6.1a. ERMUSR 11-17-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

and strategies in place to complete the project in the one year timeframe,"Dillon said. Avant managed the construction, hiring a variety of firms to perform mechanical,electrical, structural,and building work.Xergi A/S—a Denmark-based company that designs and builds biogas plants—delivered the anaerobic digestion technology,and Barr Engineering Co. provided engineering support for the project. Biomass loading began in October 2013 and operations commenced on schedule two months later. "As is the case with all power plants in a northern climate, especially an extreme climate like Minnesota,freeze protection is always a key priority.We started operation last winter during one of the coldest on record, but worked to successfully solve what can be very pesky freeze problems,"said Benjamin Simmons, asset manager for HTBE. Enthusiasm for Renewables Minnesota was a logical location for designing and building HTBE. The state has one of the nation's most aggressive renewable energy standards, requiring all utilities to generate at least 25% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025. Wind is the clear leader in the state's renewable portfolio. It produced 15.7%of the in-state generation in 2013, placing Minnesota fifth nationally based on production percentages.Given the state's latitude, many people may be surprised to learn that Minnesota has annual solar radiation similar to parts of Florida and Texas, but that potential remains largely untapped. In 2013, however,the Minnesota Legislature passed an omnibus energy bill requiring public utilities to generate 1.5%of their energy from the sun,so solar is likely to gain some ground in the future. But agriculture remains one of the state's largest industries,so a plant that utilizes farm waste is a natural fit. HTBE filled that niche, and its success could lead to development of similar plants elsewhere. For utilities mandated to meet renewable energy standards, biogas's dispatch flexibility offers clear advantages over wind and solar resources. "We see strong potential for more BioPower plants and are pursuing project opportunities throughout the country. BioPower is an especially attractive renewable option due to its reliable and dispatchable nature, but BioPower is also more complex than wind or solar and requires more logistical coordination during development and operations.Areas with large amounts of food or agricultural waste and a local utility with a renewable appetite make good candidates for BioPower,"said Dillon. As a unique waste solution for rural areas and a reliable renewable energy resource, HTBE is the worthy recipient of a POWER Top Plant award. ■ —Aaron Larson is a POWER associate editor(@POWERmagazine, @AaronL_Power). PRINT MODE : ON myPOWER my dashboard TOP PLANTS: Palo Verde Nuclear Generating TOP PLANTS: Central Nuclear Nestor Kirchner Station, Wintersburg, Arizona (Atucha II), Lima,Argentina The nearly 4-GW,three-unit Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station remains the Begun with grand ambitions in the early 1980s,the second unit at Argentina's largest generator of electricity... Atucha site... Read More Read More 162