1 / 18

Energy Performance Systems, Inc.

Energy Performance Systems, Inc. Improving the Efficiency of Planting, Tending and Harvesting Farm-Grown Trees for Energy To: Xcel RDF advisory group L. David Ostlie, Principal Investigator Lynn L Wright, Investigator. Value Based Research Goals Values.

nicki
Download Presentation

Energy Performance Systems, Inc.

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Energy Performance Systems, Inc. Improving the Efficiency of Planting, Tending and Harvesting Farm-Grown Trees for Energy To: Xcel RDF advisory group L. David Ostlie, Principal Investigator Lynn L Wright, Investigator

  2. Value Based Research Goals Values • Lower the cost of electric power generation using renewable wood fuel; enough to cover the added risk in using new, model-one technology • Establish a large scale (90 acre) tree farm demonstration using short growth cycle wood (5 years) to maximize fuel production while significantly reducing cost • Fabricate and demonstrate a new high speed tree planter based on EPS’s proprietary design to advance tree production to levels like those using existing agricultural practices using a GPS guided tractor and trigger system • Fabricate and demonstrate a new high speed tree harvester based on EPS’s proprietary design to efficiently cut and load trees on a trailer at a fraction of the cost of existing logging operations

  3. EPS Injection Planter Planter in Operation at the Graceville Site

  4. Planter Summary • Multi-row planter was built • Planter was used under operational conditions • Test demonstrated potential of machine injection; tree survival and growth was similar to hand planted sections of field • Slip injection springs & materials have been redesigned • Planting Cost Proved to Feasable at .03¢ or less

  5. EPS Whole Tree Harvester™ Harvester after 160 Mile Transport to site Power Systems Being re-installed and Tested at Nearby Farm Site

  6. EPS Whole Tree Harvester™ Harvesting Head: Continuously travels and cuts up to 9 feet per second without stopping while self sharpening blades and cuts up to a 30” diameter tree

  7. EPS Whole Tree Harvester™ Harvester Cutting Second Row of Trees

  8. Project Participants Project Demonstration Participants

  9. Project Participants Project Demonstration Participants Resting After Doubling as Camera Personnel

  10. Harvester Summary • 900 HP 65 Ton, 4 Tracked Unit • Contiuously Harvested Trees at Speeds up to 8 FPS (6 MPH) • Can Harvest up to 30” Trees • Lifted Trees 13 Feet to Load Semi Trailers • Cleanly Cut Trees within 2 Inches of the Ground • Proved Self Centering Cutting Head to be Effective • Traveled with Low Ground Pressure of 12 PSI • Four Tracked Steering Proved to be Effective

  11. Harvester Demonstration CEO Feeling Downsized after a Particularly Difficult Day

  12. Hybrid Poplar Glencoe Tree Farm Project Investigator Lynn Wright Showing First Year Growth of NM-6 Hybrid Poplar on 80 Acre Site

  13. Hybrid Poplar Yield Results 40 Acre Tree Farm Near Graceville, MN Section of Farm Yielding 4 Dry Tons per Acre Per Year in 6 Years

  14. Planting Cost Analysis

  15. Wood Production Cost Analyses

  16. Benefit to the Rate Payer • A new system was developed to lower the cost of renewable energy including new methods and new equipment • If the legislature mandates increased attention to climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions, this project provides a pathway to help satisfy the mandate without a significant increase in rate-payer impacts. • Wood fired power plants can reduce the cost to the ratepayer by the new systme and by eliminating some of the indirect subsidies by using existing corn acerages

  17. Where Do We Go From Here? • Our Research indicates an all-in power plant delivered fuel cost of 3.65/Mbtu • The increased fuel cost would be similar to natural gas in some regions • Establishing a fuel plantation takes 6 years, 3 years before and 3 years after plant startup • By Reducing the cost of harvesting, planting and tending this fuel crop coupled with building a new wood fueled power plant becomes technically and economically feasible • If companies in Minnesota were to invest in or manufacture this home-grown technology, it could provide more incomes and jobs in Minnesota that would benefit ratepayers.

  18. Electric Power From Trees • Now is the Time for Closed Loop, Wood fueled, Electric Power Production • EPS wishes to thank the RDF advisory Group, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commision including the rate payers and Xcel Energy in making our project possible. Project funding provided in part by customers of Xcel Energy through a grant from the Renewable Development Fund

More Related