power purchase and grid connection procedures

Biogas Workshop10th March 2009

ANF Energy Solutions IncPower Purchase& Connection

Power Purchase and Grid Connection Procedures

Aidan FossANF Energy Solutions Inc.

[email protected]

Building Your Biogas System Building Your Biogas System WorkshopWorkshop1010thth March 2009 March 2009



ANF Energy Solutions

• DG grid connection specialists• No project ownership• Current projects

Biogas 21

Landfill Gas 2

Wind 25

PV 5

Small Hydro 3

River Turbine 1

• Increasing involved in research due to new connection issues



The Grid Connection

HV FUSE

INTER-TIE CIRCUIT-BREAKER

GENERATOR CIRCUIT-BREAKER

TO DIGESTER & POWERHOUSE LOADS

INTER-TIETRANSFORMER

M REVENUE METER

BIOGAS GENERATOR

UTILITY FEEDER

HV DISCONNECT

LV DISCONNECT

LV FUSE

M REVENUE METER

HV FUSE

GENERATOR CIRCUIT-BREAKER

TO OTHERLOADS

INTER-TIETRANSFORMER

M REVENUE METER

BIOGAS GENERATOR

LV DISCONNECT

POWER EXPORTER NET METERING

LV FUSE

HV EQUIPMENTOWNED BY

FARMER



Getting Connected

• Power Purchase Options

• Grid Access

• Grid Connection Costs

• Grid Connection Process



Power Purchase

Options:• Embedded Retail Generator – market price• Net Metering – to 500kW• RESOP – Renewable Energy incentive• CESOP – Clean Energy incentive - ??• Green Energy Act – will replace RESOP



Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP)

• Launched in Nov 2006• 11c/kWh + 3.52c/kWh for peak• 20 year contract with OPA• Up to 10MW, 50kV• Requires a CIA• Green, Yellow & Orange zones• Driver for flood of projects• Suspended in May 2008• Biogas OK to 5MW• Will be superseded by Green Energy Act



Grid Access Rights

• No guaranteed access rights

• Distribution Code has limited capacity

• Until 12 February 2009, Distribution Code was ‘First-come First-served’ for all generation in 10kW-10MW range



Hydro One Queue

Substation Capacity = 20MW

Queue Position Project

1 111 (10 MW)

2 222 (10 MW)

CIA Pending 333 (10 MW)

CIA Pending 444 (500 kW)

• Capacity limits due to feeder, switchgear and transformers• Speculative projects ahead in the queue could delay your

application by 2-3 years per project



Hydro One Queue Analysis

Project Size Applications

<500kW 39

501kW - 8.99MW 184

9 - 10MW 971

Full Substations 117 of 151

• From Hydro One queue 31-Oct-08• Over 80% in 9-10 MW range• Blockages started in windy areas – Great Lakes• Blanket applications in Eastern Ontario Aug/Sept 07• Small biogas being shut out from many agricultural areas



Wind & Farm Biogas

Wind & PV Farm Biogas

Typically 9-10MW Generally <500kW

Multiple applications financed by large corporations

Individual applications financed by farmers

Flexible on location Tied to farms

30-35% capacity factor 70-100% capacity factor

Competition between generators Co-operation between farmers

Grid access is first step - companies forced to speculate

No speculation, but forced to rapidly submit Form Bs

Removes opportunity for small biogas

No significant impact on wind farm development



Distribution Code Modification

12th February 2009 Amendment• Up to 250kW: Queue exempt on feeders

below 15kV• Up to 500kW: Queue exempt on feeders

above 15kV



Grid Connection Costs

• All costs up-front – unlike load customer• Distribution Network designed for load

customers• Deep Entry – Watch out for $$$:

– Protection upgrades– Anti-islanding protection– Recloser replacement– Voltage regulators



The Single-phase Hydraulic Recloser

• Extensively deployed across Ontario

• Restores load customers in 1-2 seconds

• Simple, reliable• Can be a big problem

for generation



Grid Connection Process

1. Initial Feasibility Assessment2. Connection Impact Assessment

– Gives queue position– 12 months to CCRA

3. Connection Cost Estimate4. Connection Cost Recovery Agreement5. Connection Agreement



Grid Connection Process

• Distribution Code timescales not met – Hydro One swamped

• Generator responsibility for connection design, equipment procurement and protection design

• No simplified process for small generation



Terryland Farm 180kW Biogas

• Form A submitted Sept 2006

• CIA issued May 2007

• Commissioned August 2007

• Major delay due to Anti-islanding Protection



Fepro Farms 499kW Biogas

• July 2007 – 1st Form B and CIA

• Highlighted several areas of unclear connection policy

• Pilot for new Anti-islanding protection strategy

• Scheduled for March 2009

power purchase and grid connection procedures

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