PVNavigator, LLC

Developing Utility Scale PV Solar Installations on Closed Landfills

Presented by

Robert Potter

WEST COAST 1 Pointe Drive, Suite 320 Brea, CA 92821 714.388.1800

www.PVNavigator.com www.SafetyMoment.org

GULF COAST 15990 N. Barkers Landing Rd., Suite 325 Houston, TX 77079 713.468.5004

NORTHEAST 334 East 9th Street New York, NY 10002 646.370.4588

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Who We Are and What We Do

What PVN develops MW-scale, PV installations on landfills and

Brownfields sites

Typically fixed-tilt, rack-mounted, self-ballasted installations

Approximately 50 MW of site capacity under Option

More than 300 MW in overall PVN pipeline

Who PVN is a wholly-owned subsidiary of

Project Navigator, Ltd. (www.ProjectNavigator.com) and Alturus Strategic Partners

Staffed by engineers, land development and power experts

4 year growth and branding effort

Where Projects primarily in the USA

Caribbean expansion goals

How Detailed sites/landfill locations knowledge

Knowledge of Fortune 500 boneyard acreage

Excellent regulatory relationships

Landfill post closure PV permitting expertise

Leverage proven PV technologies and apply to landfills

• (e.g. PVN’s California Energy Commission Grant)

Growing brand recognition

Economic backing from Alturus Strategic Capital Partners

Representative Projects Milliken Landfill, CA

Big Bear Landfill, CA

Owens Corning Landfill, NJ

California Energy Commission Pilot Study Grant

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PV Solar Development Projects

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5 6 7

2 1

8

CA

NV

OR

AZ

ID 1. Milliken Landfill: 3MW 2. Big Bear Landfill: 2MW 3. Avon Refinery: 10 MW 4. Purity Landfill: 1MW 5. OII Landfill: 4MW 6. BKK Landfill: 10MW 7. WDI Landfill: 4MW 8. Gemcor Site (Chevron Landfill): 10MW 9. Barstow Landfill: 10MW

West Coast

MA

VT NH

NY CT

RI

NJ PA

DE MD OII Landfill: 4MW

BKK Landfill: 10MW

Avon Refinery: 10MW

Buena Vista Landfill: 1MW

12 13

9 14

Owens Corning: 3.1MW

Milliken Landfill: 3MW

10. Buena Vista Landfill: 1MW 11. Delaware City: 4MW 12. Ocean Township: 5.86MW 13. Lumberton Landfill: 2.4 MW 14. Owens Corning Landfill:

3.1 MW

East Coast

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Blower & Flare Station

Power Generation via Gas Turbine or Steam Cycle Systems

Waste/ Complex Organics

Organic Acids

Landfill Gas

Other Landfill Monitoring Systems (e.g. for groundwater)

Landfill Gas Collection Wells in Waste

Breakdown Process of Landfill Waste

Typical Landfill

Perforated Gas Pipe

Methane and Carbon Dioxide

Methane and Carbon Dioxide

Landfill Gas-to-Power

Landfill gas (LFG) migrates to waste prism extraction wells and the associated collection systems. The LFG is conveyed via a network of pipes to feed a power generation plant.

While Large Scale (100 MW and up) Solar Facilities Are Planned for throughout the U.S., They Face Permitting, Financing, and Interconnect Challenges. Not so for Urban Located Landfill or Brownfield Sites.

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Perforated Gas Pipe

Methane and Carbon Dioxide

Methane and Carbon Dioxide

Blower & Flare Station

Power Generation via Gas Turbine or Steam Cycle Systems

Waste/ Complex Organics

Organic Acids

Landfill Gas

Landfill Gas Collection Wells in Waste

Landfill Gas-to-Power

Landfill gas (LFG) migrates to waste prism extraction wells and the associated collection systems. The LFG is conveyed via a network of pipes to feed a power generation plant.

PV Solar Power

A photovoltaic (or PV) cell is a specially treated wafer of silicon, sandwiched between two thin contact plates. The top contact is positively charged and the back contact is negatively charged, making it a semiconductor.

