Mount Wachusett Community College Energy Conservation & Conversion : A Cost Sharing Approach
Critical Issues The rising and disproportionate costs of energy in the Northeast The Nation s continued dependence on foreign oil & its impact on national security The obligation to address the need for increased energy production in consort with environmental protection The need to keep student cost as low as possible
Overview of College 280 acre site located in a snow belt at the highest elevation in north-central Massachusetts 450,000 s.f. of classrooms, laboratories, library, theater, gymnasium, etc. The College utilized electricity as its sole source of climate control Enrollment 9,000 day & evening students
Statement of Problem Due to its geographic location and its total dependency on electricity, MWCC utility bills exceeded $850,000 annually State support for the institution was at an all-time low As with all institutions we were faced with a rapid proliferation of new and very costly technological applications
What did MWCC do? Converted an all-electric facility to a closed-loop biomass fueled hydronic system Installed energy efficient lighting Installed variable frequency drives and premium efficiency motors Replaced all unit ventilators Installed a domestic hot water heat exchanger Implemented domestic water conservation (low GPF toilets/low GPM sinks) Installed a consolidated compressor farm Expanded the central chilled water system for cooling
Participants NORESCO Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management MassElectric Mount Wachusett Community College Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources Massachusetts Technology Collaborative CONEG Massachusetts Dept of Environmental Protection U.S. Dept of Energy
MassElectric Design 2000 & Energy Initiative Pre-calculated & custom rebates that ranged from 40% to 60% of full energy efficient measure cost Technical Assistance Energy Audit
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Renewable Energy Trust To promote a greater reliance on renewable energy resources to meet the Commonwealth s energy needs To spur development of the renewable energy sector as an important source of future economic growth in Massachusetts
MASSACHUSETTS DIVISION OF CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT Provides oversight on all capital construction projects in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Requested proposals to provide MWCC with comprehensive energy and water management services under a performance contracting program Provided Deferred Maintenance Funds
NORESCO Nation s leading energy service company providing comprehensive and proven energy solutions and infrastructure strategies to a wide range of customers. Provides integrated outsourcing solutions including design, construction, operations and financial services for capital improvements, O&M, power reliability and cash flow.
What is Performance Contracting? Performance contracting is a unique and extremely effective approach to installing innovative energy efficiency and infrastructure improvements by leveraging the current operating budget. Investments are self-funding, paid for over time from the guaranteed energy savings delivered.
Performance Contracting Benefits Project Costs are Paid from Existing Budgets 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Budget Before Contract During Contract After Contract Utilities Investment Savings
Typical Investment Solutions heating, ventilation and cooling systems potable water systems control systems lighting systems building envelope indoor air quality solutions renewable energy systems combined heating and power solutions power generation
Investment 1% 10% 1% 9% 1% 78% Lighting Water Conservation Infrastructure VFD BioMass DHW conversion
Savings BioMass 52% DHW conversion 5% VFD 4% Lighting 32% Water Conservation 7% Infrastructure 0% Lighting Water Conservation Infrastructure VFD BioMass DHW conversion
Biomass Conversion Conversion of Electric Heat, Domestic Hot Water System to Closed Loop Hydronic Biomass System 320 bhp wood chip boiler with 300 bhp oil fired backup Computer controlled facility
Biomass Conversion Average Annual Savings 2002-2008 Electricity: 4,046,874 (kwh) ( 45.97% reduction, enough to serve approximately 1200 residential allelectric customers per year) Water: 2,222,222 gals ( 52.52% reduction) CO 2 reduction: 24%
Energy Savings 2002-2008 Total Total Gals Total Total Saved Saved Saved of water Dollar Dollar Savings Year kwh Peak kwh off-peak kwh Saved Savings Current Rate 2002 1,986,158 902,413 2,888,571 2,222,222 $ 198,923 $ 198,923 2003 2,575,626 1,208,478 3,784,104 2,222,222 $ 272,826 $ 314,600 2004 3,117,068 1,623,557 4,740,625 2,222,222 $ 313,839 $ 402,638 2005 2,966,760 1,523,351 4,490,111 2,222,222 $ 304,586 $ 462,214 2006 2,871,270 1,459,691 4,330,961 2,222,222 $ 294,570 $ 605,615 2007 3,326,612 1,769,135 5,095,747 2,222,222 $ 335,310 $ 682,564 2008 3,022,039 1,560,204 4,582,243 2,222,222 $ 313,965 $ 556,370 19,865,533 10,046,829 29,912,362 15,555,554 $2,034,019 $ 3,222,924
SIGNIFICANCE OF PROJECT College students, faculty and staff have benefited from improved lighting, climate control, curriculum enhancements and training opportunities Demand-side management has resulted in energy savings of over 29.6M kwh of electricity and 15.5M g of water $4.3M project, that replaced the College s entire mechanical infrastructure, was completed without any institutional funds!!!
