Integrating Renewable Fuel Heating Systems Better Buildings By Design February 2009 Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Accelerating the Development of Vermont s Green Economy
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund VSJF is a nonprofit formed by the VT Legislature in 1995 to accelerate the development of Vermont s emerging, green economy. Providing early stage grants and hands-on technical assistance using our Sustainable Market development model i.e., Sustainable agriculture, forest products, renewable energy, environmental technology, and solid waste / pollution abatement. Since 2003 ~ Helping biodiesel businesses and on-farm demonstration projects with technical assistance and public policy support; growing Vermont s biofuels sector from the ground up.
Renewable Heating Fuels Biodiesel Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO / UFO) Perennial Grasses
What Is Biodiesel? A renewable, biodegradable, combustible liquid fuel (mono alkyl ester) Derived from vegetable oil or animal fat Typically soy oil, canola, yellow grease and fats Meets ASTM specification D6751 Marketed as pure biodiesel ( B100 ) or blended with diesel / No. 2 oil ( B20 )
Why Biodiesel? Benefits of Biodiesel Fully tested, approved and miscible UL, ASTM and OEMs have given their blessing Reduced CO 2 and Other Emissions Domestic Renewable Energy Supply Market Barriers Storage and Supply Infrastructure End-User Experience (education) Cost
Lower Emissions* Biodiesel (B20) Tailpipe Stack CO 2 Carbon Monoxide Particulate Matter NOx (nitrates) SOx (sulfates) PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) *Compared to petrodiesel
No Silver Bullets*
1 st Generation Bio-energy Fuels Biodiesel from vegetable oil and animal fats Animal fats & used vegetable oil are a limited resource Virgin oilseed crops are a renewable (but limited ) resource and yield two high-value products: oil and livestock feed Good net energy return on energy invested (EROEI) (~200% to ~400+% return) 1 1 Source: USDA / DOE to Piedmont Biofuels
Developing Next Generation or Advanced Bio-energy Fuels Biodiesel from algae Microalgae with up to 50% lipid content are cultivated in photo-bioreactors or open ponds Significant production potential to meet global demand High EROEI Commercial production of biodiesel from algae +/- 5 years Vermont research & demonstration projects underway
All Biofuels Are NOT Created Equal Biofuels produced with conservation safeguards are gaining wider support: Reduce ratio of fossil energy input to output; use wastes for feedstocks (increase EROEI) Use less water and more renewable energy in refineries. Avoid deforestation and use of critical food production land for energy feedstocks. Sustainable Biofuels (3 rd party) certification is coming soon.
Biodiesel Applications B20 burns in any equipment that burns diesel - including oil heat furnaces with no modifications! Most fuel consumers prefer from B20 and up Significant air quality improvements Greater reduction in fossil fuel use Little to no performance issues with indoor fuel storage Equipment modifications needed for B50 or higher blends Most fuel dealers prefer blends from B5 to B10 New ASTM specs include up to B5 Up to B5 covered by all OEMs Some emissions reduction at minimal cost No cold weather performance issues
Known Issues with Biodiesel Cold Weather Biodiesel has a higher cloud point than petrodiesel Materials Compatibility B20 or lower blends minimize most issues associated with material compatibility Detergent Effect Filter clogging can occur, especially with older systems
2007 Vermont Bioheat Study Two HVAC Vocational Tech Centers Two instructors and twenty students Five different heating units Two Vermont Fuel Dealers Twenty six homes 20,000 gallons of B20 One Vermont winter
And the Results B20 works as a heating fuel in Vermont Negligible decrease in combustion efficiency Less than 1% Amperage draw & cad cell resistance slightly up No negative impact to system performance CO 2 emission levels down 3% to 4%
Testimonials Patterson Fuels (Richmond): B20 performed as well as No. 2 fuel in a heating application. We will recommend it to any customer currently burning No. 2 fuel CVPH (Middlebury): We experienced no more problems with the boilers and furnaces at Middlebury College [using B20 bioheat] than we would expect from units running on No. 2 fuel oil
Fuel Dealers Vermont's fuel suppliers selling biodiesel & blends Jack F. Corse, Inc. Evans Group Jackman s Champlain Oil Cota& Cota Patterson Fuels Gillespie Fuels And more 18 18 16 16 14 14 12 12 10 10 8 8 6 6 4 4 2 2 0 0 Fuel Fuel Dealers Dealers Selling Selling Biodiesel Biodiesel in in Vt. Vt. 2003 2004 2005 2006 2003 2004 2005 2006 No. Fuel Dealers No. Fuel Dealers
Okay, so what does it cost? Expect to pay ~ $0.01 more per gallon than No. 2 oil, for each % of biodiesel in the blend you are buying. For B5; add 2 to 5 For B10; add 8 to 10 For B20; add 15 to 20 For the average VT home using B20, the cost is between $13 and $20 more per month
B100 and SVO as Heating Fuel The Good News They work Fossil fuel free and energy self sufficiency Dramatic reductions in CO 2 and other emissions DIY or can be very low cost On the Other Hand Experimental fuels (B100 & SVO / UFO) Equipment modifications, warranties, temperamental Finding UFOs isn t easy!
Grass Energy for Vermont? Early stage R&D UVM Extension; planting perennial grass stock 5+ tons per acre possible For Industrial / Commercial use 100% grass fuels are feasible Pelletized (or not) For Residential use Pellet fuel blended with wood fiber
Moving to a multi fuel future Low transition cost to go to biodiesel blends with existing infrastructure here/now Convert over time to primary wood and biomass (grass) energy systems with bioheat backup
Synthesis ~ Industrial Barre Town Boilers
Synthesis ~ Residential Tarm (Bioheat USA ) Excel multi fuel Boiler
Addressing Our Fuel and Energy Needs & Global Climate Change 1. Efficiency and Conservation High efficiency building standards Better buildings by design! High efficiency heating equipment 2. Smart Growth 3. Regional Low Carbon Fuel Standard 4. Renewables; including biomass & biofuels With or without fossil fuels
Contact info: Netaka White Biofuels Director netaka@vsjf.org (802)-828-0040 www.vsjf.org Funding & Support Provided By: U.S Dept of Energy Office of Sen. Patrick Leahy High Meadows Fund Vermont Sustainable Agriculture Council Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Accelerating the Development of Vermont s Green Economy