GGeothermal Energy Options Elim, Alaska

Gwen Holdmann / Chris Pike / George Roe

Discussion Items

ACEP Introduction Background on geothermal energy Local hot springs resource Possible applications Next steps (discussion)

Role of ACEP and the University of Alaska Developing information for decision makers

o Technology testing and optimization (industry) o Energy analysis (policy makers, communities)

Preparing students to work in energy-related disciplines

Commercializing energy innovation

BBoth in the laboratory and in the field Recent lab-based examples include: Electratherm, Sustainable Automation grid-forming inverter, Prudent Energy flow battery, Williams flywheel (next up)

Testing and System Optimization

ACEP Energy Technology Lab (L) and Premium Power Installation in Kotzebue (R)

Using Organic Rankine Cycle technology for waste heat recovery

Example: Geothermal Industrial Process Energy

Electratherm 50kW ORC System

Pratt & Whitney 280 kW ORC System

Electratherm testing at UAF

5

ACEP Projects are Statewide Islanded electric grid integration River hydrokinetics Low temperature geothermal Remote sensing/thermal imaging Waste heat utilization Coal-to-liquids technology Biomass energy Transmission and distribution Fuel additives assessment Small modular nuclear reactors Advanced energy storage Ground source and seawater source heat pumps Stranded renewable resources assessment Waves resource assessment

Cosmos, August 2008

OurENERGY.com

Production/Injection Well Flow Diagram

Production Well Injection Well

© Geothermal Education Office 2000

How Geothermal Power is Generated

Heat Exchanger

GeneratorTurbine

R134a Refrigerant

Reinjected Geothermal

Water

Geothermal Water (from production well)

Binary Power Plant Technology

Geothermal EnergyThe two highest temperature geothermal resources outside the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutians are located on the Seward Peninsula

Pilgrim Hot Springs

Serpentine Hot Springs

ACEP Geothermal Resource Assessments

NNome/Pilgrim Chena Hot Springs Manley Hot Springs Tenakee Hot Springs Granite Mountain

Shungnak Akutan Adak Atka Elim

Granite Mountain Resource Assessment

Funded by NANA through WH Pacific

Shungnak Resource Assessment

Tenakee Springs Resource Assessment

ACEP been involved in multiple aspects of assessing geothermal energy as an option for Nome, including an extensive resource assessment, economic analysis, fuel pricing, and integration with existing generation sources. In collaboration with: AEA, US DOE, Unaatuq, BSNC, NSEDC, the City of Nome and NJUS, SNC, WMNC, TNC, MINC, USGS

Pilgrim Hot Springs Resource Assessment

Clockwise from left: ACEP shallow drilling program; confirmation drilling program in 2013, community meeting in Teller; thermal mapping of region.

Images from Chena Hot Springs Resort

Low-temp geothermal – direct use

CCase studies

Tenakee Springs

Community-use soaking tub Geothermal heating of changing room and nearby warehouse 2013-2013 refurbishment by local volunteers and community donations with Rasmuson Foundation support

Direct Use: Pool – Hot Tub - Bathhouse

Images & information from: http://www.tenakeehistoricalcollection.org/bathphotos/

Temperature at source:~140 F

Natural flow from spring:70 gpm

¼ mile of on-ground insulated 4-inch PVC pipe

Gravity feed, no pump required

After the water is used for heating, it is discharged into its natural drainage area.

Direct Use: Space Heating

White Bear Hot Springs

Geothermal water is piped to remote 1970’s era multi-room cabin and used for space heating

District energy system Began as source of heat for school Eventually expanded to other community buildings and swimming pool

Direct Use: Space Heating

Midland, South Dakota

Lund, J., J. Nemec, and R. Vollmer. "Midland, South Dakota geothermal district heating." TRANSACTIONS-GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES COUNCIL (1998): 15-18.

The waste geothermal water is used to water cattle, before being released into the Bad River at the edge of town.

Tolovana Hot Springs Wilderness site 45 miles northwest of Fairbanks Accessible by trail, bush plane and canoe

Meyer’s Farm Bethel, Alaska

Provides the local community with fresh organic vegetables Short term volunteers work at the farm for room and board Uses a combination of raised beds and greenhouses

Geothermal Heat for Aquaculture

Farming tropical fish and alligators in Idaho for food and hides.

Geothermal Heat For Fish Drying

Drying fish, seaweed, and kelp for export in Iceland

Fish drying in 1977

Using geothermal heat to dry fish

LLocal hot springs resource and possible applications

Hot springs nearest to Elim

Clear Creek Temperature:

Surface: 145-153 F High sub-surface: 171-196 F

Natural flow rate: 211 gpm Distance by trail: 17 miles

Elim Hot Springs Temperature:

Surface: 104-122 F High sub-surface: 158 F

Natural flow rate: 22 gpm Distance by trail: 11 miles

Elim

What is local knowledge of hot spring flows? How have they been used before?

