Renewable Energy
Diana ManetaMontana Renewable Energy Association
Climate Change: Science and SocietyUniversity of Montana
November 14, 2012Photo: Sustainable Building Systems
The Problem of Climate Change Is a Problem of Energy
Absaloko coal mine, Montana LA Freeway (Ansel Adams)
Fossil fuel combustion accounts for more than 75%of the increase in atmospheric CO2since preindustrial times.
(IPCC Fourth Assessment Report)
World Energy Sources
Coal27%
Oil37%
Natural Gas23%
Nuclear6%
Hydro6%
Other1%
2006 data from International Energy Agency
87% Fossil Fuels (Coal, Oil, Natural Gas)
World Electricity Sources
Coal41%
Oil6%
Natural Gas20%
Nuclear15%
Hydro16%
Other2%
2006 data from International Energy Agency
Biomass40%
Wind30%
Geothermal14%
Waste 15%
Solar1%
Renewable Electricity Sources(excluding hydro)
Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Electricity Generation
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Based on Sovacool 2008
Renewable Energy
gCO
2e/k
Wh
Other Benefits of Renewable Energy
• Reduces dependence on foreign energy sources
• Eases pressure on the electric grid (small systems)
• Reduces vulnerability to volatile fossil fuel prices
• Reduces air and waterpollution
• Creates jobs
Independent Pow
er System
s
There is enough wind in readily accessible locations to power the world 5 times over.
Jacobson and Delucchi, 2009
All the world’s wind contains 35 times more power than we need.
Montana wind resource ranks among the top 5 in the nation…
…but we rank 25th in terms of installed wind capacity
American Wind Energy Association 2010
Montana Wind Farms
“As many as 50 wind power projects are in various stages of development in Montana” (DEQ/ETIC)
Glacier (210 MW)
Horseshoe Bend (9 MW)
Judith Gap (135 MW)Diamond Willow (19.5 MW)
Gordon Butte (9.6 MW)
Rim Rock (189 MW)
Impacts of Judith Gap, a Montana Wind Farm
• 200 construction jobs
• 12 permanent, full-time employees
• More than $28 million in economic benefits over 5 years– $5 million Wheatland County tax
revenue– $3 million wages– $2.2 million royalties for landowners– $18 million construction
• Provides 7-8% of NorthWestern Energy’s power at lower cost than other NorthWestern Energy sources
There is enough solar radiation in readily accessible locations to power the world 50 times over.
Jacobson and Delucchi, 2009
All the sun striking earth contains 8,000 times more power than we need.
Solar Photovoltaic Energy
Boulder City, Nevada: 48 MW, 380 acresCopper Mountain Solar 1Photo: Sempra Energy
There are more than 800 grid-tied solar PV
installations in Montana
PUT MONTANA PHOTOS HERE!Eureka, Montana: 2.1 kWPhoto: Lincoln Electric Co-op/Thirsty Lake Solar
Victor, Montana: 7.9 kWPhoto: Sunelco
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Technologies
Photo: Sage Mountain Center
Polycrystalline Silicon
Monocrystalline Silicon
Photo: Lincoln Electric Co-op / Thirsty Lake Solar
Thin Film
Photo: NREL
“Photovoltaic” = Light-Electricity
Source: Solar Energy Industries Association, US Solar Market Insight
Growth in Solar PV
Average system price
dropped in 2011
Solar Power Towers Seville, Spain
Fresnel ReflectorsPrototype
Parabolic TroughSEGS, California
Dish-StirlingPrototype
SOLAR THERMAL
Solar Thermal Power Plants in California
More than 4,000 MW Approved
SEGS, 354 MW (completed 1991)
Victorville, 50 MW solar trough
Beacon, 250 MW solar trough
Ivanpah, 370 MW solar tower
Imperial Valley, 709 MW Stirling engine
Solar Millennium Blythe, 1,000 MW solar trough
Calico, 664 MW Stirling engine
Abengoa, 250 MW solar trough
Genesis, 250 MW solar trough
Solar Millennium Palen, 500 MW solar trough
Rice, 150 MW solar towerPalmdale, 50 MW solar trough
Solar Water Heating
Perlin/Butti Solar Archives REN21 Renewables Global Status Report: 2009 Update
Residential solar water heating system near Bozeman (Liquid Solar Systems)
Geothermal EnergyThermal Applications: space heating,
water heating, hot springs
Power Plants: Dry steam, Flash steam, Binary cycle
Montana has 50 geothermal areas and 15 high-temperature sites
The Geysers in California: 725 MW, the world’s largest geothermal power plant
Enhanced (Engineered) Geothermal Systems
Source: U.S. Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Program
Biomass EnergyUses:• Heating• Electricity Generation• Transportation Fuel
Biomass boiler at Darby Schools
BiomassFeedstocks:• Forest residues• Mill residues• Crop residues• Energy crops• Animal waste• Municipal waste• Landfill gas Flathead County Landfill Gas Project
Hydropower
Large Hydro (Libby Dam, Montana)
Big dams provide 16% of worldwide electricity; 32% in Montana
Micro-Hydro (Photo Credit: Solar Plexus)
The Plan B Goal: 3,000 GW Wind in 2020
GW
The Wind Industry Forecast
Data: Global Wind Energy Council, Lester Brown
Renewable Electricity Costs
Source: Lazard’s Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis 2009
With current federal tax incentives…
…and without tax incentives
Renewable Electricity Costs
Source: Lazard’s Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis 2009
The Challenge: Transmission
• High cost
• Environmental and regulatory challenges
• Long construction time
Montana Transmission Projects
MT D
ept of Com
merce
MT D
ept of Environmental Q
uality
Montana-Alberta Tie Line (MATL) Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI)
Accommodating Intermittency
• Complementary Resources• Wind and Solar Forecasting• Energy Storage
from Jacobson and Delucchi, 2009
Policies to Promote Renewables
• End Fossil Fuel Subsidies
• Put a Price on Carbon
• Renewable Portfolio Standard
• Financial Incentives– Net Metering– Feed-In Tariffs– Tax Credits
Putting a Price on Carbon
• The key to increasing renewable energy development
• Possible mechanisms: carbon tax, cap and trade, cap and dividend…
Colstrip, Montana (image: MEIC)
Renewable Energy StandardRequirement on retail electricity providers (e.g. utilities) to supply
a minimum percentage of their load with renewable energy.
Net Metering• Requirement that utilities
connect small renewable systems to the grid and “buy” excess power generated
• In Montana, net metering is available for NorthWestern Energy and MDU customers for systems up to 50 kW
• There are currently >950 net-metered systems in Montana
50 kW solar system in Missoula (Oasis Montana)
Feed-In Tariffs• Fixed, long-term above-market price to eligible
renewable generators
• Common in Europe
Denmark 21%Portugal 18%Spain 16%Germany 9%United States 2%
Wind Penetrations
What You Can Do
• Reduce your Energy Consumption
• Invest in a Renewable Energy System or Buy Green Power
• Get Involved!
ContactDiana ManetaExecutive DirectorMontana Renewable Energy Association(406) [email protected]
www.montanarenewables.org
Internship Opportunity: Renewable Energy Business Profiles
See videos at http://montanarenewables.org/profiles.php
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