• The n-type semiconductor has an abundance of electrons, giving it a negative charge, while the p-type semiconductor is positively charged.

• Electron movement at the p-n junction produces an electric field that allows only electrons to flow from the p-type layer to the n-type layer.

• When sunlight hits the solar cell, its energy knocks electrons loose from the atoms in the semiconductor.

• When the electrons hit the electrical field, they’re shuttled to the top contact plate and become a usable electric current.

• PV panels are mounted in racking systems specially designed to accommodate landfill-specific requirements such as “no cap damage” and “waste settlement.”

A typical racking module is 10ft. By 20ft. and generates 2.5kW. This translates to about 1MW from every 3-5 acres.

Photovoltaic Cell Detailed cross-section

Solar Panel Glass covering

Transparent adhesive

Anti-reflection coating

Not to scale

Electric Current

DC/AC Inverter Necessary to convert electric current for consumer use

Utility Company

Solar Power to the Grid

Excess energy from the solar array is fed into the power grid. It helps provide extra electricity to the community, especially during peak daytime hours.

Customers

Solar Panels

The sun gives off about 400 trillion watts

of power

Other Landfill Monitoring Systems (e.g. for groundwater)

Landfill Sites are Excellent Platforms for PV Solar Facilities. Flat Acreage, Close to Load and Interconnect, Putting Otherwise Unusable Acreage Back to Use. Projects are Technically Straightforward but Administratively Complex.

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According to U.S. EPA, There is No Shortage of Brownfield and Landfill Site Acreage Which Could be Suitable for Renewable Energy

Over 400,000 identified Brownfield sites in the United States

16 million acres are available for development of renewable energy

That’s enough land to generate approximately 3,175,000 MW

(For reference, the Hoover Dam generates about 2,000 MW)

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The Economic Viability of PV Power is Increasing

Reference: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/gifs/Fig23.gif

Reference: http://www.7gen.com/node/26000

High electricity prices, combined with…

…State-specific renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and …

…the gradual annual increases in power prices…

… will make PV generation competitive with fossil fuel generation.

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A Landfill Site is a Good PV Development Candidate If Certain Screening Criteria Are Met

Environmentally Impacted Land

(Restricted Future Use)

Appropriate Geographic

Location

Land Control (Title or Long-Term Lease)

Nearby Interconnection

Point

Adjacent Load (PPA Approach)

State-Mandated Renewable

Portfolio Standards

Green Corporate Goals

Project Financing • External • Internal

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The Stages in PV Solar Power Installation Development: The Development Pathway Viewed from an Industrial Landowners’ Perspective

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4. The above tasks move the job from concept and proven economic feasibility through

detailed engineering, procurement and PV installation construction, into final start up and power sales (under the terms of the early negotiated PPA). All the above work is performed by PVN (and selected) EPC resources at PVN’s cost.

* Can be in form of an “option agreement” between landowner and PVNavigator, LLC, or a longer term land lease. Option

would convert to a land lease once the scope and economics of the proposed project are better defined, such as at the

execution of a PPA. PVN can supply a model option agreement, on request.

** Civil engineer and EPC contractor can be the one company.

Site

Identification

Civil Engineer

Selection**

Project

Financing

Site Control*

Technology

Provider/EPC

Contractor

Selection**

Tariff Rate

Determination

Permitting

Contract

Execution

Contract

Execution

Power

Purchase

Agreement

(PPA)

Site Plan /

Layout Design

Power

Scheme

Design

Inter-

connection

Agreement

Site Upgrades

Engineering &

Procurement

PV Facility

Construction &

Commissioning

Startup, Power

Sales,

Operations

& Maintenance

Early Planning, Negotiations and

Project Marketing Phase

• Power Purchase Agreement

(PPA) Proposal and/or

Negotiations

• Power Marketing

• Interconnect Study

• Environmental Permitting

Including Any EIR Work and

Associated Environmental

Document Revisions

• Facility Conceptual Design

• Project Economic Calculations

1. Should be performed in a consulting, “bed-side

manner” with landowners, where PV project feasibility is generally discussed and assessed. All very conceptual at this stage.

