Army Net Zero: Guide to Renewable Energy Conservation
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DISCLAIMER This document, developed by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, the Manager and Operator of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), is authorized for release on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). NREL may release this document in printed or electronic format, post or link to it on its public website, cite or reference it in other materials, and maintain a record in its publicly searchable document database. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report was written by Jesse Dean, Kate Anderson, Robi Robichaud, Michael Hillesheim, Randolph Hunsberger, and Samuel Booth of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). This work is sponsored by the U.S. Army, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Energy & Environment) and the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). It is part of the Army’s Net Zero pilot program and builds on past Net Zero Energy work sponsored by FEMP and supported by NREL. NREL gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Paul Volkman at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Energy & Environment), Karen Moore, Bob Hennessee, and Steve Lambert at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, Bill Stein at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL), Coby Jones at Fort Bragg, Janice Lauletta and Thomas Sessa at the New York District Army Corps of Engineers, and Army energy managers Scott Clark, Todd Dirmeyer, Jay Tulley, and Nick Stecky. The authors also thank Andy Walker, Alicen Kandt, Lars Lisell, Jessica Katz, Otto Van Geet, Ted James, Ran Fu, Donald Chung, Heidi Blakley, and Devonie McCamey at NREL. For additional information, please contact Sam Booth at [email protected] or 303-275-4625. Front page images (top, left to right, bottom): Photo from U.S. Army, Fort Knox; photo from U.S. Army 79867; photo from Sgt Brett Miller, U.S. Army 2012_0623; photo from John Prettyman, U.S. Army 899842 ii Net Zero: Guide to Renewable ECIP Projects—2015 MESSAGE FROM HONORABLE KATHERINE HAMMACK In October 2010, I announced the creation of the Army Net Zero Initiative. Net Zero is a holistic strategy founded upon long-standing sustainable practices and incorporates emerging best practices to manage energy, water, and waste at Army installations. The intent of the Net Zero Initiative is to enhance mission effectiveness and increase installation resiliency. Additional energy-related Federal mandates—including Executive Order 13514, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007— further support Net Zero strategies. The Energy Conservation and Investment Program (ECIP) is a critical element of the Department of Defense’s strategy to improve the energy performance of its fixed installations. ECIP supports the Army Net Zero Initiative by funding holistic projects that dramatically change the energy consumption at an installation, integrate multiple renewable Photo from U.S. Army 291555 energy technologies to realize synergistic benefits, and implement a documented energy plan. Executing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects through ECIP is a key strategy for installations trying to reach Net Zero. This guide provides information to help installations prepare renewable energy ECIP applications and obtain funding for projects that advance them toward Net Zero. I am amazed at the progress Army installations have already made to reduce energy and water consumption as well as waste generation. We will all monitor the journey these installations embark on to reach the final Net Zero goal. Honorable Katherine Hammack Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Energy & Environment) Washington, DC Net Zero: Guide to Renewable ECIP Projects—2015 iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This guide is intended to serve as a desk reference for energy managers at Army installations who are preparing renewable energy (RE) Energy Conservation Investment Program (ECIP) applications. This guide provides practical information on six RE technologies and walks the energy manager through the process of creating a technically and financially sound RE ECIP application. Techno-economic guidance is provided on solar photovoltaic (PV), solar hot water (SHW), solar ventilation preheating (SVP), ground source heat pump (GSHP), biomass, and wind technologies. Example calculations and links to technology-specific trainings, software tools, and references are provided in each section. This information is intended to supplement the existing ECIP guidance document that is released by the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management (ACSIM) each year.1 Several common factors for success are shared by the RE ECIP projects that are awarded each year. First, they are economically viable due to high utility energy costs, good incentives, and/or good RE resources. Second, each project contributes to the installation’s and the Army’s RE goals, and often has a synergistic effect where it integrates with other projects to meet a larger overall goal or vision for the installation. Successful ECIP projects are typically well aligned with Army priorities. Third, the project is put forward by a qualified team that submits a thorough and accurate application, with strong management buy-in and commitment. Partnering with other federal agencies and capitalizing on new and innovative technologies are also factors for success. The following tables, organized by technology, summarize key information needed for ECIP applications. More information on each item in the table is provided in the detailed technology sections of this guide. 1 Army (2014). Energy Conservation Investment Program Annual Guidance. Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management. (internal only). iv Net Zero: Guide to Renewable ECIP Projects—2015 Photovoltaics Technology Description Photovoltaics (PV) are semiconductor devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity. The primary components are the PV array and the inverter. Rooftops, carports, and ground-mounted arrays are common mounting locations. Capital Costs $2.54–$3.90/watt (W), varies by size; for more information, see: http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/62558.pdf and http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/tech_cost_dg.html. Operations and Recurring: $12.50/direct current (DC)-kilowatt (kW) annual O&M for fixed-axis systems, $20/DC-kW annual O&M for single-axis Maintenance (O&M) tracking (SAT) systems. Costs Non-recurring: $0.10/W for one-time inverter replacement in year 15 (fixed-axis and SAT). Incentives Varies by state and utility. For more information, see: http://www.dsireusa.org/. Interconnection Limit Net Metering Policy 2013 Discount Factors See the Annual Supplement to Handbook 135: http://energy.gov/eere/femp/building-life-cycle-cost-programs. Annual energy savings: Varies by census region. See Table Ba-1 through 4. One-time inverter replacement: 0.744 (Table A-1). Annual O&M: 17.41 (Table A-2). Analysis Period 25 years. Tools and Resources for PVWatts: http://pvwatts.nrel.gov. Estimating Energy RETScreen: http://www.retscreen.net. Savings Solar Advisor Model: https://sam.nrel.gov. Training Selecting, Implementing, and Funding Photovoltaic Systems in Federal Facilities: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/femp/training/course_detail_ondemand.cfm/CourseId=140. Army Installations with Fort Hunter Liggett: [email protected]. ECIP PV Projects Presidio of Monterey: [email protected]. Project Development Siting Considerations Mission Impact: Design to avoid potential glint and glare around airports. Orientation and Tilt: Face PV arrays south (in northern hemisphere) with a tilt angle ranging from 0° to an angle equal to site latitude. Shading: Avoid locations where panels will be shaded between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Setbacks: Locate rooftop PV systems at least 2–6 feet (ft) from the roof edge. Historic Buildings: Consult the historic preservation office. Arrays generally should not be visible from the street on historic buildings. Building Structural Integrity: PV systems add a dead load of 3–6 pounds (lb)/ft2. Avoid rooftops that cannot support an additional load. Roof Age and Condition: Install rooftop systems on roofs with a useful life of at least 25 years. System Design Equipment Selection: The site does not need to specify equipment; the solar installer can select it based on the best value. Electrical Interconnection and Power Factor Correction: Determine where the system will tie into the local grid and whether step-up transformers will be required. Evaluate inverters with power factor correction capabilities. Metering: Advanced meters must be installed on all ECIP projects and connected to the meter data management system (MDMS). Estimating Savings Demand Savings: Estimate demand savings based on a model of hourly PV energy production and the installation’s hourly load profile. Equipment Lifetime: PV panels last 25 years; inverters last 10–20 years. Policies and Permits Contact the local utility and privatized utility for interconnection procedures, net metering regulations, and local incentives. Net Zero: Guide to Renewable ECIP Projects—2015 v Solar Hot Water Technology Description SHW systems use solar collectors to capture sunlight to heat water. The primary components are the collector and storage tank. Capital Costs The average cost for a flat-plate SHW system is $141/ft2, with a range of approximately $60–$220/ft2; see: http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/tech_cost_dg.html. O&M Costs Recurring: