HomeMy WebLinkAboutJeneau Lammergeier CleanTech Grant Submission
Renewable Energy Fund Round 5
Grant Application
AEA 12-001 Application Page 1 of 18 7/1/2011
Application Forms and Instructions
The following forms and instructions are provided to assist you in preparing your application for
a Renewable Energy Fund Grant. An electronic version of the Request for Applications (RFA)
and the forms are available online at: http://www.akenergyauthority.org
Grant Application
Form
GrantApp5.doc Application form in MS Word that includes an outline of
information required to submit a complete application.
Applicants should use the form to assure all information is
provided and attach additional information as required.
Application Cost
Worksheet
Costworksheet
5.doc
Summary of Cost information that should be addressed by
applicants in preparing their application.
Grant Budget
Form
GrantBudget5.
doc
A detailed grant budget that includes a breakdown of costs by
milestone and a summary of funds available and requested to
complete the work for which funds are being requested.
Grant Budget
Form Instructions
GrantBudgetIn
structions5.doc
Instructions for completing the above grant budget form.
Authorized
Signers Form
Authorized
signers
form5.doc
Form indicating who is authorized to sign the grant, finance
reports and progress reports and provides grantee information.
• If you are applying for grants for more than one project, provide separate application
forms for each project.
• Multiple phases for the same project may be submitted as one application.
• If you are applying for grant funding for more than one phase of a project, provide
milestones and grant budget for completion of each phase.
• If some work has already been completed on your project and you are requesting
funding for an advanced phase, submit information sufficient to demonstrate that the
preceding phases are satisfied and funding for an advanced phase is warranted.
• If you have additional information or reports you would like the Authority to consider in
reviewing your application, either provide an electronic version of the document with
your submission or reference a web link where it can be downloaded or reviewed.
REMINDER:
• Alaska Energy Authority is subject to the Public Records Act AS 40.25, and materials
submitted to the Authority may be subject to disclosure requirements under the act if no
statutory exemptions apply.
• All applications received will be posted on the Authority web site after final
recommendations are made to the legislature.
• In accordance with 3 AAC 107.630 (b) Applicants may request trade secrets or
proprietary company data be kept confidential subject to review and approval by the
Authority. If you want information is to be kept confidential the applicant must:
o Request the information be kept confidential.
o Clearly identify the information that is the trade secret or proprietary in their
application.
o Receive concurrence from the Authority that the information will be kept
confidential. If the Authority determines it is not confidential it will be treated as a
public record in accordance with AS 40.25 or returned to the applicant upon
request.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 2 of 18 7/1//2011
SECTION 1 – APPLICANT INFORMATION
Name (Name of utility, IPP, or government entity submitting proposal)
Lammergeier CleanTech (A subsidiary of Juneau BioFuels Research)
Type of Entity: Corporation Fiscal Year End December 31
Tax ID # 20-4285827 Tax Status: X For-profit or non-profit ( check one)
Mailing Address
Box 210696
Auke Bay, AK 99821
Physical Address
14020 Glacier Highway
Juneau, AK 99801
Telephone
907-321-2909
Fax
Email
jkamler@scwocleantech.com
1.1 APPLICANT POINT OF CONTACT / GRANTS MANAGER
Name
Jonathan Kamler
Title
Chief Operating Officer
Mailing Address
Box 210696
Auke Bay, AK 99821
Telephone
907-321-2909
Fax
Email
jkamler@scwocleantech.com
1.2 APPLICANT MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Please check as appropriate. If you do not to meet the minimum applicant requirements, your
application will be rejected.
1.2.1 As an Applicant, we are: (put an X in the appropriate box)
An electric utility holding a certificate of public convenience and necessity under AS
42.05, or
X An independent power producer in accordance with 3 AAC 107.695 (a) (1), or
A local government, or
A governmental entity (which includes tribal councils and housing authorities);
Yes
or
No
1.2.2. Attached to this application is formal approval and endorsement for its project by
its board of directors, executive management, or other governing authority. If the
applicant is a collaborative grouping, a formal approval from each participant’s
governing authority is necessary. (Indicate Yes or No in the box )
Yes
or
No
1.2.3. As an applicant, we have administrative and financial management systems and
follow procurement standards that comply with the standards set forth in the grant
agreement.
Yes
or
No
1.2.4. If awarded the grant, we can comply with all terms and conditions of the attached
grant form. (Any exceptions should be clearly noted and submitted with the
application.)
Yes
or
No
1.2.5 We intend to own and operate any project that may be constructed with grant
funds for the benefit of the general public.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 3 of 18 7/1//2011
SECTION 2 – PROJECT SUMMARY
This is intended to be no more than a 1-2 page overview of your project.
2.1 Project Title – (Provide a 4 to 5 word title for your project)
Type in your answer here and follow same format for rest of the application.
Juneau SuperCritical Water Oxidation Sewage Sludge To Energy
2.2 Project Location –
Include the physical location of your project and name(s) of the community or communities that will
benefit from your project.