Hot springs energy use at Elim

From http://www.ga.gov.au/image_cache/GA10661.pdf (accessed 24 March 2014) adaptation of Lindal, B. (1973) Industrial and Other Applications of Geothermal Energy.

Pool / Hot tub / Bathhouse Greenhouse Mushroom growing Food-drying Aquaculture Space heating Water pre-heating Heat-driven refrigeration

Could the resource be developed for power generation? How hot is the resource?

Kwiniuk – geothermometer indicates 70°C (158F) Clear Creek – 77 to 91°C (max 195F) Chena – 120 to 128°C (262F) Pilgrim 135 to 145°C (293F)

Assume Clear Creek is tapped for power generation Back of the envelope calculations (truly)

Clear Creek – 77 to 91°C (max 195F) Assume generate 150kW, using 200gpm of 165ºF fluid Transmission line costs $250k/mile x 17miles = $4.25M Drilling and power plant construction ~$5M (wild guess) Energy storage? Interconnection? $1M Total cost ~$11M Elim power sales ~1.1M kWhrs/year, fuel portion of electricity cost is 35cents/kWhr

• WWild estimate of total cost is $11M • Assume we displace all diesel generation • Savings is $385,000 per year • Simple payback is ~30 years

Should water be piped to Elim? Back of the envelope calculations (truly)

Clear Creek source, (165 ºF, 200 gpm, 200 days/year) On-ground piping cost: 175,000 $/mile 17 mile pipeline Additional costs for infrastructure build out at both ends Elim uses ~105,000 gallons of diesel fuel for heating annually; assume offset about 65,000 gallons

• 33 M$ for pipeline only …. $7M total likely • 735mMbtu thermal energy • Possible uses: pre-heating, district heat • Value annually assuming $6 fuel = $310k • Payback is ~22 years

“Direct use” of hot springs energy

Pool / Hot tub / Bathhouse Greenhouse Mushroom growing Food-drying Aquaculture Space heating Water pre-heating Heat-driven refrigeration

“Direct use” of hot springs energy

Clear Creek (65 C)

Kwiniuk (45 C)

From http://www.ga.gov.au/image_cache/GA10661.pdf (accessed 24 March 2014) adaptation of Lindal, B. (1973) Industrial and Other Applications of Geothermal Energy.

Possible next steps Community meeting to assess interests & preferences regarding use of the hot springs Assemble locally-available information about hot springs (e.g., thermal conditions, pictures, usage history, trails) Collect additional thermal samples and map ‘hot spots’ identified locally Assess interest in school-related data gathering / pilot study Develop preliminary design concepts and cost estimates for community areas of interest

Gwen Holdmann: 907-474-5402 / gwenholdmann@alaska.eduChris Pike: (907) 888-3850 / cpike6@alaska.eduGeorge Roe: 206-454-9189 / gmroe@alaska.edu

For more information contact:

acep.uaf.edu

SSupplemental Information

CCommunity information

Photo source: http://dcra.commerce.alaska.gov/PHOTOS/Elim/ELIM15.JPG

Community data

Population: approximately 350 Economy

Subsistence: fish, seal, walrus, beluga whale, reindeer, moose Cash: commercial fishing (39 permits), government offices, school, small businesses

Affiliations Federally-recognized tribe: Native Village of Elim Non-ANCSA Property ownership & mineral rights Regional non-profit corporation: Kawerak

Climate

Subarctic climate with maritime influences Summers: Cool and moist, 46 to 62 F average Winters: Cold and dry, -8 to +8 F averagePrecipitation averages: Rainfall 19 in/yr, Snowfall 80 in/yr Norton Sound ice-free mid-June through mid-November Permafrost at some locations in region

Elim Energy Data

Electricity - FY 2013 residential & community facility 60¢/kWh (19 ¢/kWh after PCE)

Diesel-generated: 1,190,778 kWh 92,012 gallons of fuel at 3.90 $/gal Fuel cost: $358,794

Heating Boiler-in-a-Box biomass Heating oil Residential firewood

Critical infrastructure

Aniquin School City Building Elim Native Store (two locations) Post Office / IRA Office Mukluk Telephone / TeleAlaska Building Johnny’s Corner Store GCI Water Treatment Plant Fire Department Health Clinic

Airport Well House Tank Farm AVEC Power Plant Septic Tank Head Start City Shop Church Boys & Girls Club Library Corporation Building

From Elim Hazard Impact Assessment, HDR Alaska, Inc., February 2012 .

Economic Dev’t Plan Priorities 1. New Water Source 2. Develop Rock Quarry 3. Water & Sewer to 4 New Homes 4. Community Building (Old High School) 5. Utilize Our Timber 6. Build Small Boat Harbor 7. Economic Development – Mineral, Geothermal, Hydrothermal 8. Teen Center 9. NSEDC Community Energy Fund (CEF) 10. Replace Old Bridge

As identified in Elim Local Economic Development Plan: 2012-2017; Kawerak, Inc.; 25 April 2013.

