BUSINESS CASE INSTALLATION OF SOLAR PV ON COUNCIL BUILDINGS CITY OF BELMONT 2014

Transcription

1 A51 BUSINESS CASE INSTALLATION OF SOLAR PV ON COUNCIL BUILDINGS CITY OF BELMONT 2014 City of Belmont 215 Wright Street (LMB 379) CLOVERDALE WA Investigation into the establishment of grid-connected solar PV systems on Council buildings, to assist in determining future expenditure of the City of Belmont energy fund on renewable power generation projects

2 A52 Table of Contents 1 Rationale Background and Scope Initial Shortlisting Business Case Civic Operations Youth and Family Services Rivervale Harman Park Priority Ranking Recommendations... 9

3 1 RATIONALE A53 The City of Belmont s Strategic Community Plan includes the following objective under Natural Belmont : Objective 2: Enhance the City s environmental sustainability through the efficient use of natural resources. This is achieved through implementation of the City of Belmont Environment Plan and participation in initiatives such as the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council s (EMRC s) Achieving Carbon Emission Reduction Program, Future Proofing Program and the Western Australian Local Government Association s Emissions Reporting & Abatement Platform (the Platform ). The Environment Plan also specifies the investment of a set value annually (generally $20,000) into renewable power generation or energy efficiency upgrades, and includes the following action to be implemented in : 5.2 Develop a business case for the installation of solar PV on Council building/s To complete this action an investigation has been undertaken of various options for establishment of solar PV systems on Council buildings, to assist in determining future expenditure of the energy fund on renewable power generation projects. 2 BACKGROUND AND SCOPE The following documents and data have been reviewed in preparation of this business case: EMRC reports: Solar PV information for commercial size systems, Solar PV information and City of Belmont FY Emissions Summary Report Energy Audit Report of Administration Building, Youth and Family Services, Senior Citizens and Ruth Faulkner Public Library (Norman, Disney & Young, 2012) Synergy electricity consumption data Quotes received for supply and installation of solar PV systems at Harman Park (12, 15 & 20 kw options) and the City of Belmont Operations (36 kw). This document does not provide an explanation of solar PV systems and how they operate. For general background information please refer to the Solar PV (Photovoltaic) Systems Information Sheet available on the City of Belmont website or the EMRC reports listed above. This business case considers the suitability of grid-connected solar PV systems for Council buildings, rather than stand-alone systems that are generally more expensive, less widely available and require battery storage space. The type and brand of panels or inverter have not been considered and all quotes have been obtained as an approximate guide only. It is intended that these aspects would be further explored for facilities confirmed for future installation of solar PV. The option of leasing rather than direct purchase would also be considered at this stage, however this is generally of benefit only if capital is unavailable. 1 P age

4 A54 3 INITIAL SHORTLISTING Table 1 on page 5 outlines the shortlisting process undertaken to identify Council buildings suitable for the installation of grid-connected solar PV systems, for further investigation in this business case. Initially, Council buildings generating >25 tonnes carbon emissions in 2012/13 as per the City of Belmont FY Emissions Summary Report generated from the Platform were identified. Please note that these figures include emissions from fuel combustion for stationary energy (e.g. gas) as well as purchased electricity, however the latter is the only component relevant to consideration of solar PV. High emitting sites classified in the report as Lighting or Parks & Gardens were excluded from consideration, as they are associated with uses other than a building (e.g. lighting or operation of bores/ pumps). In addition to the lack of an existing structure on which to install panels and an inverter, these uses are generally unsuitable for the installation of grid- connected solar PV systems as they consume electricity outside of daylight hours when no electricity is being generated. The following criteria were then applied: Facilities unlikely to be demolished, significantly renovated or relocated within the general payback period for a solar PV system (10-20 years). Facilities where the City contributes towards the cost of electricity use (i.e. where this is not paid in full by lessees/ tenants), and the City will therefore financially benefit from reduced electricity costs. Facilities where electricity demand occurs primarily during daylight hours, when a solar PV system is generating electricity. Buildings failing to meet all three of the above criteria were excluded from further consideration, resulting in the following six facilities being selected for further investigation in Section 4: Civic Operations Youth and Family Services Rivervale Harman Park. 2 P age