Location – latitude and longitude or street address or community / communities served:
Juneau, Alaska
2.3 PROJECT TYPE
Put X in boxes as appropriate
2.3.1 Renewable Resource Type
Wind X Biomass or Biofuels
Hydro, including run of river Transmission of Renewable Energy
Geothermal, including Heat Pumps Small Natural Gas
Heat Recovery from existing sources Hydrokinetic
Solar Storage of Renewable
X Other Electricity From Thermal Destruction of Sewage Biomass
2.3.2 Proposed Grant Funded Phase(s) for this Request (Check all that apply)
Reconnaissance Design and Permitting
Feasibility X Construction and Commissioning
Conceptual Design
2.4 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Provide a brief one paragraph description of your proposed project.
We will build a sewage sludge destruction and energy co-generation facility at or near one of
Juneau’s sewage treatment plants. The sludge will be destroyed using a thermo-chemical process
of supercritical water oxidation (SCWO, rhymes with “grow”). The SCWO technology is quite
simple, essentially being a very high pressure, very high temperature pressure cooker. We heat
water to 600° Celsius (1,100 Fahrenheit) under 4,000 psi of pressure at which point it is no longer a
liquid or a gas. It is then a “supercritical fluid”. It penetrates and diffuses into compounds like a
gas, but dissolves like a liquid. The reactions are incredibly rapid at only 60 seconds and very
thorough with all organics, carbon, and hydrogen compounds converted to gases. The effluent is
cooled and separated. It would be adequate at that point. But we take it a step further by injecting
liquid oxygen, which oxidizes all of the compounds produced to their highest state. All carbon is
converted into CO2 (carbon dioxide). All hydrogen is converted into H2O (water). We actually
produce more water than that with which we started. All minerals are rendered to inert oxides.
The oxidation process is exothermic, which makes the process self-sustaining through the
production of phenomenal amounts of heat. That heat perpetuates the reaction and can be
converted into surplus electricity or district heating. At the end you have only clean industrial
gases, really clean water, and a mineral ash high in marketable silica and phosphorus.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 4 of 18 7/1//2011
2.5 PROJECT BENEFIT
Briefly discuss the financial and public benefits that will result from this project, (such as reduced fuel
costs, lower energy costs, etc.)
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: The project will immediately reduce Juneau’s short-term, and
historical combustion carbon footprint by more than 14.9 million pounds annually and will do so by:
1) Completely eliminating the need for 110 thousand gallons of diesel fuel currently
consumed by Juneau’s sewage sludge incinerator
2) Freeing a 50-thousand-gallon equivalent of Alaska Electric Light & Power hydro-
generated electricity for duel-fuel customers, whom would normally burn diesel
3) Eliminating 70% of the sludge trucking and 100% of sludge shipping
4) Producing ZERO emissions from 1,400 tons of the sludge-entrained carbon
The project will reduce Juneau’s long-term, methane and carbon footprint by more than 82
million (CO2-equivalent) pounds annually and will do so by:
1) Diverting Juneau’s sewage sludge away from non-incineration options such as
composting, anaerobic digestion, landfilling, and land application (all of which would
produce mostly methane)
2) Ensuring that the 1,400 tons of short-cycle carbon in sludge is recycled as marketable
industrial gas products and never becomes methane
The project will generate approximately $6 million in economic activity annually and will do so by:
1) Bringing industry to Juneau and producing local jobs
2) Recycling short-cycle carbon in local and regional markets
3) Recycling entrained silica and phosphorus from the sewage sludge into marketable products
4) Providing $200 thousand worth of clean, renewable, green electricity to the city under
normal circumstances
5) Saving the city, local businesses, and Juneau citizenry $600 thousand in fuel expenses annually
6) Reducing waste disposal costs through co-generation and increased landfill life
7) Dramatically reducing wastewater processing costs by eliminating the need to dewater
the sewage sludge
8) Denitrifying sludge effluent in a single step
The project will produce several ancillary, but significant, benefits and will do so by:
1) Exceeding all possible State and Federal clean water and clean air requirements to the
point of being absolute
2) Reducing externalized, health-related costs by destroying organic toxins in the sewage
sludge and preventing heavy metals from entering the environment
3) Saving the city more than $100 thousand per month in electricity costs alone during
periods of extremis electrical demand, such as following an avalanche when low-cost
hydro-power is unavailable
4) Dramatically reducing odor-related complaints to the city from sewage sludge and the landfill
5) Fostering innovative local approaches to conserve energy and promote the use of renewables
6) Creating a replicable and profitable model by which other municipalities can develop
energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives
7) Increasing the capacity of local governments to implement energy efficiency and
renewable energy projects
8) Demonstrating how limited municipal dollars can leverage significant private sector
investment in local clean energy projects that create local jobs and stimulate local
economic development
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 5 of 18 7/1//2011
2.6 PROJECT BUDGET OVERVIEW
Briefly discuss the amount of funds needed, the anticipated sources of funds, and the nature and source
of other contributions to the project.
