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Technology on the Horizon
Ramping Up Energy Efficiency:Delivering Solutions to Natural Gas Utility Customers in a New Energy Economy
Presented at AGA Energy Efficiency Forumby
Southwest Gas Corp.Anthony W. Hills, P.E.
12/10/2009
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Technology on the HorizonAGENDA
New energy economy
What is Southwest Gas doing Energy Efficient Technology Department
Delivering solutions Gas cooling (available today)
Gas cooling (on the horizon)
Solar thermal (available today)
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SWG Service Territory
1.8 million customers
LasVegas
Phoenix
Tucson
Carson City
Victorville
1.8 Million Customers
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New Energy Economy
for a Natural Gas Company
Efficiency vs. overall efficiency
Site vs. source (Full-Fuel-Cycle)
Site only standards dont work in a carbonconstrained global environment
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Responsibility #1
Natural gas companies and AGA to push policymakers to recognize
Site-based standards do not work
Source efficiency ratings and standards must beaccepted or we will never reach the
greenhouse gas reduction goal the policy
makers want
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Resource Optimization Site vs. Source
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Deliver solutions to our natural gas customers.
Responsibility #2
Have real answers
How are we going to do this?
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Responsibility #2Provide products thatProvide products that
Reduce overall greenhouse gasReduce overall greenhouse gas
emissionsemissionsOffer superior user benefits (cost,Offer superior user benefits (cost,
comfort, green, etc.)comfort, green, etc.)Deliver overall environmentalDeliver overall environmental
superiority compared to the electricsuperiority compared to the electric
fueled equipment on the market todayfueled equipment on the market today
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What is Southwest Gas (SWG) doing?
SWG Energy Efficient Technology DepartmentProjects:
Gas heat pumps (GHPs)
8-ton & 15-ton multi-zone GHPs
10-ton packaged GHP
Residential GHP in development
Solar thermal space heating & domestic hot waterwith natural gas backup
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Gas-Fired Heat Pumps (GHP)The basic system for the heating and cooling cycleis the same as an electric heat pump (EHP)
Main differences are:
A GHP uses a natural gas (or propane) fired engine todrive its compressors instead of an electric motor
Captures and uses waste heat from the engine
Variable speeds / variable capacity (versus on/off forelectric units)
Maximizing fuel economy Maximizing comfort
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Drivers for Gas Cooling Air conditioning load is the dominant energy use
in the Southwest Gas service territory
Most of our customers are in the three largest metro
areas (Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson)
A viable solution to alleviate increasing electricdemand Gas cooling can save over 80% of the electric usage
compared to electric air-conditioners Help flatten the companys load profile
Purchase more 12-month gas and less winter peak gas
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Spring Summer Fall Winter
Months
EnergyC
onsumption
Electric
Gas
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Spring Summer Fall Winter
Months
EnergyC
onsumption
Electric
Gas
Elec w/GHP
Gas w/GHP
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Gas Heat Pumps Packaged & Multi-zone
Provides heating, cooling& captures waste heat
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Now sold and supported by
Gas Heat Pumps products
Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ
www.NextAire.com
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Multi-zone Outdoor Units
15 RTup to 33 zones
Multiple Zones, Flexible Design
8 RTup to 17 zones
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Multi-zone
Air Conditioning System
Ducted and ductless applications
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NextAire GHP Air Handlers
Multi-zone GHP
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Bullhead City, Arizona
SWG Office Buildings in Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
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Factory in Hungary
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Multi-zone GHP
Features Application Benefit8-ton & 15-ton
R-410A
Multi-zones (up to 33zones)
Ground or roof mounted
Designed to operate inextreme high and lowtemperatures
Space saver on existing orfuture mechanical r ooms
Quiet as a whisper, 58 dB
Lower operating cost thantwo or four pipe systems
Manufactured in Japan
Commercial buildings
Custom & semi-customresidential
New or retrofit construction
Ducted, ductless, orcombination of both
Outdoor unit can be set backas far as 400 feet from thebuilding
Up to a total of 1,706 relative
feet
Can handle large 100, 200,300+ tonnage applications
Highly efficient in bothheating and cooling modes
All-in-one heating andcooling unit
Multi-zone feature provideshigher comfort level
Potential for innovativebuilding design with ductlesscapabilities
Fully optimizing part loads
(IPL)Freeing up electricity for
redistribution within thefacilities
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10-Ton Packaged GHP
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Packaged GHP Overview
Features Application Benefits
10-ton
R-410A
Rooftop package
Built in the U.S.
Made for harshtemperatures of the desertSouthwest
Commercial
Retrofit
New construction
Mounted on rooftop curb,similar to electric rooftopunits
Avoid high demand andtime-of-use electric charges
Highly efficient in both
heating and cooling modes
Captures and utilizes wasteheat from the engine
Saves water compared toelectric units
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GHP Demonstration
Yuma, AZ
* Fueled by propane
Department of Defense Demonstration Project
Barstow, CA (Barstow Marine)
Phoenix, AZ (Luke AFB) Las Vegas, NV (Nellis AFB)
Yuma, AZ (Yuma Marine)
CA desert (Ft. Irwin Army)*
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Commercial Applications
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Environmental Merit of GHPs
Lower emissions
Save primary energy
Smaller carbon foot print
Ozone friendly
Water savings
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Annual Water Savings
Saves approximately17,000 gallons of water ayear compared to asimilar-sized electricHVAC system.
Impressive Water Savings!
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Whisper Quiet Personalized Comfort
GHP
Conventional A/C
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Emerged Technology
Commercially available within SWG service territory
Great opportunity for other Gas Companies?
Consumers CAN have a choice!
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Solar Thermal Technology
How does SWG and the natural gas industry play a role?
Solar heating and solar domestic hot water Natural gas back-up with a condensing, modulating
burner (~95% efficient)
Remember site vs. source (it can apply to solar as well)
Does not just shift the electrical load but eliminates the load
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Tucson Solar / Natural Gas Hydronic
Heating Project
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Phoenix Water Heater System
Solar panel
Hydronic fan coil
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Using natural gas on site builds the bridge to a moreefficient, environmentally friendly era of energy use.