Renewable Energy
Applications
Jenna Beatty
Jenny Lund
Calvin Robertie
World Energy Use by Fuel
Goals of this Project
• BPM
– Final document for Stantec
– Checklist and Comparison Chart
• Renewable energy options
– Most commonly used options
• Option Analysis
– Location and Efficiency
– Cost and Feasibility
– Downsides and Environmental Impacts
Stantec’s Challenge
• Limited number of renewable energy
“experts”
• Lack of standardized document or
“textbook”
• Ample supply of information available
• Stantec would benefit from a BPM for
entry level engineers
Decision Tree
What are your energy needs?
Solar
Wind
Electricity Generation
Heating/Cooling
Identify Available Options
Identify Available Options
Geothermal
Biomass
Hydropower
Geothermal
Biomass
Renewable Energy Options
Research
• Searched through sources to find:
– Best Location
– Cost Range
– Efficiency
– Downsides/Environmental Impacts
– Case Studies
Chart
CSP Solar Power
Offshore Wind Power
- Parabolic Trough
- Linear Fresnel Reflector
- CSP Dish
- CSP Tower
- Wind turbines are sited off the coast in waters up to 30m
deep.
- In the sunbelts of the world, and general between the
latitudes of 40°North and 40° South. The American
Southwest has a very large potential for CSP
- The U.S. North east and Pacific Northwest from Oregon to
Alaska are suitable.
- Power cost around $0.12 per kWh of power
- Capital cost of plants vary between $2M and $5M per
MW of capacity
-Power costs $0.09 per kWh.
- Capital cost range between $2M and $3M per MW of
capacity
Efficiency
- Varies between technologies but is generally between 2040%. Energy storage systems can increase the
efficiency.
- Capacity factors range between 25-40% however offshore
wind is generally high due to stronger, more consistent,
and less turbulent winds offshore.
Downsides
- Large CSP plants take up large areas of land, however
are often located in deserts.
- Concentrated beams of sunlight can kill birds and insects
- Visual aesthetics of shorelines are of concern
- 0.001% of bird deaths are accounted from wind turbines
- Marine ecosystems can be harmed, but initial research
shows it to be very low.
General Info.
- Many downsides can be mitigated and the used of deserts
and increase the value of previously degraded and
unusable land.
- 78% of U.S. electricity demand comes from the 28 states
with shorelines.
Technology
Location
Cost
Chart
Cost
CSP Solar Power
Offshore Wind Power
- Power cost around
$0.12 per kWh of power
- Capital cost of plants
vary between $2M and
$5M per MW of capacity
-Power costs $0.09 per
kWh of power.
- Capital cost range
between $2M and $3M per
MW of capacity
Checklist
Concentrated Solar Power
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CSP power plants need a large area’s of land, up to hundreds or thousands of acres.
Cost of CSP plants range from $2M to $5M per MW
Cost of electricity from CSP plants is around $0.12/kWh but is expected to drop in the near future due
to increased research, manufacturing, and development.
The best locations for CSP plants are often deserts which are unusable otherwise
Current CSP technologies can convert 20-40% of sunlight
When thermal storage units are incorporated into a CSP plant it can increase its capacity factor and
continue to produce energy in the dark
CSP plants emit no greenhouse gases during operation
Offshore Wind
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Current technology only allows offshore turbines in water up to 30 Meters deep
Minimum wind speeds of 8 mph are required for a turbine to generate electricity
The coast of the Northeastern U.S. and the Cost of the Pacific Northwest from Oregon to Alaska are
good locations to site offshore wind farms
Farms cost around $2.4M per MW of capacity and electricity costs $.095/kWh
Wind turbine capacity factors are around 30% however strong and more consistent offshore winds
could increase that number.
Farms can be properly sited to avoid fishing grounds and shipping lanes
There is often public concern for the marine environment and visual aesthetics
BPM
• “Textbook” format
– Detailed description of information provided in
checklist and chart
– Information is cited
– Various case studies for each of the
technologies
Design Example
Conclusion
• Each option is applicable in specific
locations
• Biodiesel and geothermal heat pumps can
be applicable almost anywhere
• Hybrid systems
Questions