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: The project will be a $19 million privately-held capital project
that will build a sewage sludge destruction and energy co-generation facility at or near one of
Juneau’s sewage treatment plants. Financing will be through monetization of the City and Borough
of Juneau’s sludge disposal contract. Operations and maintenance will be funded through sales of
marketable products resulting from the destruction of the sludge, specifically energy (heat &
electricity), liquid CO2, silica, and phosphate. Additionally, there will be significant revenue
potential from carbon credit trading.
2.7 COST AND BENEFIT SUMARY
Include a summary of grant request and your project’s total costs and benefits below.
Grant Costs
(Summary of funds requested)
2.7.1 Grant Funds Requested in this application. $4,000,000
2.7.2 Other Funds to be provided (Project match) $15,725,000
2.7.3 Total Grant Costs (sum of 2.7.1 and 2.7.2) $19,725,000
Project Costs & Benefits
(Summary of total project costs including work to date and future cost estimates to get to a fully
operational project)
2.7.4 Total Project Cost (Summary from Cost Worksheet
including estimates through construction)
$19,725,000
2.7.5 Estimated Direct Financial Benefit (Savings) Annual Energy Savings:
$1.2 Million
Investment Return NPV20:
$44.6 Million
IRR: 22%
DROI: 2.97:1
2.7.6 Other Public Benefit (If you can calculate the benefit in
terms of dollars please provide that number here and
explain how you calculated that number in your application
(Section 5.)
Annual Carbon Offset:
$1.3 Million
Five-Year Landfill Life
Extension: $10 Million
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 6 of 18 7/1//2011
SECTION 3 – PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Describe who will be responsible for managing the project and provide a plan for successfully
completing the project within the scope, schedule and budget proposed in the application.
3.1 Project Manager
Tell us who will be managing the project for the Grantee and include contact information, a
resume and references for the manager(s). If the applicant does not have a project manager
indicate how you intend to solicit project management support. If the applicant expects project
management assistance from AEA or another government entity, state that in this section.
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: A small, local engineering firm has been serving as the
basic project management team during the preliminary pre-project stages. The Senior Project
Manager has not yet been identified and will be chosen based on final funding approval and
award of RFP and will be done so in consultation with the system manufacturer and Parsons
Engineering LTD. We intend to use TetraTech (www.tetratech.com) for some of the larger,
more-complex system integration work. We have partnered with SuperCritical Fluids
International (www.scfi.eu) and Parsons Engineering LTD (www.parsons.com), and they will be
managing the overall system engineering, basic fabrication, testing, and installation of the reactor
system and processing unit. We are quite open to the prospect of assistance from AEA with
choosing a suitable project manager if such assistance is available, but reserve the right to make
any final decision ourselves. Resumes were not available by the grant application deadline,
because key personnel were still being identified as part of the Juneau RFP process and formal
selection had simply not been made in most cases.
3.2 Project Schedule
Include a schedule for the proposed work that will be funded by this grant. (You may include a
chart or table attachment with a summary of dates below.)
A specific schedule is not possible at this time due to the dependency on the Juneau sludge
disposal RFP. The best that can be said is that from award and final negotiations of the RFP
process, the commissioning would be 18-24 months after that date. That award date is as of yet
indeterminate and at least several months away. The dates listed in the budget form are
reflective of the general timeframes involved, but the specific dates should not be viewed as
accurate per se. Specific details of the schedule will be analyzed in detail early in the lifecycle
process as part of the Project Kick-Off meeting.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 7 of 18 7/1//2011
3.3 Project Milestones
Define key tasks and decision points in your project and a schedule for achieving them. The
Milestones must also be included on your budget worksheet to demonstrate how you propose to
manage the project cash flow. (See Section 2 of the RFA or the Budget Form.)
Project Kick-off is a crucial project milestone and serves as a forum to open lines of
communication and to clarify scope, documentation, schedule, resources and any other project-
related issues. Our objective is to hold a kick-off meeting as early as possible after project
award, and to use this meeting to review and agree to the following key items;
• Scope
• Schedule
• Resources, team structure & assigned roles
• Progress reporting (internal & external)
• Potential risks
• Quality control
• Safety
• Document control & Communications
• Change control & Review meetings
Specifically, the company has adopted the lifecycle approach to project management and
delivery. This approach organizes the project management processes into 5 groups as detailed
below and is generally accepted as the best practice approach to project management:
• Initiating Process – recognizing that a project or phase should begin and committing to do
so – e.g., instruction that a project has been awarded
• Planning Process – devising and maintaining a workable and realistic scheme to
accomplish the business need that the project was undertaken to address
• Executing Process – coordination of people and other resources to carry out the plan
• Controlling Process – ensuring the project objectives are met by monitoring and
measuring progress and taking corrective action when necessary
• Closing Process – formalizing acceptance of the phase or project and bringing it to an
orderly and acceptable conclusion
The following is a summary of the key elements of the approach to managing projects:
• Clearly establish the scope of work (SOW), schedule, safety, and quality requirements of
the project by reviewing disparate interpretations of the SOW prior to placement of order
and again with the project team at the kick-off meeting
• At the kick-off meeting and subsequent project meetings re-establish the procedures for
communication and customer involvement on the project – i.e., clearly establish manufacturer
and customer roles and responsibilities during the project and at milestone reviews
• Regular and productive meetings (both internal and external) in order to maintain tight
control of schedule, scope, and cost
• Open and informal communications with the client to ensure timely feedback of
information prior to the scheduled Issue for Approval (IFA) date for documentation
• Pen communications and appropriate feedback on project performance from and to the
project team to ensure accountability at all levels of the project team. This ensures that
any deviations to schedule, cost, and quality are highlighted and controlled at an early
stage, before deviations become detrimental to the project.
