Current and Future Uses of Renewable Natural Gas A gas utility perspective BioCycle Conference April 17, 2012 Bill Edmonds Director of of Environmental Management Management & Sustainability, & Sustainability NW Natural
Today s Presentation! Vision for a sustainable gas network! Smart Energy: an early step! Renewable gas, from the utility side!how much is there?!who buys it first?!how do we remove barriers?
Stage Setting! NW Natural: Who we are! Pioneers of decoupling, aggressive efficiency programs! Good first steps, but customers want & expect more! 81% said we should offer product! 54% said they d participate! To Smart Energy and beyond
Courtesy of National Grid!"
Step Toward Vision: Smart Energy! Voluntary carbon offset program! First gas utility in nation! Supports renewable biogas! Partner with The Climate Trust for high quality offsets
Smart Energy Projects
Renewable Gas: The Potential!"#$%&'()*'+),-.(/'0%-()10./23))4(/#$)')$#'+-('56#)6-(780#$")+&#('$%-9):#(#;'56#) *'+)&-.6/)5#).+#/)0-)"##0)0<#)('0.$'6)7'+)(##/+)-=)<'6=)-=)'66)!"#$%&'()<-"#+>) * Based on a national usage of approximately 24 TCF of natural gas (for 2010), source EIA. Gas use in American homes is approx.. 5 TCF.
Renewable Gas: Connecting to the utility
Renewable Gas: Connecting to the utility! Gas conditioning to meet spec! Interconnect and compression! Regulatory determination: who owns, who pays?! Finding early buyers for RNG
Renewable Gas: Emerging Markets Voluntary Green Purchasers Gas Turbine for renewable electricity Vehicles - renewable fuel to displace diesel or gasoline (directly at site or delivered by pipe) Mix with conventional gas for direct use New technology fuel cells
Other nations are realizing the potential of natural gas vehicles and are moving forward. There are over 12 million natural gas vehicles on the road worldwide but less than 120,000 are in the United States. On average, CNG costs 47% less than gasoline. Seattle CNG - $1.60 Gas - $3.79 San Francisco CNG - $2.44 Gas - $3.89 Los Angeles CNG - $2.74 Gas - $3.81 San Diego CNG - $2.89 Gas - $3.80 Salt Lake City CNG - $1.26 Gas - $3.37 1-.$)#$%"&'()*+"),&-.'*/"(0"1.23"4566"73"#$%8'()*+9):;" %,+"&'()*+"'*<2*)-")(-3",=*',>*":0"1.23"45"<':;"%,+?.//39):;" Denver CNG - $2.50 Gas - $3.45 Omaha CNG - $1.93 Gas - $3.68 Dallas CNG - $2.49 Gas - $3.65 Nashville CNG - $1.63 Gas - $3.59 Detroit CNG - $1.94 Gas - $3.78 Atlanta CNG - $2.34 Gas - $3.72 Ft. Lauderdale CNG - $2.19 Gas - $3.77 New York CNG - $2.70 Gas - $4.03 Wash., DC CNG - $2.40 Gas - $3.94
Renewable Gas: Direct Use or Electric Gen Pipeline Injection Electric Gen - Pipeline faster to build - Less volume sensitivity - No engine costs - Fewer permits -! REC pricing is clear -! Less gas conditioning -! Favorable price (compared to wind/solar)
Challenge, Opportunity, Key Next Step! Challenge: understanding the rules of the road on the gas system! Opportunity: blended CNG/RNG into the transport sector! Key Next Step: Regulatory/Legislative clarification and support for needed infrastructure development, recognize renewability of RNG
Sustainable Gas Vision Stories from Today Apple Inc. has filed an application to construct a 5 MW, 100 percent biogas-powered fuel cell facility in Catawba County, N.C Georgia renewable energy center will inject renewable natural gas from the Seminole Road Landfill into the natural gas pipeline. By fall of 2012, the faculty will also act as an on site fueling station for sanitary trucks converted to CNG. The New Chicago Beer Co. will operate a combined heat and power (CHP) process that will produce 2.1 million Btu per hour processing about 10,000 tons of brewery waste from this and other nearby breweries.
Thank You Bill Edmonds Director of Environmental Management & Sustainability WRE@NWNatural.com