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HomeMy WebLinkAboutElim Reconnaissance Study Of Energy Requirements & Alternatives-Elim 1981RECONNAISSANCE STUDY OF ENERGY REQUIREMENTS AND ALTERNATIVES FOR ELIM, ALASKA (A SUMMARY) PROPERTY oF < Alaska Power Authority 334 W. Ave. Anchorage, Alaska 99501 Prepared by: HOLDEN & ASSOCIATES Planning Consultants Juneau PRYER TPRESSLEY, 3: ELNIOH Consulting Engineers Anchorage JWA Professional Engineering Alaska June 1981 Prepared for: ALASKA POWER AUTHORITY INTRODUCTION The Alaska Power Authority undertook an analysis of the current and future energy use patterns and possible alternative energy sources in various com- munities in rural Alaska. The results of one portion of that work are con- tained in a report entitled: Reconnaissance Study of Energy Requirements and Alternatives for Kaltag, Savoonga, White Mountain and Elim. The re- port, prepared by Holden & Associates, Fryer : Pressley : Elliott, and JWA, outlines in detail the current energy use patterns and suggests some alter- native methods of providing for future energy needs of the communities surveyed. This summary is intended to describe the recommendations and findings of the above mentioned report. If you desire more information on this subject, you may obtain a copy of the full report from your City Council, Village Corporation or High School, or you may contact the Alaska Power Authority (Attention: Mr. Don Baxter, 333 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 31, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, 276-7641) or Holden & Associates: (Attention: Mr. Richard Holden, 1710 Davis Avenue, Juneau, Alaska 99801, 586-3687). Briefly, the forecast for the future energy needs of Elim are as follows: FORECASTED ENERGY CONSUMPTION 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 Electric (kWh x 1000) 250 303 427 540 654 Peak Demand (kW) 82 99 139 176 213 Thermal (Btu x 109) 13 15 17 19 21 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS SUMMARY OF FINDINGS The residents of Elim are dependent on high cost, imported diesel fuel for the production of electric energy. The cost is stiff. Fuel oil for power generation (and space heating) is about $2.00 a gallon (1981) and electric energy is generated at a cost of approximately 37¢ per kWh. Escalating oil costs have spurred a large scale return to wood for residential space heating. The conversion now underway has been spontaneous and largely unaided by outsiders. To date, the magnitude of this transition has been striking. In aggregate, wood is used to heat 70 percent of all residen- tial space. For those with good health and the cash resources to purchase snowmachines, boats and motors, gasoline, chainsaws and wood heaters, this option is viable. For the old, disabled and financially disadvantaged, the switch to this cheaper fuel source cannot be afforded (regardless of income source). Wood harvest and transport is accomplished by individuals or small groups, and these activities are tailored to other seasonal subsistence pat- terns such as hunting and fishing. The small amount of excess wood avail- able in Elim fetches about $90.00 per cord ($5.80/10© Btu); a little more than one-third the cost of fuel oil. The high cost of electricity is reflected in low consumption rates. The average household uses about 1,300 kWh per year, or about one-third of railbelt consumption; yet pays about twice the utility bill. Under such "subsistence" level consumption, it is difficult to consider significant savings through conservation, not withstanding total disconnect. Home heating, on the other hand, does not mirror conservative electrical consumption. Building heat loss is more a function of the building's charac- teristics (e.g., size and condition) than a function of occupant habits. Although the average house in Elim is only 700 square feet, the family occupying it must provide about 156 x 10® Btu annually for space heat (1,100 gallons of fuel oil or 10 cords of wood, equivalent). The extreme subarctic cold, high winds and substandard housing, aggravated by escalat- ing fuel costs cause an ever increasing stress on household budgets. Unlike residential electric consumption, conservation of residential heating fuel has obvious merit. The commercial and public agency buildings such as schools, clinics and stores are entirely dependent on imported fuel oil for space heat. Continued dependence on