Upon receipt of a change request, strive to minimize the magnitude of the resulting change by
helping to analyze how, and to what extent, the proposed change mitigates perceived problems or
adds value to the project. This ensures buy-in and acceptance on any change in scope, schedule,
or cost prior to the implementation of a change.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 8 of 18 7/1//2011
3.4 Project Resources
Describe the personnel, contractors, equipment, and services you will use to accomplish the
project. Include any partnerships or commitments with other entities you have or anticipate will
be needed to complete your project. Describe any existing contracts and the selection process
you may use for major equipment purchases or contracts. Include brief resumes and references
for known, key personnel, contractors, and suppliers as an attachment to your application.
A Senior Project Manager will be appointed to manage integration, delivery, and timetables.
The Project Manager will ensure that the work is executed in accordance with objectives, time,
quality, and budget. All systems engineering will be performed by Parsons Engineering LTD,
with controls and skid mount integration built and installed by Proscon-Rockwell Automation.
3.5 Project Communications
Discuss how you plan to monitor the project and keep the Authority informed of the status.
The Project Manager will be the main point of contact for the grant administrator and will ensure
that all partner-company activities are fully coordinated to meet the client objectives. Update
briefings will be provided to the AEA at least twice annually or more frequently if needed.
Briefing delivery will be either in person at a location of the AEA’s choosing or via live video
teleconference. Allowance has been made for one face-to-face project meeting per month and/or
to coincide with major design reviews/deliverables at the site. The AEA will be provided with
relevant excerpts from company board meeting minutes. General, non-proprietary project
information and non-proprietary information from the progress updates will be posted on a
public company website. Proprietary information will be provided via hard-copy handouts or via
download from a password-protected area on the website. The project manager as well as the
company CEO will be available for impromptu and informal updates and questions via phone
and email on a more frequent basis. The project site will be available to visits from AEA
officials by appointment. The principles are open to discussing and including other
communications requirements specified by AEA. Formal project reports will be issued monthly
based on standard formats. These reports will include the status of the project schedule and
budget, tasks completed within the reported period, constraints or project risks, and planned
activities for the upcoming period.
3.6 Project Risk
Discuss potential problems and how you would address them.
Risk is of minimal concern as long as the City and Borough of Juneau honors the waste disposal
contract upon which this project is based. The energy content of the waste stream is stable, and
the quantity will likely grow slightly over the next 10 years with zero likelihood of decline.
Consequently, there is effectively zero risk from a thermoeconomic perspective. The resource
volume is guaranteed to be available (unless people stop pooping), and there is no reason to think
that the per-unit energy content will change. There are some obvious physical risks from any
industrial process, but they have been adequately addressed and integrated into the existing
design. The design engineers have developed a full hazardous-operations study template for the
plant as part of the engineering process and its interface with the existing site processes so that
the safety and operationally critical aspects unique to Juneau will be identified and included in
the design. A summary of that study template is attached. Risks will be analyzed in more detail
early in the system scoping and design phases of the lifecycle process.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 9 of 18 7/1//2011
SECTION 4 – PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND TASKS
• Tell us what the project is and how you will meet the requirements outlined in Section 2 of
the RFA.
• The level of information will vary according to phase(s) of the project you propose to
undertake with grant funds.
• If you are applying for grant funding for more than one phase of a project provide a
plan and grant budget form for completion of each phase.
• If some work has already been completed on your project and you are requesting funding for
an advanced phase, submit information sufficient to demonstrate that the preceding phases
are satisfied and funding for an advanced phase is warranted.
4.1 Proposed Energy Resource
Describe the potential extent/amount of the energy resource that is available.
Discuss the pros and cons of your proposed energy resource vs. other alternatives that may be
available for the market to be served by your project.
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: The proposed energy resource is the entrained, short-cycle
carbon present in 1,400 tons of Juneau’s annual sewage sludge. The standard estimate is that the
energy in the poop from each person on a daily basis can power a 100-watt light bulb for five hours.
Bomb calorimetric tests performed on Juneau’s sludge indicate an average energy resource of about
18.9kJ/g (18.1 million BTUs per metric ton). That estimate results in a total of about 25.3 billion
BTUs of available heat energy annually.
The current methods of sewage sludge disposal are simply wrong-headed. The sludge
industry (euphemistically known as the biosolids industry) markets sludge as a fertilizer, but
sewage treatment plants are not designed to create fertilizer, they are designed to clean water.
During the wastewater treatment process, the organic toxins and heavy metals from industrial,
medical, and household wastes are removed from the water and concentrated into a sludge.
