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Suitability of Woody Biomass Heating in Remote Alaskan Environments

Suitability of Woody Biomass Heating in Remote Alaskan Environments. Cory Luker Biomass Energy Research Technician Summer 2014 | Fairbanks, Alaska. Energy Challenges in Remote Alaskan Villages. Sparsely populated, isolated communities = some of the highest energy costs in the nation

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Suitability of Woody Biomass Heating in Remote Alaskan Environments

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  1. Suitability of Woody Biomass Heating in Remote Alaskan Environments Cory Luker Biomass Energy Research Technician Summer 2014 | Fairbanks, Alaska

  2. Energy Challenges in Remote Alaskan Villages • Sparsely populated, isolated communities = some of the highest energy costs in the nation • Extreme arctic climate = some of the highest heating demands in nation • High cost of imported fuel oil is impeding economic development • Need for an alternative cost-effective heating solution • Woody biomass, a saving grace? TCC communities that have either installed or have considered installing a biomass heating systems

  3. Motivation for Research • Renewable Energy Fund (REF)– Millionsof dollars of government funding going towards biomass systems since 2007 • focuses on resource assessments, feasibility, design, and construction • NO focus on long term business and logistical studies • The long term sustainability of biomass heating systems are unproven in rural Alaska Why are some projects exceeding expectations and other faltering?

  4. Scope of Work • Case study for the TCC community of Tanana, Alaska’s biomass heating systems • Quality, source, and sustainability of wood resource • Feedstock logistics • Biomass heating systems integration • Operation, maintenance, and repair • Project economics and business model • Miscellaneous tasks: • Writing monthly newsletter articles • Biomass Report Consolidation • Develop interview questions and metrics for wood heating systems

  5. Biomass in the City of Tanana • Longest continually operating biomass heating systems in TCC • Currently has 5 individual biomass initiatives and 13 woody biomass boilers • Using cordwood boilers to generate heat for: • School, water treatment facility, teacher public housing, fire station, and the city’s water lines Cordwood boiler installation in the City of Tanana’s school

  6. Tanana: Economic Assessment Table 1: Economic analysis of Tanana's biomass heating systems assuming 20% moisture content Table 2: Economic analysis of Tanana's biomass heating systems assuming 35% moisture content

  7. Tanana: Primary Conclusions • There is a current lack of organization and coordination between wood harvesters, city officials, and boiler operators • Burning wet wood is drastically reducing the efficiency of the cities biomass heating systems • Operational costs are significant with the installed cordwood boilers • Biomass systems promote a sustainable village economy through job growth and new local wood fuel markets even if they themselves are not economically viable

  8. A Special Thanks To My mentors Amanda Byrd & David Pelunis-Messier and the wonderful staff and interns at ACEP

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