fuel oil for these sectors will cause an escalation in cost, or a reduction in quality, of the basic goods and services they provide. Regional transportation is by barge (in the ice-free summer months) and by air (year-round). Due to remote location and logistical difficulties, the cost of many goods and services consumed has a relatively and absolutely high transportation component. Escalating fuel costs will be compounded by esca- lating transportation charges. Gasoline for local snowmachine and _ boat transport is about $2.50 per gallon (1980). Construction of the community's energy balance revealed that schools are the largest single consumers, as well as the largest consumer class of electric energy, with residential being the second largest consumer class. However, residential is the largest consumer class of space heating fuels, and schools are the largest single consumers. Of every three million Btu's consumed today for non-transportation needs, about one million are used for electric power generation and two million are used for space heating -- an early indication of where future emphasis may well be placed. As the population continues to grow, the quality of housing continues to in- crease and government related construction continues to expand, the demand for raw energy resources will rise significantly. Base case forecasts, per- formed by the reconnaissance team, indicate about a 60 percent increase in per capita total electric consumption and about a 32 percent increase in per capita total thermal energy consumption over the next 20 years. The reconnaissance team evaluated a number of alternative fuel sources and energy conserving technologies within the framework of this study. Primary to evaluation procedures are the elements of cost, availability, reliability, complexity and the desires and traditions of the community's residents. Conclusions based on our technical and economic feasibility work are as follows: Improving diesel-electric conversion efficiency and capturing generator waste heat for space heating purposes appear to be the best short-term methods of defraying the high cost of electric generation. The prospects for hydroelectric development at Elim are not. clear-cut at this reconnaissance level. Hydrologic investigation to confirm stream flow (and, thus, electric generation capacity) and cost assumptions are re- quired to adequately assess this potential. Power generation technologies alternative to diesel-electric and hydro do not appear to be economically or technically attractive for the small remote load centers considered herein. Weatherization is a low cost proven technology with obvious merit. © Wood will remain an economically viable option for space heat. If this already established pattern of conversion is continued to its apparent and logical conclusion, approximately 90 percent of all residential space and 75 percent of all commercially and municipally operated space will be heated with wood. Although the switch thus far has been accomplished inter- nally, the final increments of the conversion described above may require assistance in the acquisition of the tools of harvest, transport and end use. Although the pattern of conversion is established, long-term complications may arise. Wood, which is classified as a renewable resource, regener- ates slowly in the subarctic study area. Thus, select wood fuel could dwindle in the community's periphery. This raises the possibility that forests will be depleted faster than trees cut for fuel can be replaced. Due to the construction of modern housing, schools and utilities, this community is now immobilized. For residents who no longer can simply pick up their belongs and leave when local resources dwindle, the poten- tial of wood's long-term price advantage over fuel oil could eventually evaporate. Although wood can have a major impact on reducing the study commu- nity's dependence on imported petroleum, this development would not completely solve the region's energy problems. At least 50 percent of the energy used by the region cannot be replaced directly by wood (or coal), using currently available technology. We, therefore, conclude a long-term solution to the region's energy problems appears to be development of an alternative liquid fuel, derived from wood or coal or both. Technologies required to convert wood and coal into fuels for transportation, power generation and space heating