Spreading this toxic sludge on croplands and gardens as so-called “biosolids” is a travesty,
immoral, and DANGEROUS. These practices introduce those compounds right into our food
chain at levels several orders of magnitude above background levels. The human and
environmental health hazards are many, but the sewage sludge industry would have you believe
otherwise. Although incineration (in its many forms) is an effective solution to this problem, the
exorbitant capital and operation costs are prohibitive with dicey chances of even getting a clean
air permit for new construction. Plus, incineration has to fight water’s affinity for heat.
One of our biggest thermoeconomic advantages is that sludge need not be dewatered for our
process to work. We can release and capture the energy from the sludge with it in liquid form and
destroy all of the toxic organic compounds simultaneously. Supercritical water oxidation loves water
and uses it as a medium to destroy the organic compounds in the sludge. Every other process has to
vaporize, boil off, evaporate, vigorously centrifuge, or remove the water in some other energy-intensive
manner in order to process the waste. They all fail (except incineration) to destroy any toxins.
Dewatering sludge wastes enormous amounts of energy. We simply heat up the sludge in situ, cook it
under immense pressure, and add liquid oxygen. Period! That’s it, and the toxins are gone. The
oxygen sustains the process by initiating an exothermic reaction that gives off enormous amounts of
heat as the organic hydrocarbon and carbohydrate compounds in the sludge oxidize into CO2 and H2O.
A dry ton of sludge is comparable to the energy content of a ton of coal. Clearly, there is a lot of energy
in sludge. We release all of that energy directly into the water, rather than boiling the water with a flame
or heat exchanger. The energy heats the water very efficiently to 600° Celsius (1,100 Fahrenheit) under
4,000 psi of pressure. Moreover, we use only 9% of the energy released from the sludge to power our
entire system (about 6% as electricity to run pumps and 3% to produce oxygen), which leaves 91% of
the energy released from the sludge to sell as surplus electricity or district heating.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
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4.2 Existing Energy System
4.2.1 Basic configuration of Existing Energy System
Briefly discuss the basic configuration of the existing energy system. Include information about
the number, size, age, efficiency, and type of generation.
There is no existing energy recovery system for this biomass resource. In fact, the resource is
considered to be entirely a waste stream under both the existing and historical disposal regimes.
Disposal is currently energy-intensive and substantially energy-negative. Our project would
capture energy from this wasted resource for the first time.
4.2.2 Existing Energy Resources Used
Briefly discuss your understanding of the existing energy resources. Include a brief discussion of
any impact the project may have on existing energy infrastructure and resources.
Juneau’s Mendenhall Wastewater Treatment Plant currently consumes about 2.9 GWhs of
electricity annually. Approximately 60 percent of that electricity is used to separate the water
from the solid waste. Our project would almost entirely eliminate 60 percent of the plant’s
electricity demand, because there would no longer be any need to separate the water from the
waste (or would require much less vigorous separation). Our destruction process actually uses the
water as a medium to destroy the waste. It is a break-through approach in comparison to
conventional wastewater technology.
4.2.3 Existing Energy Market
Discuss existing energy use and its market. Discuss impacts your project may have on energy
customers.
The primary target electrical customer is the City and Borough of Juneau by powering the entire
Mendenhall Wastewater Treatment Plant. The city will score very high on green energy
production and utilization. They will get the electricity for free. Compensation will be built into
the tipping fees for disposal of CBJ’s sewage sludge.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
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4.3 Proposed System
Include information necessary to describe the system you are intending to develop and address
potential system design, land ownership, permits, and environmental issues.
4.3.1 System Design
Provide the following information for the proposed renewable energy system:
• A description of renewable energy technology specific to project location
• Optimum installed capacity
• Anticipated capacity factor
• Anticipated annual generation
• Anticipated barriers
• Basic integration concept
• Delivery methods
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: The supercritical water oxidation technology is integrated
into a bolt-on system designed for the back end of the sewage treatment process. Current
protocol involves the loading of sludge into trucks. Right now, trucks pull up to sewage
treatment plants to haul toxic sludge away to landfills, incinerators, or to spread on the world’s
croplands, forests, and gardens. Our project replaces the typical status-quo, hauling-and-dumping
sludge disposal into trucks pulling up to haul away marketable, liquid CO2 and marketable
minerals. Heat generated from the process will produce steam that will be converted into
electricity and district heating for use in the Mendenhall Wastewater Treatment Plant. Nothing
goes to waste. The system uses off-the-shelf system integration designed by Parsons Engineering
and is stringently tested by Supercritical Fluids International. The system will be professionally
engineered and turn-key. The installed unit will be fully guaranteed and supported by Parsons
Engineering and will use sophisticated controls built, integrated, and installed by Proscon-
Rockwell Automation.