Big Q: who would be the power offtaker?

2. Landowner buys into a “PV-vision”, and via an

option agreement between landowner and PVN, grants interim site control to PVN to push forward on a PV plan. Any power offtaker will want to know that PVN has site control for interconnect FS purposes. No cost to landowner.

3. Above tasks are the meat and potatoes of

PVN’s PV planning and project feasibility studies. Interaction at this stage occurs with power purchaser, and environmental and permitting agencies. All work is performed by PVN at PVN’s cost in role of developer.

Overview: Where Project Cash Flow Occurs and How an Industrial Landowner Can Participate

1. All project development fees are paid by PVN (from feasibility to design to construction. No development costs need be incurred by landowner).

2. In the simplest business model, landowner receives revenue from a land lease for 25 to 30 years. If site is in a remediation OM&M phase, lease revenues can offset OM&M costs.

3. More innovative (complex?) PV development financial arrangements are possible which can include components such as: a. landowner receives a fraction of power sales revenue (replacing lease); b. power can be sold to a landowner’s “facility” at a “project-economic” rate; or c. landowner could co-invest in the PV facility, if consistent with the entity’s power purchase needs and sustainability goals.

Key Metrics: • From concept to operations in about 2 years • PVN pays for all project development costs • PVN's construction costs will be about $2.5M per MW, or 4 acres of installation • Landowner can receive lease fees, or more innovatively participate (see below) • PV facility lifetime is 25 to 30 years • PVN remotely monitors the facility, augmented by monthly onsite inspections • PPA with power offtaker sets power sales rates, and escalator • Landowner sustainable project credit • PVN's evolution from the landfill EPC services world insures that PV installation

will be "cap-compatible"

Key Design Criteria are Minimal Settlement & The Continued Need for Cap Functionality.

Design considerations include eliminating cap penetration, continued functionality of the ET cap, storm water management, wind design and insuring protectiveness during an earthquake event. Design of PV Array will take into consideration:

1. Settlement

• Total

• Differential

2. Panel placement on cap

• Spread footings

• Anchors

3. Continued performance of evapotranspirative (ET) cap

• Infiltration minimization

• Vegetative growth

4. Stormwater management

• No standing water

• Runoff management

5. Other

Settlement monument

Electrical lines in above-ground, lightweight, flexible steel conduit

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1

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ET monocover Drainage swale

Solar array with adjustable footing

Swale cross-section design

Landfill ET cap designs

Pre-cast concrete footing SunPods adjustable footing Ballasted racking

Types of footings for rigid glass solar panels

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The Solar Panel Rack’s Design Must Not Damage the Landfill’s Cover and Must Accommodate Future Settlement.

De

gre

e o

f

Cap

Pe

ne

trat

ion

Earth Anchors/ Auger System

Shallow Piers Self Ballasting, Higher Load

Type of Racking System

L

M

H 1

2

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1. http://www.mass.gov/dep/energy/solarlf.pdf 2. http://aec.army.mil/usaec/newsroom/update/win08/win0812.html 3. http://www.sunpods.com/sunpods-products-and-solutions.html

REFERENCE:

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Prefabricated, Racked PV Systems Specifically Designed for Landfill Caps Will Be Used

Features of a Self-Ballasted Landfill PV Solar Unit

Minimal onsite assembly

20 ft X 10 ft arrays

Supported on a leveling support system

• Eliminates landfill cap penetration

• Self ballasting

10 Gauge steel frame

Rated to 110 mph + wind speed

Ready to connect

Minimal maintenance

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PV Racks Support Geotechnical Calculations

Very Dense and Very Hard

Dense and Hard

Medium Dense and Very Stiff

Loose and Firm

Very Loose and Soft

First data point is at 5 ft bgs

N

*Ref: Rogers, J.D, 2006, Surface Exploration Using the Standard Penetration Test and the Cone Penetrometer Test, Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, Vol. XII, No.2 pp162

Legend*

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PVNavigator, LLC Entered into an Agreement with the County of San Bernardino to Develop a 3 MW PV Solar Installation on the Milliken Sanitary Landfill in Ontario, California.