are now being devel- oped, and may be available for use, on a regional basis, in the future. Of course, the success of new and innovative technologies in rural Alaska depends on the same transportaton systems needed to distribute coal and wood within the region. Thus, in addition to the establishment of wood harvesting and coal extraction industries, a major component of the region's energy plan should be the development of transportation systems of suffi- cient scale to handle these fuels. Within the offshore areas of Norton Sound, exploration for oil and gas has taken place. If the federal government leases tracts in the sound, and if commercial quantities of oil and gas are found, a regional refining industry might provide the study community with a reliable supply of fuel. But, the uncertainty of those prospects, plus the long lead time for development, precludes the authors from including them in this work. In conclusion, the alternatives evaluated herein can have a significant impact on lowering the study community's dependence on high cost petroleum fuels. To do this the plan must tap another bountiful form of energy -- the will- ingness and desire of local residents to participate in finding and implement- ing solutions to their energy problems. Thus, the ultimate solution must be consistent with emerging village lifestyles, as well as being within the finan- cial and technical capabilities of local residents. RECOMMENDATIONS ° ° Electric Generation Plant 1) The fuel efficiency of the electric generation system should be in- creased. This project involves the further training of operators, improved management of the plant facilities, load management, and replacement with higher efficiency units as older units reach the end of their physical life. 2) Proceed with design and feasibility for retrofit of existing generators so waste heat may be captured and used for school space heat. Esti- mated cost of feasibility and design is $30,000. Energy Conservation in Buildings 1) An energy specialist and auditor should be brought to Elim to assist the residences in participating in the various weatherization programs that exist under state and federal law. 2) A technical audit should be conducted of the school buildings and appropriate retrofit programs undertaken. Hydroelectric Potential Although positive economic benefit for the Elim hydro plan was not proven by this work, some hydrologic and capital cost assumptions remain uncon- firmed by on-site investigation. Therefore, a reconnaissance geotechnical investigation should be performed at the Elim hydro sites. This on-the- ground investigation is needed primarily to verify (winter and summer) statistically derived stream flow assumptions developed for the Corps of Engineers work, and this study. Further, it would assist in refining capital cost requirements. The economic potential of the hydro sites could then be reexamined using an array of petroleum fuel escalation rates and amortization periods as a basis for the decision of a full feasi- bility. The estimated cost of this investigation is $60,000. -7- ° Wood Resources Encouragement and assistance should be given to those desiring to con- vert to the local wood resource for space heat. TABEE 4 SUMMARY OF ENERGY RESOURCES (ELIM) Source of Reliability Resource Quantity Quality Cost Data of Data Wood 204,000 cu.ft. Adequate for $90/cord (1)(2) (10)(12) sustainable timber and 1980 (4)(8) (8) (1)(2) (1)(4) Wind 10 mph (avg) Greater than (9) (10)(12) 16 mph, 18% of time(9) Hydro 374 mWh $3,324,800 (7) (10)(12) 131 kW (7) Capital (7) Generator 1.4x10°Btu/yr Adequate for $175,000 (2) (10) Waste Heat space heat (2) Capital (2) Coal Unknown (5) lignite to sub- (3) (5) (11) bituminous Geothermal Unknown (6) 40°C to 79°C (3) (6) (11) (6) Building 6.8x10°Btu/yr Adequate only (2) (10) Envelope (2) for space heat Heat Loss @) Sources of Data: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) Estimate by local residents. Engineer's estimate. Inadequate data for the purpose of estimation. Based on current regional costs. Assessment of Local Resources of Northwest Alaska, (draft) Dames & Moore, 1980. Geothermal Energy Resources of Alaska, Turner et.al., 1980. Northwest Alaska Small Hydro Power Reconnaissance Study, (draft) OTT Water Engineers, 1981. Elim Alaska; Its Resources and Development Potential, BIA, 1975. U.S. Weather Bureau statistics. Reliability of Data: (10) Adequate