Nov 2 Cafe Scientifique
The silent, but giant global energy transition
Joris D. Benninga, Founding Partner, Real NewEnergy Company, an integrated sustainable energy company located in the Netherlands and Virginia
2. www.realnewenergy.com
The big silent global energy transition
contact: Joris Benninga
email: jbenninga@realnewenergy.com
phone: +31 641 487 161
Partner in the Network™
2www.realnewenergy.com
3. • How much kerosene was burned to get
me from Europe to the US (4000 mile)?
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Energy Q&A: how important is it?
63 gallons per person in the
plane
• How long does a luggage handler
have to load an unload bags before he
has spent 1 kWh of physical energy?
5 to 8 hours, as he is likely to
use/produce between 125 Watt
and 200 Watt
• How many labor hours does a gallon
of Kerosene represent if we assume a
50% efficiency?
100 to 160 hours, or up to 4
working weeks of physical labor
• How many hours of energy “life
support” does the average American
get per year?
Every American has the
equivalent 275 “employees”
continuously working for
him/her.
< 2%• What is the average energy efficiency
we reach in modern society?
3www.realnewenergy.com
7. • Real NewEnergy is an integrated sustainable energy company, built on 3 major
offerings:
– Sustainable Energy Consulting
– Renewable Energy Technology Development
– Renewable Energy Project Development
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Real NewEnergy Company
7www.realnewenergy.com
8. Transition is in full swing
• Global invesmtents in renewable energy
– 2007: $ 104 B
– 2008: $ 120 B (Coal and gas powerplants combined attracted $ 110 B in 2008)
– 2009: $ 162 B (China $35 B, US $19 B)
– 2010: $ 200 B (?)
• Reasons why this trend will continue
– “Clean Energy Race”, it became strategic
– Business case comes towards us
• Renewable technology improves and its prices decline
• Demand for energy increaeses
• Alternative options increasingly expensive, damaging, cumbersome
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9. Energy Returned On Energy Invested
• Medieval Europe 1,2
• Texas 1900 100, or more
• A good new oil field in 1980’s 30-50
• A good oil field now 10-30
• Clean coal 10-15
• Oil Sands Canada 1,5-7
• Wind Energy 30-50 and improving
• PV Solar power 30-50 and improving
EROI of renewables is guarantee for success
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11. Renewables are good option.....
• Companies are swimming in cash. Due to poor investment
climate, cost cutting and lack of good investments.
• US alone $943 B excluding banks, Europe no figures, but
same trend
– ICT $ 207 B of which Cisco $40, Microsoft $37B, Google $30B and
Oracle $23B,
– Pharmaceuticals: $ 124B
– Energy: $ 105B
– Ford, $22B
• Pressure on mgt increases to look for new opportunities,
take overs, share buy back, increase of dividents etc. But
good investments are hard to find.
Source Moody’s Oct 30 2010
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12. Head out to sea
• US DOE
• Islands: Bonaire
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13. US offshore wind ambitions
• DOE/NREL published excellent new reports
• DOE targets:
– 2020: 10 GW, $0,13/kWh
– 2030: 54 GW, $0,07-$0,09 / kWh
– NREL resources > 4000 GW
• Extremely challenging:
– Current ppa’s: 20-24 cts / kWh
– Regulatory framework is complex
– US energy prices are (still) low
• But Industry is gaining momentum
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15. Case: Ecopower Bonaire
Stand alone wind-diesel
system for the
electricity supply of the
island of Bonaire
16www.realnewenergy.com
16. Maximise the wind share in an island grid
with very little additional costs
• By using the right wind turbines
• By using the right power management system
(PMS) software
17www.realnewenergy.com
17. The Bonaire Case – 4 years ago
• Inhabitants:
15.000
• Size: 250 km2
• Electricity
consumption
75.000
MWh/year
• Peak demand:
12 MW
• Up to 2010:
100% Diesel
generation
Broken since 1997
Burned down in 2005
Stopped operation in 2006
Running…..
18www.realnewenergy.com
18. The Bonaire Case – now
• New wind-(bio)diesel system developed, financed, installed
• In operation since August
• 40-45% wind share
• Potentially 100% renewable
Broken since 1997
Burned down in 2005
Running…..
19www.realnewenergy.com
19. History
• 2005: Main power plant burned down
• Kema and Ecofys performed study for energy sector.
Conclusion wind-diesel is best option
• Spring 2006: Tender for wind-diesel system
May 2006: consortium of
Econcern, MAN and Enercon
submitted winning bid
September 2006: MoU signed
with Bonaire Utility “WEB”
November 2007: PPA signed
20www.realnewenergy.com
21. The project concept
Why is it so special?
• PMS maximises wind share
– Up to 80% instantaneous wind share possible
– Target Bonaire is 40-45% on average
• Only possible with “smooth electrical behaviour” of
Enercon wind turbines
• Battery of 3 MW added to:
– improve grid quality
– reduce spinning reserve
• Extra costs are limited to 0.5 - 1.0% of capex!
22www.realnewenergy.com
23. Wind Turbine Sorobon
Broken since 1997 In operation, since July 2007:
Replaced by Ecopower 4600 FLH, 99% available
24www.realnewenergy.com
24. Wind Farm Morotin
Visual of wind farm with 12 windturbines
Most reliable and low
maintenance WTs
Deliberate choice for
smaller WTs
Fuel save warrantee
25www.realnewenergy.com
26. Power House Karpata
Reliable and (relatively) efficient
Runs on heavy fuel oil (cheaper
But higher Sox, dust emissions)
Space for 6th engine
Ready to use bio-fuels
27www.realnewenergy.com
27. Bonaire has potential for algae oil
• Yield = 25 – 100 ton/ha/yr (required is 10.000 ton/yr)
• Price = 50 – 100 euro/bbl (oil price is now 75 $/bbl)
28www.realnewenergy.com
28. Present situation
• System is supplying Bonaire since August 2010
• First experiences:
– Power plant is running stable
– Wind farm is performing well
– 1st year of operation will be for fine tuning PMS, battery
system to optimize wind share
– Demand on Bonaire is growing fast so first extension is being
planned
– In November 2010 we’ll present to Bonaire Utility WEB on the
benefits of adding solar energy to the system
29www.realnewenergy.com
29. Lessons learned
• Grid study is essential:
– Dynamic system behavior at various scenarios
– Demonstrated the need for the battery
• Mismatch in requirements permitting procedures
• Complicating factors:
– Contracting was at all-time high in the market (high EPC prices,
weak dollar)
– Econcern (our mother company) went bankrupt
– Bonaire was / is going through a political transition phase
30www.realnewenergy.com
30. Show-case for the region
• First WD-project of this scale (25 MW)
• 40-45% renewable from day 1
• 100% renewable is possible
Suitable for many islands
in the world
The solution to maximise
the wind share without
high extra costs
Project was noticed in the US: http://www.edinenergy.org/bonaire.html
31www.realnewenergy.com
31. We can do a lot back home!
• Check out the options DC offers:
– The new DC Climate plan
– The arriving DC Green Utility
– Solar PV support plan for residents
– Energy Efficiency support for residents
– IMBY, an on-line NREL tool that helps to assess your personal
business case
• Depending on what your influence is:
– Smaller things like replacing light bulbs at home do matter!
– Bigger things like choosing for Green Buildings make good business
sense.
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