A processing facility will be constructed to destroy sewage sludge using the supercritical water
oxidation process. Supercritical water oxidation is an exothermic, thermo-chemical process that destroys
organic compounds using very high pressure, very high temperature water as a medium. The chemical
reaction very efficiently releases the energy from sewage sludge directly into the water as heat at about
600° C. The hydrocarbon and carbohydrate compounds in the sludge provide the fuel, and oxygen injected
into the water sustains the exothermic chemical reaction. The heat produced from the sludge (about 18
million BTUs per dry ton) vastly outpaces the energy inputs (about 1.6 million BTUs per ton) and would
produce about 2.2 GWhs of electricity annually using standard steam turbines. The long-term plans are to
upgrade that output to 3.3 GWhs annually using supercritical CO2 turbines under development at Sandia
National Labs in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Besides the dramatic increase in efficiency over
traditional technologies, supercritical CO2 offers the distinct advantage of a very small
infrastructure footprint. A complete 20-megawatt unit, for example, occupies less than four cubic
meters. We plan to use one of the supercritical CO2 systems if they are commercially available in
time for our installation schedule. If not, we will install traditional steam turbines.
There is no discernable combustion, because the entire reaction takes place in the water, and there
are no emissions because it is a closed system. The only gases produced are pure CO2 and N2 (no NOx, no
Nx0). The CO2 is captured as a marketable, industrial product and the N2 is vented to the atmosphere.
There are no air permit requirements (per confirmation from EPA Region 10 Air Quality Office), because
CO2 production as an industrial gas product is not regulated. The project has numerous public benefits,
including: 98% reduction in greenhouse gasses related to Juneau’s sludge (9.4% reduction in Juneau's
overall greenhouse gas emissions); $6 million worth of new local economic activity annually, and $800
thousand annual energy/fuel savings to the city.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 12 of 18 7/1//2011
4.3.2 Land Ownership
Identify potential land ownership issues, including whether site owners have agreed to the
project or how you intend to approach land ownership and access issues.
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: There are no major land ownership issues and no special
siting challenges. The very small required footprint (about 3,000 square feet) allows the plant to
be located in an existing industrial area and to use existing infrastructure (albeit with likely
upgrades). If agreeable conditions and allowances can be reached with the City and Borough of
Juneau, the physical plant will be located in an unused building inside the existing Mendenhall
Wastewater Treatment Plant. Otherwise, there are numerous, existing suitable buildings for sale
and lease nearby. The small footprint makes site selection very flexible. The worst-case scenario
is to tear down an existing building at a suitable site and re-build to suit. The only access
concerns will be that the location is accessible by standard tractor-trailer trucks.
4.3.3 Permits
Provide the following information as it may relate to permitting and how you intend to address
outstanding permit issues.
• List of applicable permits
• Anticipated permitting timeline
• Identify and discussion of potential barriers
A building permit is the only permit requirement at this time.
Permitting requirements are minimal. There will be no requirement for air quality or discharge
permits. There are no emissions, because there is no stack. The only gases produced are CO2 and
N2. The CO2 is all captured as a marketable product and is therefore not subject to greenhouse
gas regulation (confirmed by EPA Air Permitting, Seattle). The effluent is clean, sterile water
which will be discharged into the municipal sewer system.
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4.3.4 Environmental
Address whether the following environmental and land use issues apply, and if so how they will
be addressed:
• Threatened or Endangered species
• Habitat issues
• Wetlands and other protected areas
• Archaeological and historical resources
• Land development constraints
• Telecommunications interference
• Aviation considerations
• Visual, aesthetics impacts
• Identify and discuss other potential barriers
Unlike most projects such as this, the environmental impacts are the easiest to address. There
literally are none. The very small required footprint (about 3,000 square feet) allows the plant to be
located in an existing industrial area and use existing infrastructure (albeit with likely upgrades).
There will be no new disturbance and no anticipated negative environmental impacts. If agreeable
conditions and allowances can be reached with the City and Borough of Juneau, the physical plant
will be located in an unused building inside the existing Mendenhall Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Otherwise, there are numerous, existing suitable buildings for sale and lease nearby. The small
footprint makes site selection very flexible. The worst-case scenario is to tear down an existing
building at a suitable site and re-build to suit. Regardless, existing impacts apply.
Our solution, put very simply, is to destroy the sludge with a thermo-chemical reaction
and to generate power. We are using a fast, efficient technology called supercritical water
oxidation (SCWO) that was developed initially by NASA to purify water. The SCWO technology
has since been perfected by the Defense Industry to destroy chemical and biological weapons.
The process destroys organic material to the point of absolute, leaving behind literally zero
organic compounds. Plus, all ammonia in the sludge and associated wastewater is completely
denitrified in a single step by our process (no intervening nitrification step). The only residuals
are sterile water, oxidized mineral salts, clean industrial gasses, and lots of heat. The sludge
industry (euphemistically known as the biosolids industry) has openly acknowledged that, due
largely to the negative social and environmental pressures concerning current sludge disposal
methods, a paradigm shift in wastewater sludge handling is coming soon. We are that paradigm
shift. And we are here now.
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4.4 Proposed New System Costs and Projected Revenues
(Total Estimated Costs and Projected Revenues)
The level of cost information provided will vary according to the phase of funding requested and
any previous work the applicant may have done on the project. Applicants must reference the
source of their cost data. For example: Applicants Records or Analysis, Industry Standards,
Consultant or Manufacturer’s estimates.