for the purpose of this work (reconnaissance level). (11) Not adequate for the purpose of this work. (12) Further data required to verify or proceed with feasibility work. -9- - OL - TABLE 2 CURRENT ENERGY BALANCE (ELIM) (1979 - 1980) Fuel Oil Fuel Oil Wood Wood Total Waste Heat (Gallons) (BtuX10®) (Cords) (BtuX10%) (Btux109) (Btux109)_ RAW FUEL CONSUMPTION ELECTRIC GENERATION 39,051 5.4 5.4 4.6 SPACE HEAT Residential 14,460 2.0 388 6.0 8.0 Sal, Institutional REAA - 7,500 Gal. BIA - 13,300 Gal. 20,800 2.9 2.9 1.3 Commercial and Public Agencies 8,415 lise 4 0.06 1.3 0.39 TOTAL SPACE HEAT CONSUMPTION 43,675 6.1 392 6.1 12.2 5.39 Water and Sewer Utility Heat 6,000 0.83 0.83 0.54 TOTAL BULK RAW FUEL CONSUMPTION 88,726 lace 392 6.4 18.5 10.5 (Without Transportation) ELECTRIC POWER CONSUMPTION kWh BtuxX109 Institutional 99,678 0.34 REAA - 44,550 kWh BIA - 55,128 kWh Residential 66,273 0.23 Commercial 22,528 0.08 Public Agencies 16,340 0.06 Water and Sewer Utility 45,000 0-15 TOTAL ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION 249,819 0.85 TRANSPORTATION Gallons BtuxX109 Ground and Water (Regular Gas) 54,470 6.9 MISCELLANEOUS FUELS Propane Unknown Note: All values are annual. White Gas Unknown Kerosene Unknown -bb- END USE CONSUMPTION RESIDENTIAL ELECT2IC G,27% Ic % WASTE HEAT i FROM FUEL oll BULK FUEL CONSUMPTION INSTITUTIONAL ELECT2IC s SLeome al 29) Cl& KWH CONVERS =COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC 22,5722 Ku =e BUC Kania ELECTIC “o,ak> KWH WATER UTIUTY BLUBCTRIC 45,000 dH more RESIDENTIAL FUEL OL aes i 14.00 aL 2.0 ¥ 107 et SSIDEMT AL! eg SPACE. HEAT 43,675 GAL 6.1K 107 BTL % WASTE HEAT TOTAL SPACE HEAT 12. 2LIen INSTITUTIONAL SPACE HEAT 20,200 GAL,, 2.7 L10? pI % WASTE HEAT SIMRO 5 Copos | tT Be aR . % WASTE HEAT REGULAZ GASOLINE 6.8 410? BTU ELM ENERGY BALANCE (1979-1080) em NOTES:ALL VALVES ARE ANNUAL. BULK FUELS ONLY FIGURE - RESULTS OF COMMUNITY MEETING A public. meeting was held in Elim on November 18, 1980 with community residents and a representative of the study team. Approximately 23 people attended and expressed their views on current energy related problems and possible solutions which may be implemented now and in the future. In sub- sequent days, the engineer had many conversations with individual residents of Elim concerning these same matters. Method of notification was by radio announcement on KNOM, previous fly-through of community, and message delivery to each house be local children. It is felt, from the meeting and individual conversations, that the people of Elim view their energy related difficulties generally as follows: Many of the newly completed 35 units of single family government houses are experiencing structural failure after only a month of occupancy. Apart from the obvious displeasure with this situa- tions, many residents felt the damage would eventually result in cracks causing excessive drafts and heat loss. The damage was outlined as follows and witnessed by the engineer. - Separation of interior wall from ceilings of up to one inch. - Noticeable bowing of subfloors. - Cracking of walls and wall intersections. - Displacement of doors. - Skirting was not installed on many homes. - One heater stack was witnessed to have pulled apart approxi- mately one inch. - 12 - ° The cost of electricity is excessive. ° Much of the older housing is inadequately insulated and sealed causing excessive fuel oil consumption. Residents of Elim expressed preference for the following concepts as means to deal with their energy related problems: ° Implementation of a program to better insulate and weatherize older housing. Insulation in the new units is adequate as is. ° Development of hydroelectric power. ° All new buildings in Elim be insulated and weatherized to a level adequate for the extreme Arctic cold. The residents of Elim are aware of several possible alternative energy sources which exist in the local area as follows: ° Wood as both standing timber and drift. (Wood is currently the primary fuel source for residential space heat.) ° Hot springs. The closest being approximately 10 miles from distant. ° Wind, although there are long periods of calm during certain seasons. Alternative fuels or technologies which were felt less feasible or less abun- dant by the people of Elim are: ° No peat occurrences were known of in the vicinity of Elim. = PROPERTY OF: Alaska Power Authority 334 W. 5th Ave. Anchorage, Alaska 99501