asking the big questions: joel tallaksen west central research and outreach center university of...
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Asking The Big Questions:
Joel TallaksenWest Central Research and Outreach Center
University of Minnesota
College of Food, Agriculture, andNatural Resource Sciences
Renewable Energy Work at WCROC
West Central Research and Outreach Center
Research and Outreach Centers
WCROC
NWROC
SROC
NCROC
SWROC
St. Paul
Overview:1. Agricultural Research
Station
2. Developing Community Scale Renewable Energy Systems
3. Serve as Living Lab and Public Access Point
4. Focus on Local Ownership
West Central Research and Outreach Center
Community Energy Projects
Benefits:
• Reliable energy supply
• Stable prices
• Employment opportunities
• Revenue for the community
• Environmentally sound energy production
West Central Research and Outreach Center
Energy Resources are Regional
Regions have a unique set of resources that lend themselves to particular technologies
Resource limitation/opportunities examples– Weather– Habitat– Infrastructure– Economic Capital
West Central Research and Outreach Center
Core Systems
• Wind energy
• Biomass energy
• Conservation efforts
• Anaerobic Digestion
West Central Research and Outreach Center
Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
• The goal of these projects is not to invent new technology.
• The goal is to use existing off the shelf or heavily researched technology in novel ways or locations that are economically and environmentally sustainable.
• Deploy technologies to work synergistically.
West Central Research and Outreach Center
Wind & Wind to Ammonia
• Turbine Began Energy Production in 2005
Around 5.4 Million kWh per year
Construction Start Spring 2009
350 Tons per year Ammonia
West Central Research and Outreach Center
Biomass Gasification
Old technology used when petroleum products were not available
Gasification was widely used until the 1960’s for ‘town gas’. Coal was gasified to make a pipeable vaporous gas similar to natural gas.
West Central Research and Outreach Center
Biomass Research at UMM
• Sustainability
• Economics
• Facilities/Equipment
• Cropping Systems
West Central Research and Outreach Center
Conservation
Renewable Energy Addition to WCROC Admin Building:
Double the square footage
Same energy Consumption
LEED Silver Certification
West Central Research and Outreach Center
Building Technologies
• Geothermal heating/cooling
• Increased natural lighting
• More efficient lighting/automatic shut off
• Added insulation
• Rain garden for controlling water run-off
• Plug and play bays for small scale electrical technology
West Central Research and Outreach Center
Anaerobic Digestions
• Feasibility study completed
• Somewhat replicated by gasification
• Local private group has pursued this option
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