5 A55 Table 1. Stage 1 Shortlisting to identify Council facilities suitable for the installation of grid- connected solar PV systems Facilities (buildings) with >25 tonnes annual emissions (2012/13) Facilities unlikely to be demolished, significantly renovated or relocated in the next years The City contributes towards payment of electricity costs Electricity use occurs during daylight hours Higher emissions Civic, Library & Senior Citizens Civic, Library & Senior Citizens Civic Civic Business Case Operations Operations Operations Operations Civic Youth and Family Services Garvey Park Kayak Club, kiosk & carpark lighting Youth and Family Services Garvey Park Kayak Club, kiosk & carpark lighting Youth and Family Services Garvey Park Kayak Club, kiosk & carpark lighting Youth and Family Services - Operations Youth and Family Services Gerry Archer Athletic Track Gerry Archer Athletic Track Gerry Archer Athletic Track Gerry Archer Athletic Track Rivervale Community Tennis Club & Belmont Oval Rivervale Community Tennis Club & Belmont Oval Rivervale Community - Rivervale Community - Rivervale Community Harman Park Middleton Park changerooms & bore Middleton Park changerooms & bore Middleton Park changerooms & bore Middleton Park changerooms & bore Harman Park Community (assumed) Harman Park Community Harman Park Community Harman Park Community Lower emissions 3 P age

6 4 BUSINESS CASE A56 The aerial view of each of the six buildings under consideration for installation of solar PV systems is shown below (Figures 1-6), as well as a description of: Building occupancy and assumed patterns of electricity demand Annual electricity consumption and seasonal variation in average daily use per bill Available roof space at a suitable orientation (ideally north facing at angle of 22 degrees), with minimal roof shading Opportunity for community education and engagement Suggested system size, based on historical electricity consumption and advice received from PV system suppliers. The red arrows show the potential location for installation of solar panels and their orientation. Areas of roof unsuitable for installation of panels are also noted on the aerial photographs. 4.1 Civic Occupied five days per week: Civic : 6am- 6pm (Monday to Friday) or later for Council meetings/ functions Library: 9am- 5pm (Friday), until 8.30pm (Monday- Thursday), 9am- 12 noon (Saturday) Senior Citizens: 7am- 3pm (Monday to Friday), 5pm- 9.30pm (Thursday) Faulker Park lighting: 6pm- 6am Annual consumption was 1,104,564 units in 2013/14. Average daily use per bill varies from 2600 units per day in May to 3800 in February. Figure 1. Civic, 215 Wright Street, Cloverdale Unshaded (flat) roof space available at north, east and west orientation. Opportunity for community education and awareness throughout Civic Precinct. Size recommended: 36 kw= will provide 57,200 units/ year, assuming 95% is consumed. 4 P age

7 4.2 Operations A57 Occupied six days per week: Monday- Friday: 6am- 4pm Saturday: 6am- 2pm Annual consumption was 236,889 units in 2013/14. Average daily use per bill varies from 600 units per day in May to 720 in February. Unshaded (sloping) roof space available at a north-east orientation on main building and north-west on the workshop. Limited opportunity for community education and awareness. Figure 2. Operations, 180 Planet Street, Carlisle Size recommended: 36 kw= will provide 57,200 units/ year, assuming 95% is consumed. Refer to quote from Next Power for more information on costs and estimated savings. 4.3 Youth and Family Services Occupancy dependent on block: A Block: Monday- Friday, 8am- 6pm B Block: Monday- Saturday, 9am- 4pm C Block: Monday- Friday, 7am- 7pm Annual consumption was 158,016 units in 2013/14. Average daily use per bill varies from 400 units per day in May to 625 in February. Unshaded (sloping) roof space available at north-west orientation on C Block. Opportunity for community education and awareness to users of the Youth and Ngala as well as casual users. Size recommended: 20 kw= will provide 32,000 units per year. Figure 3. Youth and Family Services, 275 Abernethy Road, Cloverdale 5 P age