Milliken Landfill Ontario, CA

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Milliken Landfill Solar Conceptual Layout

So

uth

Mil

liken

Aven

ue

So

uth

Haven

Aven

ue

12KV interconnect

switchgear (Preliminary

SWGR DIMS = 13’Wx3’D)

Last SCE 12KV Overhead Pole

The PV solar systems will not penetrate or damage the existing cap.

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PV Navigator, LLC Leads a Multi-talented Solar Development Team

Project Financing Permitting Services

Project Owner, Manager and Systems Integrator

EPC

Selected via RFP Process

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Community Outreach and Media

Sierra Club has “unofficially” supported PVN’s Big Bear solar project

Multiple press releases and articles have been published

Fact sheets have been created for public hand-outs

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PVN Was Awarded a Grant from the CEC for a PV Solar Pilot Test Program at a Closed Landfill Site

1. WiFi/telemetric system data collection/transmission

2. Reference settlement monument

3. Landfill lateral gas collection system (which may or may not exist for the selected landfill)

4. Landfill waste

5. Engineered landfill cap/cover. This can be an ET monofill or a multilayer RCRA equivalent cap

6. Weather station

7. Wireless strain gauge monitoring system, or associated system to measure strain changes in the solar panel racking system

8. Tilt gauge

9. System orientation monitoring

10. Power generation capacity over entire annual cycle

11. Storm water run off management

12. Monitor growth of cap’s vegetative layer under array

13. Panel washing and associated water use; methods and frequency

Figure shows a small scale, PV solar rack pilot system, located on a landfill cap. The purpose of the pilot unit is to measure and monitor the systems power generation operating performance on a landfill site where prior desk-top calculations have shown the installation of a 1 to 10 MW PV solar facility may be technically and economically viable.

The pilot facility would typically be operated from 1 to 2 years, thereby permitting any effects of the solar system on the cap (e.g. in the form of increased load and altered storm water management) to be evaluated.

Software Generated Data Display

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Goal: The collection of power generation performance data as well as information on any impacts the solar racking system may have on the landfill cap’s functions regarding gas collection and infiltration minimization.

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Solar on Landfills Business Model is Working

Solar Permitting Can Be Expedited When There is a Track Record of Rigorous Closure Documents

Very Little to No Community Resistance

Only a Few Companies Exist With the Requisite Expertise

Project Financing

REC Program Uncertainty

Permitting Delays

Uncertainty in Panel Pricing

OPPORTUNITIES RISKS

Path Ahead: Opportunities Vs Risks

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Conclusions: Lessons Learned After 7 Years of PVNavigator’s Solar Project Development Efforts

The challenges are in (1) permitting, and (2) finding a power off taker who’ll pay enough (cents/kW-hr) to make the economics work

– Technology and construction challenges are secondary

Have a good (probabilistic?) economic model

Define and negotiate with the potential offtaker(s) early

– Perform power interconnect / feasibility study early in the process

Bid the forecasted power from the development into utility RPS RFOs

Regarding landfill post closure use:

– If considering a closed landfill, evaluate the quality/quantity of existing site characterization data, esp. “geotech.” Keep costs down by leveraging past info.

– Develop solar layout early in the process

– Cross check solar layout Vs final grades of remedy

– Add “solar final use vision” text to appropriate docs to environmental agencies

Develop a project fact sheet, early, and discuss with all possible stakeholders

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Robert Potter Robert.Potter@PVNavigator.com Tel 714.388.1809 One Pointe Drive Suite 320 Brea, CA 92821 Tel 714.388.1800 Fax 714.388.1839 www.PVNavigator.com

Contact

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