Changing the fluid temperature that is used for heating could affect the amount of baseboards a building requires

Traditional boilers generally circulate fluid at about 180 degrees F As a general rule of thumb, in order to circulate 140 degree F fluid, about twice as much baseboard could be needed to achieve the same amount of heat output

Space Heating Retrofit Considerations

Greenhouses

What crops to raise? Local use and/or external market Fresh and/or preserved (can, dry)

Growing conditionsSunlight, irrigation, fertilizer, soil, temperature, humidity, ventilation Pest & disease control

Simple design with active on-site care Cooperative or private or …?

Piping considerations Routing options: on-surface or buried Pressure drop: siphon or pumped Heat loss: insulated (how much, if any) Costs: materials, shipping, installation, energy for operation, maintenance Ground stability Interference with community & wildlife use

Soil considerations for pipe routing

Permafrost Frost heave Hydraulic conductivity Bedrock depth ErosionStability Future use

Miscellaneous considerations

Hot spring attributes: temperature, flow rate, seasonal variation Permitting Surface / ground water flows & storage Effects on local plants and wildlife Pipeline costs (material, installation, repair) & losses (pressure, heat) Energy requirements (pumps, treatment) Maintenance (filters, line repair, quality test) Permafrost impact

Elim-area hot springs chemistry

Key Drilling Equipment

A tracked drill rig would likely be needed to navigate unimproved trails.

Drill bits designed to penetrate dirt and rock

Drill rod is connected to feed the bit into the hole

Casing (approx. 6” in diameter) is required to line the hole once it is drilled

Possible Drilling Steps

Transport rig, drill rod, casing and other equipment to the drill site. Other equipment could include mud system, heavy equipment and so forth. Proceed to drill hole; for a small diameter hole, an exploration hole could likely be turned into a production hole by running casing onto the hole if temperature and flow are suitable.

Other considerations include accommodations for workers, logistics for the delivery of supplies on site, and getting equipment across streams if necessary.

An example of a larger drilling operation at Pilgrim Hot Springs

Cooperative Extension Service

Main website: www.uaf.edu/ces NW CES office: Kari van Delden 907-443-2320 klvandelden@alaska.edu

2014 Publications & Media Catalog •Agriculture and Horticulture •Community Resource and Economic Development •Energy Education and Housing •Health, Home and Family Development •Points of Contact, Websites, Other Resources

Tenakee Springs

Surface temperature: 103-106 F Flow rate: TBD gpm Long time community-use soaking tub with oil-heat dressing room Updated in 2012-3 as community volunteer effort + Rasmuson Foundation Tier 1 Community Grant: Cleared / collected seeps, refurbished tub, replaced oil furnace with water-heated floor in dressing room (selectable gravity or pumped flow), added floor heat to adjacent warehouse building

Direct Use: Pool – Hot Tub - Bathhouse

Images & information from: http://www.tenakeehistoricalcollection.org/bathphotos/

Temperature at source:~140 F

Natural flow from spring:70 gpm

¼ mile of on-ground insulated 4-inch PVC pipe

Gravity feed, no pump required

After the water is used for heating, it is discharged into its natural drainage area.

Direct Use: Space Heating

White Bear Hot Springs

Geothermal water is piped ¼ mile to remote 1970’s era multi-room cabin and used for space heating

Population: 250 Began as source of heat for the school and eventually expanded to other community buildings and a swimming pool Initially in 1960’s, the well was drilled on a hill outside of town. Later in 1969 a well was drilled next to the school. Temperature at source: 152 F Flow rate: 180 GPM Well flows high pressure artesian, no pump needed. 30,000 square feet heated around town

Direct Use: Space Heating

Midland, South Dakota (1/2)

Lund, J., J. Nemec, and R. Vollmer. "Midland, South Dakota geothermal district heating." TRANSACTIONS-GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES COUNCIL (1998): 15-18.

Geothermal water is divided into high pressure (100 PSI) and low pressure (~20 PSI) lines. Fluid runs through PVC pipe. The high pressure line uses 80 GPM and loses 7 deg F as it heats the buildings

The low pressure line uses 3 GPM and loses 25 deg F

The waste geothermal water is used to water cattle, before being disposed of into the Bad River on the edge of town.

Midland, South Dakota (2/2)

PPilgrim Hot Springs – Status

Why Low-Temp Geothermal is Economic in Alaska (versus Iceland)

High eenergy costs (typically over 50cents/kWhr in rural areas)

Non-integrated electric grid (communities have their own generation sources)

Cold climate (improves cycle efficiency)

Innovative Geothermal Exploration Techniques

Optical and infrared (FLIR) camerasPotential for rapid, low-cost mapping and quantitative assessmentFunded through DOE and State of AlaskaVerification using standard geothermal exploration techniques

100m

April 2011 – Airborne FLIR (1m pixels)

Church

Pilgrim Hot Springs

Images from Chena Hot Springs Resort

Nome, AK: Pilgrim Hot Springs

Nome Energy Facts

.37/kW

Integration Modeling for City of Nome

How does 2 MW of geothermal generation interact with existing wind and diesel generation sources?

Is this project economic under reasonable cost projections?