Renewable Energy Technology Types
Renewable Energy Technology Types Please Review the Following Information and Help the County To Determine Which Renewable Energy Technologies are Appropriate For San Bernardino County
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS • Small-scale (20 MW or less) arrays of solar panels that convert sunlight to electricity. • Systems can be mounted on roofs or other structures, or can be freestanding.
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS Objectives and Opportunities
Challenges
• Multiple profit models – high flexibility.
• Needs widespread community support.
• Low-cost option for locally produced renewable energy.
• Utilities may need to assist with financing.
• Allows for communityowned systems.
• Not as many opportunities may exist with private utilities.
• Potential reuse of industrial sites.
• Liability concerns about old industrial sites.
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS Lessons Learned
• Public-private partnerships are important.
• Can provide renewable energy to all residents, including renters and residents in multi-family homes. • Successful examples typically led by publicly owned utilities.
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION WIND TURBINES • A single turbine, or small number of turbines, that capture wind energy with propeller-like blades.
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION WIND TURBINES Objectives and Opportunities • On-site energy use for private consumption.
Challenges • Can be expensive.
• Potential profitability for agricultural operations.
• Potential concerns about structural integrity of the system.
• Can be located in the middle of large properties to minimize visual impacts.
• Interconnection with existing electrical system can be complicated.
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION WIND TURBINES Lessons Learned • Site in the middle of large parcels of land, away from neighboring properties to minimize aesthetic impacts. • Can succeed with community and regulatory support.
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR THERMAL • Large-scale (more than 20 MW) systems that concentrate heat from the sun to power a generator. • Includes trough and tower (Power Tower) systems.
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR THERMAL Objectives and Opportunities
Challenges
• Works best in areas with abundant solar energy resources.
• Cleaning and cooling demand can result in high water use.
• Examples are private projects with a goal of profitability.
• Closure/decommissioning requirements are needed.
• Can be designed to try to • Significant air quality, protect sensitive biological, visual, and resources. traffic impacts can result.
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR THERMAL Lessons Learned • Do early design work to avoid or minimize impacts to sensitive resources. • Anticipate potential for unanticipated impacts such as glare. • Anticipate project demand for water use. • Consider all interconnection requirements.
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS • Large-scale (more than 20 MW) solar panel arrays that convert sunlight to electricity. • Ground-mounted systems can be fixed or motorized to track the sun.
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS Objectives and Opportunities • Water use is minimal (less than 5 gallons per MWh).
Challenges • Unanticipated consequences remain a concern.
• Can be designed with • Visual impacts can be reduced environmental high. impacts, including • Potential conversion of permanent conservation agricultural and grazing of sensitive resources. land. • Allows for a profitable • Financing plans can be business model. difficult to organize.
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS Lessons Learned • Use wildlife-friendly fencing and conservation easements to reduce impacts. • Try to minimize grading to decrease biological and air quality impacts. • Be prepared for potential construction delays due to financing complications.
UTILITY-SCALE WIND TURBINES • Large arrays of turbines that capture wind energy with propeller-like blades. • Individual utilityscale turbines often produce 2-3 MW of power each.
UTILITY-SCALE WIND TURBINES Objectives and Opportunities • Public-private partnerships and joint permitting. • Relatively quick construction time. • Opportunity to reuse some of site resources after construction (such as offhighway vehicle routes).
Challenges • Potential threats to avian species, along with possible noise and visual impacts.
• Extensive connection facilities sometimes required.
UTILITY-SCALE WIND TURBINES Lessons Learned • Be flexible with the number and locations of turbines. • Project realignment may be required during construction to further reduce unanticipated impacts. • Importance of addressing avian mortality. • Involve a broad range of stakeholders early on.
UTILITY-SCALE BIOMASS • Facilities that burn organic waste to power a generator. • Lumber and farm waste can be used as feedstock. • Can produce only electricity, or both electricity and heat (combined heat and power).
UTILITY-SCALE BIOMASS Objectives and Opportunities • Per MW, produces more jobs and has a smaller footprint than solar or wind technologies. • Small footprint can reduce impacts on sensitive resources. • Uses waste material that would otherwise be sent to a landfill.
Challenges
• Needs a year-round supply of feedstock, ideally close-by. • Substantially cleaner than many other power plants, but can still produce air pollution.
UTILITY-SCALE BIOMASS Lessons Learned
• Opportunities may exist for smaller projects. • Can produce large amounts of electricity on a relatively small amount of land. • Can be operated with minimal challenges or environmental violations.