WHAT S S NEXT! BIOMAX -50 Installation of a 50 kw gasifier and co-gen set The downdraft gasification technology employed produces the lowest emissions of tars and complex hydrocarbons of any known wood combustion technology
Primary Products: BioMax 5 to BioMax 50 Gas Production Module Drier/Feeder Module Power Generation Module Small Modular Biopower Systems for Farms, Homes, Enterprises, Rural Communities
BioMax 50 50 kwe peak power 700,000 Btu/hour in CHP Continuous operation Fully automated Wood chips, Nut shells, Pellets Clean and green emissions Non-hazardous ash residues Grid ready Wood Chip Storage Fine Filter 50 kw Genset Heat Exchanger Wood Chip Sorter Wood Chip Conveyor Gasifier Wood Chip Dryer Feeder Feeder
BioMax: Gasification Converts Woody Materials to a Clean Fuel Gas for Heat, Power and Cooling FUEL Wood Chips, Wood Pellets, Nut Shells, Etc. 20% CO 18% H 2 2% CH 4 + CO 2, H 2 O & N 2 Start-up Fuel Propane, Natural Gas, Etc. Solid Gas Feeder Dryer BioMax Gasifier Gas Cooling Cleaning Power Gen Electricity* (Loads) Wood Energy Conversion Efficiency: 80% System CH&P Efficiency = +70% HEAT HEAT * and/or shaft power
CPC s Direct Air Gasification Pyrolysis Air Dry Biomass Feed Feedstock Dryer Or Heat Application Fuel-Gas Application 60 C Pyrolysis (900 C) Gasification (900 to 1000 C) 750 C 120 C 20% CO 18% H 2 10% H 2 O 9% CO 2 2% CH 4 40% N 2 Char Air Injection Cooling Air Fine Filter < 0.7 µm Coarse Filter 3 lbs wood = 1 kwh ~70% of Biomass Energy = Chemical Fuel ~20% of Biomass Energy = Recoverable Heat, Gas Cooling
U.S. Department of Energy MWCC has been awarded $1,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy ( Energy and Water Development Appropriation Bill) to install a wind turbine and to work with surrounding communities to develop implementation strategies for the installation of turbines across the state s northern tier.
Photovoltaic The College will be installing a 100 kw photovoltaic array by the end of June. The College used funding from both a CREB and MTC.
Additional Energy Conservation Measures High Efficiency Heat Pumps, Economizer DCV for selected spaces Baseboard Controls Lighting & Lighting Controls Kitchen Hood Controls Occupancy Based Controls Pool Filter & Pool Cover Solar Domestic Hot Water
Additional Energy Conservation Measures Total Proposed Costs: $796,620 Electrical Incentives: $230,667 Annual kwh savings: 846172kWh (14.5% of current energy consumption Total savings $129,113
WIN WIN WIN WIN COLLEGE STUDENTS MASSACHUSETTS COUNTRY
The fundamental challenge facing today s society is to create political, economic, and social systems that promote peace, human welfare and sustainability of the environment on which life depends. We feel, and we trust you will agree, that MWCC s initiatives are providing unique opportunities to meet this challenge.