4.4.1 Project Development Cost
Provide detailed project cost information based on your current knowledge and understanding of
the project. Cost information should include the following:
• Total anticipated project cost, and cost for this phase
• Requested grant funding
• Applicant matching funds – loans, capital contributions, in-kind
• Identification of other funding sources
• Projected capital cost of proposed renewable energy system
• Projected development cost of proposed renewable energy system
This is a construction-phase project. There are no development costs. PROPRIETARY
INFORMATION: Total project costs are anticipated to be just over $19.7 million including startup and
initial operations. Financing for the match portion ($15.7 million) will be through monetization of the
City and Borough of Juneau’s sludge disposal contract. Operations and maintenance will be funded
through sales of marketable products resulting from the destruction of the sludge, specifically energy
(heat & electricity), liquid CO2, silica, and phosphate. Additionally, there will be significant revenue
potential from carbon credit trading.
4.4.2 Project Operating and Maintenance Costs
Include anticipated O&M costs for new facilities constructed and how these would be funded by
the applicant.
(Note: Operational costs are not eligible for grant funds however grantees are required to meet
ongoing reporting requirements for the purpose of reporting impacts of projects on the
communities they serve.)
As mentioned above, operations and maintenance will be primarily funded through sales of marketable
products resulting from the destruction of the sludge, specifically energy (heat & electricity), liquid CO2,
silica, and phosphate. There will also be some funds available from contract revenues remaining after
debt service. Additionally, there will be significant revenue potential from carbon credit trading.
4.4.3 Power Purchase/Sale
The power purchase/sale information should include the following:
• Identification of potential power buyer(s)/customer(s)
• Potential power purchase/sales price - at a minimum indicate a price range
• Proposed rate of return from grant-funded project
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: The planned power purchase and sale agreement structure
anticipates no specific remunerated exchange. We plan to provide electrical power and waste
heating to the Mendenhall Wastewater Treatment Plant free of charge and build that lost revenue
into slightly higher tipping fees for the sludge disposal. We can actually price our power very
low, because we are making it from a resource that we are being paid to destroy. In the event that
we cannot structure the agreement in that manner, we will lower our tipping fees accordingly and
price the electricity at a rate 10% to 15% below the average prevailing Alaska Electric Light &
Power rate that the city is paying now and include a 25% green-energy premium in that rate. To
be clear, the city would pay 10% to 15% less than they are paying now INCLUDING the
premium. Their current average rate at the Mendenhall plant is about $0.075 per kWh, with the
range being from about $0.055 to about $0.11 per kWh. So, our average base target price in that
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case would be about $0.05 per kWh plus the 25% green-energy premium, or about $0.063 per
kWh total.
4.4.4 Project Cost Worksheet
Complete the cost worksheet form which provides summary information that will be considered
in evaluating the project.
Download the form, complete it, and submit it as an attachment. Document any conditions or
sources your numbers are based on here.
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: Total project costs are anticipated to be just over $19.7
million including startup and initial operations. Financing for the match portion ($15.7 million) will
be through monetization of the City and Borough of Juneau’s sludge disposal contract. Operations
and maintenance will be funded through sales of marketable products resulting from the destruction
of the sludge, specifically energy (heat & electricity), liquid CO2, silica, and phosphate. Additionally,
there will be significant revenue potential from carbon credit trading.
SECTION 5– PROJECT BENEFIT
Explain the economic and public benefits of your project. Include direct cost savings,
and how the people of Alaska will benefit from the project.