PROJECT TYPE REVIEW • Distributed Generation Solar Photovoltaics • Distributed Generation Wind Turbines • Utility-Scale Solar Thermal • Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics • Utility-Scale Wind Turbines • Utility-Scale Biomass
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS • Small-scale (20 MW or less) arrays of solar panels that convert sunlight to electricity. • Systems can be mounted on roofs or other structures, or can be freestanding.
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS Objectives and Opportunities
Challenges
• Multiple profit models – high flexibility.
• Needs widespread community support.
• Low-cost option for locally produced renewable energy.
• Utilities may need to assist with financing.
• Allows for communityowned systems.
• Not as many opportunities may exist with private utilities.
• Potential reuse of industrial sites.
• Liability concerns about old industrial sites.
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS Lessons Learned
• Public-private partnerships are important.
• Can provide renewable energy to all residents, including renters and residents in multi-family homes. • Successful examples typically led by publicly owned utilities.
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION WIND TURBINES • A single turbine, or small number of turbines, that capture wind energy with propeller-like blades.
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION WIND TURBINES Objectives and Opportunities • On-site energy use for private consumption.
Challenges • Can be expensive.
• Potential profitability for agricultural operations.
• Potential concerns about structural integrity of the system.
• Can be located in the middle of large properties to minimize visual impacts.
• Interconnection with existing electrical system can be complicated.
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION WIND TURBINES Lessons Learned • Site in the middle of large parcels of land, away from neighboring properties to minimize aesthetic impacts. • Can succeed with community and regulatory support.
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR THERMAL • Large-scale (more than 20 MW) systems that concentrate heat from the sun to power a generator. • Includes trough and tower (Power Tower) systems.
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR THERMAL Objectives and Opportunities
Challenges
• Works best in areas with abundant solar energy resources.
• Cleaning and cooling demand can result in high water use.
• Examples are private projects with a goal of profitability.
• Closure/decommissioning requirements are needed.
• Can be designed to try to • Significant air quality, protect sensitive biological, visual, and resources. traffic impacts can result.
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR THERMAL Lessons Learned • Do early design work to avoid or minimize impacts to sensitive resources. • Anticipate potential for unanticipated impacts such as glare. • Anticipate project demand for water use. • Consider all interconnection requirements.
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS • Large-scale (more than 20 MW) solar panel arrays that convert sunlight to electricity. • Ground-mounted systems can be fixed or motorized to track the sun.
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS Objectives and Opportunities • Water use is minimal (less than 5 gallons per MWh).
Challenges • Unanticipated consequences remain a concern.
• Can be designed with • Visual impacts can be reduced environmental high. impacts, including • Potential conversion of permanent conservation agricultural and grazing of sensitive resources. land. • Allows for a profitable • Financing plans can be business model. difficult to organize.
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS Lessons Learned • Use wildlife-friendly fencing and conservation easements to reduce impacts. • Try to minimize grading to decrease biological and air quality impacts. • Be prepared for potential construction delays due to financing complications.
UTILITY-SCALE WIND TURBINES • Large arrays of turbines that capture wind energy with propeller-like blades. • Individual utilityscale turbines often produce 2-3 MW of power each.
UTILITY-SCALE WIND TURBINES Objectives and Opportunities • Public-private partnerships and joint permitting. • Relatively quick construction time. • Opportunity to reuse some of site resources after construction (such as offhighway vehicle routes).
Challenges • Potential threats to avian species, along with possible noise and visual impacts.
• Extensive connection facilities sometimes required.
UTILITY-SCALE WIND TURBINES Lessons Learned • Be flexible with the number and locations of turbines. • Project realignment may be required during construction to further reduce unanticipated impacts. • Importance of addressing avian mortality. • Involve a broad range of stakeholders early on.
UTILITY-SCALE BIOMASS • Facilities that burn organic waste to power a generator. • Lumber and farm waste can be used as feedstock. • Can produce only electricity, or both electricity and heat (combined heat and power).
UTILITY-SCALE BIOMASS Objectives and Opportunities • Per MW, produces more jobs and has a smaller footprint than solar or wind technologies. • Small footprint can reduce impacts on sensitive resources. • Uses waste material that would otherwise be sent to a landfill.
Challenges
• Needs a year-round supply of feedstock, ideally close-by. • Substantially cleaner than many other power plants, but can still produce air pollution.
UTILITY-SCALE BIOMASS Lessons Learned
• Opportunities may exist for smaller projects. • Can produce large amounts of electricity on a relatively small amount of land. • Can be operated with minimal challenges or environmental violations.
PROJECT TYPE REVIEW • Distributed Generation Solar Photovoltaics • Distributed Generation Wind Turbines • Utility-Scale Solar Thermal • Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics • Utility-Scale Wind Turbines • Utility-Scale Biomass
