Posts Tagged: Biomass

Community-scale bioenergy conference addresses challenges and opportunities created by new legislation.

The Thirty-mile room at the Mclellan Wildfire Training Center in Sacramento filled to capacity on December 14th, 2012 for the  Community-scale Bioenergy Conference presented by the Woody Biomass Utilization group of UCANR and the UC Berkeley Center for Forestry (jump to conference page). Attendees represented a broad range of stakeholders including community organizations, bioenergy startups, consultants, utility companies, and agency representatives. The conference focused on providing information about small scale production of electricity from woody biomass in the context of recent legislation. Senate Bill 1122, signed by Governor Brown in September 2012, was intended to increase the production of bio-electricity in the State from small scale producers (3MW or less) as a component of the States Renewables Portfolio Standard. Presentations can be viewed at http://ucanr.edu/community bioenergy

 

The day-long conference was kicked off by organizer and UC Berkeley biomass and forest products extension advisor John Shelly. California Energy Commission commissioner Carla Peterman gave a thoughtful keynote covering aspects of the States recently updated Bioenergy Action Plan related to small scale biomass-to-energy conversion.

 

The conference presentations covered the following topics:

1. Impacts biomass utilization on forest health and fire risk.
2. Public and private landowner perspectives on biomass utilization.
3. The role of community organizations in developing small scale biomass-to-energy projects.
4. Policy nexus for wood biomass project development (air quality, environmental review)
5. Conversion technologies review
6. Project development case studies

 

Several issues were identified as important in considering small scale bioenergy projects.

Wildfire risk reduction.

All speakers commented on the importance of finding uses for the woody biomass that is responsible for high wildfire hazards.

Conversion technology cost.

Technology to convert biomass to electricity exists but the economic viability remains a challenge.

Coproduct valuation.

Capturing the full value of the feedstock (heat, char, solid wood products) can make make an energy project much more attractive to investment.

Interconnection costs.

While solar and other renewables have benefitted from streamlined permitting and reduced interconnection costs, interconnection costs for biomass is a major barrier to expansion.

Community involvement.

Outreach and education early and often reduces social resistance, builds community, and can result in important strategic partnerships.

 

Ray Lucas at UCANR Communications Services did an excellent job creating webcasts of all presentations and speakers. Videos and presentation slides can be accessed via the UCANR Woody Biomass Utilization conference page.

Smallwood 2012 Conference (May 1-3 2012) Forest Restoration and Biomass Utilization

The Smallwood Conference, with a theme of Forest Restoration for a New Economy, is at the start of May and has a great agenda lined up.  The agenda topics for the Flagstaff AZ conference include:
•    Policies and incentives
•    Collaboration (including CFLR projects)
•    Harvesting
•    Pre-treatment of biomass in the woods
•    Wood products
•    Thermochemical processes including pyrolysis, torrefaction, co-firing, electricity, biorefining
•    Business practices
•    Marketing
•    Environmental and safety compliance

There is also the opportunity to attend one of three field tours focused on forest restoration and biomass utilization.  This conference is highly relevant to those working in forest restoration and management in California, and a good opportunity for networking and learning.

I am the planning committee and will be moderating a session on pyrolysis based technologies.  The speakers will look at pyrolysis basics, the use of char, bio-oil opportunities and torrefied wood to help you understand the status of this family of related technologies. 

Other speakers from California include Tad Mason (TSS Consultants) and Craig Thomas (Sierra Forest Legacy). 

For more information check out the website.

Woody Biomass Utilization Grant 2012 - Workshops Announced

The annual Forest Service Woody Biomass Utilization grant program has been creating some confusion for people. Grants.gov has had information online for the program since November 2011 even though it has not yet officially been announced on the Federal Register. According to the program manager at the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) in Madison we can treat the information on grants.gov and on the FPL website as a pre-announcement of this years program. The Federal Register announcement will be very soon.

The advertised mailing deadline is March 1 2012 so if you are planning to submit it is important you start the process soon. 