8 4.4 A58 Since Community Services- Base Services relocated to Harman Park in May 2014, the building is generally occupied by casual users only on weekends, both day and night. Annual consumption was 40,515 units in 2013/14. Minimal seasonal variation in average daily use per bill, generally between units per day. Unshaded (sloping) roof space available at north orientation. Opportunity for community education and awareness to regular and casual users. Size recommended: 10 kw= will provide 16,000 units per year. Figure 4., 33 Morgan Road, Redcliffe 4.5 Rivervale Occupied most days of the week, day and night, with the highest usage during the day on weekends. Annual consumption was 32,461 units in 2012/13. Minimal seasonal variation in average daily use per bill, generally between units per day. Unshaded (sloping) roof space available at north-east and north-west orientation. Opportunity for community education and awareness to regular and casual users. Figure 5. Rivervale, 100 Gerring Court, Rivervale Size recommended: 10 kw= will provide 16,000 units per year. 6 P age

9 4.6 Harman Park A59 Occupancy is associated with Community Services- Base Services (8 hours per day, 5 days per week). Unshaded (sloping) north facing roof is 182m 2 with an angle of approximately 12.5 degrees. Advice received from solar panel installer (Sun Power) in 2012 that sufficient roof space exists for a 41kW system, however probably this would be oversized. The likely optimal size is 10-15kW. The panels can be placed on the east, north and west facing roofs, by splitting them this has the benefit of extending the daily period during which energy is generated. A subsequent quote obtained from Next Power recommended a system size of 12kW. Figure 6. Harman Park, 21 Harman Street, Belmont Opportunity for community education and awareness to clients of Community Services. Size recommended: Recommendation to wait until building has been occupied over a winter and summer season, to confirm baseload electricity demand and therefore optimum system size. 5 PRIORITY RANKING The above information has been further summarised in Table 2 on page 10, in terms of positive and negative aspects for each site to determine a priority ranking for installation of solar PV. This has resulted in the following order of priority, from highest to lowest: 1. Civic 2. Operations 3. Harman Park 4. Rivervale Youth & Family Services. 7 P age

10 A60 Table 2. Summary of negative and positive aspects of six Council buildings influencing priority ranking for installation of solar PV. Positive Negative Rank 1= highest 6= lowest Civic Flat roof that could allow panels to face multiple orientations (ie. N, E & W) with frames Nil 1 Regular building occupancy with electricity demand 5½ days per week, including most evenings Opportunity for significant community education and engagement for visitors to the Civic Precinct Operations NE and NW facing roof Regular building occupancy with electricity demand 6 days per week Youth & Family Services Rivervale Harman Park NW facing roof Regular building occupancy with electricity demand 5 days per week Opportunity for community education and engagement with users of the Youth and Ngala N facing roof Opportunity for community education and engagement to casual/ regular users NE & NW facing roof Opportunity for community education and engagement to casual/ regular users N facing roof Regular building occupancy with electricity demand 5 days per week, 8 hours per day Opportunity for community education and engagement limited to staff and visiting contractors Only C block roof unshaded Requires lease negotiation as the City currently contributes only 39% of electricity costs, with the remainder paid by lessees. Potential for contribution towards capital cost of the system by lessees Building occupancy and therefore electricity demand subject to casual/ regular bookings Future electricity demand uncertain due to relocation of Community Services- Base to Harman Park in May 2014 Building occupancy and therefore electricity demand subject to casual/ regular bookings Baseload electricity demand of building unknown as has only been occupied since May 2014 Opportunity for community education and engagement limited to clients of Community Services- Base Services 2 6 (Low rating unless lease negotiation occurs) P age

11 6 RECOMMENDATIONS A61 1. Investigate the potential for lessees of Youth & Family Services to contribute towards the capital cost of a solar PV system, possibly through a voluntary agreement or lease renegotiation upon expiry. 2. Research the best types/ brands of panels or inverters and design considerations to optimise power generation for each location, and investigate purchase options such as direct purchase vs lease. 3. Once data on electricity consumption for Harman Park is available for both a winter and summer season (anticipated March 2015), confirm the optimal system size based on the load profile and baseline electricity demand of the building. 4. Obtain (or revise) quotes and estimated payback periods from solar PV providers for the Council buildings subject to this business case, utilising the specifications obtained in completion of Recommendation Upon completion of Recommendations 1-4, revise the priority ranking table (Section 5) and determine a recommended programme for installation of solar PV on Council buildings. 6. Present outcomes at the March 2015 meeting of the Standing Committee (Environmental), with a recommendation to Council regarding adoption of the proposed installation programme to commence in P age