A Green Idea Reclaiming Urban Wood Waste And Urban Forest Debris For Fuel/Combustion & Renewable Energy
Presentation Edward Kalebich Chief Operating Officer Robbins Community Power Facility located Chicago South Suburbs Primary background is in waste management & recycling industry
Background Former Robbins Resource Recovery $300 million investment Operated as waste to energy incinerator Repeal of Retail Rate Law caused shut down Now: Robbins Community Power Private Equity Investment to re-commission facility Deregulated electric market creates opportunity More requirements/emphasis on recycling/reclamation $25 30 million in upgrades planned Will be operated as green wood-fired power plant Permit process has been completed Challenges in capital markets financing
New Opportunities Generate renewable energy Lower greenhouse gas emissions Economic development in the Southland Create new markets in region Better home for C&D and other discarded wood Solution for municipalities, forest preserves, etc. Development of future biomass feedstock's Win/Win for everyone
Development Partners Robbins Community Power Owner and Operator GE Energy The world leader in power production Mostardi Platt Environmental Environmental management Project financing Village of Robbins Host, a Renaissance Community
$ Investment $ Upgraded Pollution Controls for: Particulate Matter, Nitrogen Oxides, Hydrogen Chloride, Carbon Monoxide New Fuel Management System Modern Boiler Controls Significant Plant Maintenance Total investment: $25 million +
Benefits to Suppliers RCP open 12 months per year Recyclers produce all year Tree trimming in winter Reduces need for storage Economic opportunities Landfill diversion Avoid tipping fees Transportation savings Central location for Chicagoland market
What Types of Wood Accepted? Recycled Urban Wood ( Mixed Wood ), from: C&D Recyclers Manufacturers Pallet Companies Green Urban Wood ( Unmixed Wood ), from: Municipalities (Emerald Ash Borer - EAB) Forest Preserves Tree and Land Clearing Companies Co-operative organizations
Sources of Fuel: Clean Urban Wood New Building Construction Wood Pallets
Sources of Fuel: Trees and Stumps Stump Grinding Tree Trimmings
Sorting Operations Urban Wood Materials from Demolition Sorting Process Removes Unwanted Materials
How Much? RCP will use 350,000 to 450,000 tons of wood chips per year Approximately 1 months storage on site Full-sized unloading area Two truck tippers Wood chip stacker
What is Recycled or Reclaimed Wood Fuel? It s part of the reclamation chain, like many other materials It replaces fossil fuel It s greenhouse gas friendly It s another way of turning what would otherwise be a waste into a raw material & product It helps create GREEN JOBS
How Does a Waste Become a Product? It must meet a four part test: 1. Contaminants are removed to an acceptable level during processing. 2. The product is used in a beneficial manner (replaces virgin alternatives). 3. The product has an economic value. 4. Ultimately, the material is not discarded or disposed of.
Wood Chips: Fuel from Waste
Ash Will Be Reused Bricks Road Construction Cement
Reducing Greenhouse Gases In A Landfill: 1. Discarded wood decomposes, creating methane gas 2. Some methane escapes, and is 21 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide 3. Some methane is burned, creating carbon dioxide directly 4. The wood used by Robbins would have the greenhouse gas effect of 1.2 million tons of carbon dioxide, if disposed in a landfill 1,200,000 tons per year carbon equivalent At RCP: 1. Discarded wood is processed into a homogenous fuel 2. Wood is combusted in the boiler, turning into carbon dioxide 3. No methane is emitted by the facility 4. The wood combusted at RCP would create 500,000 tons per year less of greenhouse gas equivalent than if it was disposed of in a landfill 750,000 tons/year carbon equivalent
Biomass Fuel in the Future Switchgrass, miscanthus, etc. Crops take 3 to 5 years to mature Agricultural waste (corn stover, cobs, etc) Included in permit
An Important Resource Renewable Energy Greenhouse Gas Negative Avoids Landfill Use Third Biggest Source of Green Power in the US (#1 Hydro and #2 Wind) Over 100 Wood-Fired Power Plants in the Nation
Renewable Fuel Wood is a Key Renewable Over 10% of US renewable portfolio is wood Replaces billions of gallons of oil (in equivalent energy) Wood Energy is Environmentally Friendly Saves landfill space Replaces fossil fuels Greenhouse gas neutral (negative with landfill avoidance) The US Encourages the Use of Wood Fuel Federal production tax credits (renewable) Renewable energy credits (RECs)
4. CO 2 returns to the atmosphere (either route) Energy The Carbon Cycle 1. Biomass (trees, etc.) Absorbs CO 2 From the Atmosphere 3. Wood chips are either sent to a landfill to decay, or energy is recovered through combustion 2. Harvested wood is utilized Greenhouse Gas Neutral Negative
Emission Monitoring CEMS: Continuous Emissions Monitoring System DAS: Data Acquisition System CEMS DAS
Benefits to the Community Electricity/steam will attract new industry economic development Industrial Green Jobs created for both construction and permanent operations Will increase demand for maintenance, parts and service support vendors Retention of existing businesses Benefits to local government finances RCP will establish Scholarship Fund for Village Reduces landfill use Provides a real alternative to fossil fuels
In the News
Community Renewal Renewable Energy A Brighter Tomorrow
Policy and Environmental Regulations
Production Elements C&D Green Wood Biomass Logistics Feedstock Reclamation Conversion Fuel Electricity Heat/Steam Laboratory Analysis Energy Generation Ash Emissions
Policy Issues Part 1 Regulatory Category: Waste vsfuel Not C&D waste but wood fuel Not landscape waste but green wood fuel Not agricultural waste but biomass fuel Not urban waste but reclaimed wood fuel
Policy Issues Part 2 Regulatory Category (continued): Beneficial reuse standards for wood/biomass fly ash Greater fuel blending flexibility Future of GHG regulations/legislation?
Policy Issues Part 3 Incentives for Renewable Energy Energy Production Renewable Energy Credits (REC s) Production Tax Credits Grants and Stimulus Fuel Production Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) Healthy Forests Grants and Stimulus
Policy Issues Part 4 Future of Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) Illinois Other adjoining states Federal Biomass vs. Wind vs. Solar Green Jobs Creation Incentives
Questions?
Good Wood