UC Berkeley and the Forest Service are holding 3 information sessions next week:

Monday (February 6) – Sonora, 3pm-5pm, Stanislaus National Forest, Register Here

Tuesday (February 7) – Nevada City, 1pm-3pm, Tahoe National Forest, Register Here

Thursday (February 9) – Redding, 1pm-3pm, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Register Here

Information on the Grant Program
The program remains very similar to last year when it changed significantly compared to previous years.  Main points include:
•    The program is focused on biomass to energy projects
•    Equipment is not eligible for funding
•    Grants will fund advanced engineering studies or similar
•    $250,000 maximum grant per project
•    Single step application process (mailing date March 1 2012)
Full information and application materials are on the FPL website.

Who should attend?
The grant program is of most relevance to organizations that are developing biomass to energy projects.  The following entities may be interested in this workshop: power plants, project developers, National Forest System staff, other Federal agencies, forest-based businesses, contractors, rural communities, landowners, tribal entities, conservation groups, rural and urban economic development councils.

Topics:
•    Background
•    Application process
•    Eligibility
•    Obligations
•    Timeline
•    Assistance available to help with applications
•    Questions
We will also include time to discuss other woody biomass utilization issues for those attendees that are interested.

Registration:
There is no cost for this workshop but advance online registration is appreciated.

Monday (February 6) – Sonora, 3pm-5pm, Register Here

Tuesday (February 7) – Nevada City, 1pm-3pm, Register Here

Thursday (February 9) – Redding, 1pm-3pm, Register Here

Changes in California Renewable Energy Programs #3: Feed-in Tariff

Potential changes to Feed-in Tariffs (Public Utilities Code: 399.20)
Feed-in tariffs in California allow a small renewable electricity generator (including those fueled by biomass) to sell electricity to a utility at predefined terms and conditions, without contract negotiations.  The current rules mean that there is no price incentive in the rate paid for electricity.  Price is linked to the Market Price Referent (MPR) which the CPUC determines by the long-term ownership, operating, and fixed-price fuel costs for a new 500 MW natural gas fired combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant.  Feed-in tariffs for renewable electricity in Europe are very different and include a price incentive in the tariff paid in addition to streamlined contract procedures. 

A ruling was issued by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) on June 28, 2011, seeking comments on or before July 21, 2011 with respect to proposed changes to the program.  This presented an opportunity to suggest changes to the program.  Representatives from the broad forestry and biomass sector suggested changes that would make investments in smaller biomass to electricity facilities (less than 3 MW) economically viable.  This is important in order to develop a viable market for the waste generated from ecosystem restoration projects on public lands and to help offset the cost of this work. 

The next step will be workshop on the proposed changes that is to be scheduled by the CPUC soon.  If the pricing for the new feed-in tariff is based on actual development, ownership, operating and fuel costs for small scale biomass to electricity projects then this could be a really exciting opportunity for community scaled facilities in the state.

UPDATE (September 19 2011)
The CPUC has scheduled a workshop for September 26th at the Commission Auditorium (505 Van Ness, San Francisco) from 9am-5pm.  Workshop information here.

CPUC Feed-in tariff page

You can subscribe to the Woody Biomass Blog to be kept up to date on further developments with these and other programs relevant to biomass to electricity in California.

Changes in California Renewable Energy Programs #2: Net Energy Metering

SB489 – Modification of Net Energy Metering (NEM)
This bill which would open up NEM tariffs to include renewables other than wind, solar, biogas, and fuel cell generation.  NEM allows a customer-generator to receive a financial credit for power generated by their onsite system and fed back to the utility.  The credit is used to offset the customer's electricity bill.  Up until now biomass to electricity facilities were not eligible for the tariffs. 

According to KQED News “It won significant bipartisan support as it moved through various committees in both the Senate and the Assembly. The next hurdle will be a full Assembly vote and another full Senate vote to reconcile some small changes. Senate sponsor Lois Wolk (D-Stockton) says Governor Jerry Brown has been supportive of the bill and that if it gets to his desk before the end of the legislative year on September 9th, he’s likely to sign it.”

If the bill becomes law this could be a great opportunity for small scale biomass (less than 1 MW) to electricity projects including those using gasification. 

CPUC NEM page
Around The Capitol information on SB 489

Check back soon for the next post on proposed changes to Feed-in Tariffs in California.

You can subscribe to the Woody Biomass Blog to be kept up to date on further developments with these and other programs relevant to biomass to electricity in California.

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