Indigo Shire - renewable energy mapping - Indigo Shire Council

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Earth Systems Wahgunyah (on the Wangaratta line) Rutherglen (on the Wangaratta line) Myrtleford Mapping and Brokering Local Energy Solutions in Indigo Shire In certain circumstances, a proposed generator at these locations could negotiate better financial arrangements with the network operator if network upgrades can be postponed or avoided. Land Use An analysis of the location of national and regional parks, areas of cultural significance and mountainous areas unsuitable for development was undertaken. In general, the North West parts of the Shire would be more favourable for project development than the South East. The North West regions of the Shire are also closer to the major load centres. Renewable Energy – Key Outcomes In Brief Solar: The technology exists, the resource is good enough, and opportunities exist for grid connection in the North West. The economics are not compelling at present, but a combination of factors may alter the economic equation in the short to medium term. The Shire should carefully watch the space and develop a strategy to capitalise on the opportunity for large-scale solar when the economics improve. In the meantime, generation of less than 100 kW e in Victoria is currently eligible for a recently reduced rate of 8 c/kWh feed-in-tariff. (Indigo Shire may consider facilitating the installation of a number of 99.9 kW e solar PV systems on suitable roof areas as an immediate form of local generation.) Wind: Overall, the resource is marginal, but specific low-speed turbines may be able to capitalise on it. The economics are expected to be very sensitive to actual wind velocity at these low speeds. Payback periods are, however, better than solar due to lower capital equipment cost and better capacity factor. Wind data available may not accurately characterise particularly localised, higher-than-average wind velocity resources peculiar to specific land topography within the Shire, and local knowledge should be evaluated. The Shire should also consider engagement opportunities with other regions in which wind resources are more significant. Biomass: At present, about 3.4 MW e of generation is possible from the recovery of absolutely all available waste biomass in the entire Shire (including agricultural wastes). Energy crops, waste from forest fuel reduction, and/or a significant import of biomass from outside the Shire would be needed to provide a significant bioenergy contribution. Significant (but currently fully utilised) plantation waste resources exist just beyond Shire boundaries, equating to a maximum power generation of about 8.3 MW e . To generate the whole-of-Shire target of 13 MW e , an area of approximately 16,100 Ha would be required under a solid block of short rotation coppice cropping (SCC) scheme. Under an inter-cropping SCC scenario this would become 132,000 ha. Depending on the scenarios, bioenergy plant economic modelling at the small, medium and large generating capacity had LCOEs of 185, 118 and 110 $/MWh e including electricity and thermal heat sales. Possible co-generation opportunities exist at a number of sites within the region, including Uncle Toby’s and Murray Goulburn, provided their existing waste resources could be augmented by additional biomass. These and several other sites are to be addressed in further detail in Phase 2 of the project. Geothermal: No significant geothermal resource is indicated in Indigo Shire. The existing data is limited, so the finding should be re-visited in the event that a new dataset for the region is developed. Hydropower: Large-scale hydro in and near to the Shire appears to have been fully exploited. Some small-scale (e.g. < 1 MW e ) resources exist in the Shire, however they are mostly associated with areas of cultural significance. There may be justification for individual small-scale projects, but these lie outside the scope of this Study. ISC1240_Phase_1_Report_Rev0_public report 4
Earth Systems Suggested Priorities for Decision Making Mapping and Brokering Local Energy Solutions in Indigo Shire Reviewing the variety of resource potentials, generation costs and grid constraints presented in the preceding sections, it is possible to make some general observations on how a total generation output of 13 MW e may be accomplished within the Indigo Shire region. There is little economy of scale benefit in going larger within the range of generation considered, other than for bioenergy plant. Therefore, generation scale is likely to be dictated by network capacity (i.e. largest generator that can be connected without major network infrastructure costs). There are significant economic benefits in generation resulting in avoided retail power purchase. There are significant economic benefits in co-generation (possibly even tri-generation) at a given site. There may be additional incentives for installing site generation if it avoids the need for the network operator to undertake other infrastructure upgrades. Although the resource is marginal, the LCOE of wind means it is an attractive option.. Where substantial cooling loads are present, there may be additional economic benefit in generating power from solar resources. If the majority of the biomass is to be purpose-grown (energy crops), the same basic generation equipment type can be used at all sites; and it may be advantageous to use a similar plant size and/or supplier to achieve capital cost reductions (multiple units purchase via consortium). Recommendations and Next Steps Overall recommendations from the Phase 1 Study are as follows. Solar Wind 1. Maintain a watching brief on current technology costs, which are reducing rapidly. 2. Consider any immediate opportunities for solar PV generation of less than 100 kW e , which in Victoria are currently eligible for a feed-in tariff (FIT) of 8 c/kWh (which for solar PV may not be commercially viable). 3. Consider large-scale solar at specific sites where peak generation may be able to off-set large peaking cooling loads (large refrigeration loads such as refrigerated distribution centre, large winery or dairy). 1. Consider whether local information can identify any specific locations that would yield a better resource (than currently mapped). 2. The Shire should also consider engagement opportunities with other regions in which wind resources are more significant. 3. Keep a watching brief on low-speed turbine developments. Geothermal 1. Re-consider only if new geothermal data becomes available. Hydropower 1. Consider limited possibilities for small-scale hydropower generation (
Page 1 and 2: MAPPING AND BROKERING LOCAL ENERGY
Page 3 and 4: Earth Systems Mapping and Brokering
Page 5: Earth Systems Mapping and Brokering
Page 19 and 20: Earth Systems GHI GWEC ha HAWT HFR
Page 29 and 30: EARTH SYSTEMS Report Title 13 Refer
Page 31 and 32: EARTH SYSTEMS Report Title [28] ACT
Page 33 and 34: EARTH SYSTEMS Report Title [54] Ear
Page 35 and 36: EARTH SYSTEMS Report Title [82] Gre
Page 37 and 38: EARTH SYSTEMS Report Title [110] No
Page 39: EARTH SYSTEMS Report Title [141] Ec

Indigo Shire - renewable energy mapping - Indigo Shire Council

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?