green Electrical Energy

Falling Generating Costs with Time

Source: CPI

10

October 2012

BIOMASS BIOMASS

11

Fuels for

Transport

Electrical Power

CHP

12

OutlineOutline

• Sources

• Availability

• Advantages/Disadvantages

• Challenges

• Cost Parameters

• Biomass to Power Growth Estimates

13

Biomass SourcesBiomass Sources

• Forest products: salvageable dead wood, logging residues, and excess polewood

• Coppice Wood

• Urban wood waste and mill residues: mill residues, urban wood waste, and construction and demolition debris

• Agricultural residue: wheat straw and corn remnants

• Energy crops: switch grass, hybrid poplar and hybrid willow

• Biowaste, Landfill Sites

14

AdvantagesAdvantages

• Cheap energy, especially if it derives from waste $2.00/mmbtu versus Natural gas at $6.00/mmbtu

• Feedstock is nearly everywhere available

• Bi-product: Biogas can solve the environmental

problems caused by organic waste

• Fertilizer as byproduct and financing source

15

Biomass StatisticsBiomass Statistics• Global Biomass Resource: 1,250 bn. dry tonnes

• Annual Utilisation: 250 bn. Dry tonnes

• U.K 0.015 bn. Tonnes

• U.K. Cost of Biomass €4/GW

• Comparative Cost of Coal: €2/GW

• Coal CO2 emissions/tonne: €1/GW

• Biomass CO2 emissions/tonne Negligible

Source: Simpson-Holley & Evans, Energy World, June 2007

16

Environmental AppealEnvironmental Appeal

• Utilises solar energy and converts some of it into biomass –a versatile fuel

• Removes some CO2 from the atmosphere in the process.

• Provides habitat for native species

• Multiple products when harvested

17

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

• Ensuring Continuous supply

• Carbon neutral ?? Transport costs

• Drying to specification is energy-intensive

Biomass moisture content often 40-60%, needs to be 10-15%

• Storage Issues

• Impurities and toxins

• Safety devices are necessary

18

OptionsOptions

• Dedicated Biomass Gasification and co-combustion / direct combustion

• CHP Biomass Generate electricity and heat

• Co-fire biomass with coal in existing conventional power stations allows substitution of 10-15% of fossil fuels in U.K., Belgium, Netherlands and Poland

19

October 2012

WIND POWERWIND POWER

20

EU Member State Players

in Offshore Wind power ( Sources: IEA, 2009 & BWEA, 2011)

EU Member State Players

in Offshore Wind power ( Sources: IEA, 2009 & BWEA, 2011)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Insta

lled

Cap

acit

y M

W

21

UK Offshore Wind farmsUK Offshore Wind farms

22

Western Europe

Wind Intensity Map

Western Europe

Wind Intensity Map

23

Wind CHPWind CHP

• Good in areas of wind speeds >10m/sec

• Performance band width from 4 to about 15m/sec wind speed,

• Nominally rated at 1kW at a given wind speed of 12 m/sec

• net effect is a potential saving of up to 30% overall against the UK average 'domestic' electricity bill e.g. 3,200 kWh per annum

24

Domestic Wind MicrogenerationDomestic Wind Microgeneration

Source: www.windsave.com

25

Wind Power

Advantages & Disadvantages

Wind Power

Advantages & Disadvantages

• Advantages

• Relatively low front-end( installation cost. British DIY retailer sell 1kW “Windsave” turbines from £1,500)

• Low running /maintenance costs.

• Can sell electricity to the Grid

• Disadvantages

• Visually unattractive

• Variable wind

• Often ineffective in built-up and suburban area

• Often need planning permission

26

October 2012

HYDRO-ELECTRICITYHYDRO-ELECTRICITY

27

OutlineOutline

•Facts

•Process

•Major Global Users

•Advantages/Disadvantages

•Pumped Storage and generation management

•World-Class major projects

•Three Gorges Project

•Small-Scale Hydro

•UK Context

•Trends

28

Hydroelectric FactsHydroelectric Facts

• 16% of Global Electricity Generation

• Earliest example of renewable energy on a large-scale

• 120 years of experience

• >90% efficient energy transformation with minimal transfer losses

29

Hydroelectric Areas for Development Hydroelectric Areas for Development

• Large Land Areas

• High Relief

• High Rainfall/Snowfall

• Ready local market for electricity consumption

Most of the largest land areas have been identified

Limited scope for more mega projects

However opportunity for numerous small-scale hydro

(SSH)

30

Hydroelectric ProcessHydroelectric Process

Source: Environment Canada

31

Pumped StoragePumped Storage

• Hydro capacity is normally applied to peak-load demand

• Pumped Storage currently provide the most significant means of storage of energy on a scale useful for a utility, allowing low-value generation in off-peak times

• Operation of pumped-storage plants improves the daily load factor of the generation system-can be as low as 40% without pumped storage

32

AdvantagesAdvantages

• Clean No sulphur, nitrous oxides or particulates. Low CO2 and methane.

• Renewable energy with security of (electrical) energy supply

• Low operating costs, low maintenance

• Large reservoirs can be used for other purposes; fish stocks etc

• Flood control

33

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

• High front-end capital costs deters many investors Long payback period

• Large projects have led to elimination of agricultural land-use with displacement of population and homes

• Submergence of arable land leads to methane and CO2 emissions

• Potential for dam bursts. Over 200 in 20th century

• Possible negative environmental impacts both upstream and downstream of plant. Silt build-up

• Barriers to fish migration

34

October 2012

TIDAL & WAVE POWERTIDAL & WAVE POWER

35

Tidal PowerTidal Power

36

Tidal BarragesTidal Barrages

37

Bay of Fundy,

Annapolis Tidal Generating Station

Bay of Fundy,

Annapolis Tidal Generating Station

Installed Capacity 20MWTidal Range up to 17 metres

38

Wave PowerWave Power

Source: BBC

39

UK Comparative Generating Costs

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Coal FiredPF

Coal FiredCFB

Coal FiredIGCC

Gas OCGT Gas CCGT Nuclear Waste Wave OnshoreWindfarm

OffshoreWindfarm

Ge

ne

rati

ng

Co

st

p

en

ce

/kW

h

Source: Adapted from The Royal Academy of Engineering Report

40

Carbon Emission Costs for Generating Sources

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Carbon Emission Cost

Generating Costs

Source: Adapted from The Royal Academy of Engineering Report