The benefits information should include the following:
• Potential annual fuel displacement (gal and $) over the lifetime of the evaluated
renewable energy project
• Anticipated annual revenue (based on i.e. a Proposed Power Purchase Agreement price,
RCA tariff, or cost based rate)
• Potential additional annual incentives (i.e. tax credits)
• Potential additional annual revenue streams (i.e. green tag sales or other renewable
energy subsidies or programs that might be available)
• Discuss the non-economic public benefits to Alaskans over the lifetime of the project
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: The project will immediately reduce Juneau’s short-term, and
historical combustion carbon footprint by more than 14.9 million pounds annually and will do so by:
1) Completely eliminating the need for 110 thousand gallons of diesel fuel currently
consumed by Juneau’s sewage sludge incinerator
2) Freeing a 50-thousand-gallon equivalent of Alaska Electric Light & Power hydro-
generated electricity for duel-fuel customers, whom would normally burn diesel
3) Eliminating 70% of the sludge trucking and 100% of sludge shipping
4) Producing ZERO emissions from 1,400 tons of the sludge-entrained carbon
The project will reduce Juneau’s long-term, methane and carbon footprint by more than 82
million (CO2-equivalent) pounds annually and will do so by:
1) Diverting Juneau’s sewage sludge away from non-incineration options such as
composting, anaerobic digestion, landfilling, and land application (all of which would
produce mostly methane)
2) Ensuring that the 1,400 tons of short-cycle carbon in sludge is recycled as marketable
industrial gas products and never becomes methane
The project will generate approximately $6 million in economic activity annually and will do so by:
1) Bringing industry to Juneau and producing local jobs
2) Recycling short-cycle carbon in local and regional markets
3) Recycling entrained silica and phosphorus from the sewage sludge into marketable products
4) Providing $200 thousand worth of clean, renewable, green electricity to the city under
normal circumstances
5) Saving the city, local businesses, and Juneau citizenry $600 thousand in fuel expenses annually
6) Reducing waste disposal costs through co-generation and increased landfill life
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7) Dramatically reducing wastewater processing costs by eliminating the need to dewater the
sewage sludge
8) Denitrifying sludge effluent in a single step
The project will produce several ancillary, but significant, benefits and will do so by:
1) Exceeding all possible State and Federal clean water and clean air requirements to the
point of being absolute
2) Reducing externalized, health-related costs by destroying organic toxins in the sewage
sludge and preventing heavy metals from entering the environment
3) Saving the city more than $100 thousand per month in electricity costs alone during
periods of extremis electrical demand, such as following an avalanche when low-cost
hydro-power is unavailable
4) Dramatically reducing odor-related complaints to the city from sewage sludge and the landfill
5) Fostering innovative local approaches to conserve energy and promote the use of renewables
6) Creating a replicable and profitable model by which other municipalities can develop
energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives
7) Increasing the capacity of local governments to implement energy efficiency and
renewable energy projects
8) Demonstrating how limited municipal dollars can leverage significant private sector
investment in local clean energy projects that create local jobs and stimulate local
economic development
SECTION 6– SUSTAINABILITY
Discuss your plan for operating the completed project so that it will be sustainable.
Include at a minimum:
• Proposed business structure(s) and concepts that may be considered.
• How you propose to finance the maintenance and operations for the life of the project
• Identification of operational issues that could arise.
• A description of operational costs including on-going support for any back-up or existing
systems that may be require to continue operation
• Commitment to reporting the savings and benefits
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: The business structure will be a privately held corporation with
a board of directors and key investors. Financing will be through monetization of the City and
Borough of Juneau’s sludge disposal contract. Operations and maintenance will be funded through
sales of marketable products resulting from the destruction of the sludge, specifically energy (heat &
electricity), liquid CO2, silica, and phosphate. Additionally, there will be significant revenue potential
from carbon credit trading.
SECTION 7 – READINESS & COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER GRANTS
Discuss what you have done to prepare for this award and how quickly you intend to proceed
with work once your grant is approved.
Tell us what you may have already accomplished on the project to date and identify other grants
that may have been previously awarded for this project and the degree you have been able to
meet the requirements of previous grants.
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: This project is a construction-phase, new-development
proposal and is being pursued as a standard waste-to-energy business investment. Due diligence
so far has been discussions with city officials to ensure their interest and support and hiring a
local engineering firm as a project manager. We have also initiated ongoing
discussions/negotiations for prospective real property purchases and leases. We have also visited
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the manufacturer’s pilot facility in the United Kingdom. There are no existing grants for this
project. The supercritical water oxidation process is integrated into a bolt-on system designed for
the back end of the sewage treatment process. The system uses off-the-shelf system integration
designed by Parsons Engineering and is stringently tested by Supercritical Fluids International.
Each system will be professionally engineered and turn-key. The modular design is fully
scalable. Critical to the success of the systems is that the installed unit will be fully guaranteed
and supported by Parsons and uses sophisticated controls built, integrated, and installed by
Proscon-Rockwell Automation. All components are readily available and commonly used in the
oil industry, many of which are available from various sources in Alaska. Maintenance issues are
always a concern, and all replacement parts and components for the main processing system can
be overnight shipped from suppliers in Houston, Texas.
SECTION 8– LOCAL SUPPORT
Discuss what local support or possible opposition there may be regarding your project. Include
letters of support from the community that would benefit from this project.
There is significant local support for a solution that brings jobs, produces renewable energy, and
eliminates the sewage sludge problem without toxifying the land and water. There is no
opposition to this project. It actually solves multiple problems and has been widely embraced by
everyone who has seen the proposal. The sole dissenting view we have encountered was one
person who was very concerned that we were going to be wasting all of the clean water that we
would be producing. We told her she could have as much as she wanted for free.
SECTION 9 – GRANT BUDGET
Tell us how much you want in grant funds Include any investments to date and funding sources,
how much is being requested in grant funds, and additional investments you will make as an
applicant.
Include an estimate of budget costs by milestones using the form – GrantBudget5.doc
Provide a narrative summary regarding funding sources and your financial commitment to the
project.
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: Total project costs are anticipated to be just over $19.7
million including startup and initial operations. Financing for the match portion ($15.7 million)
will be through monetization of the City and Borough of Juneau’s sludge disposal contract.
Operations and maintenance will be funded through sales of marketable products resulting from the
destruction of the sludge, specifically energy (heat & electricity), liquid CO2, silica, and phosphate.
Additionally, there will be significant revenue potential from carbon credit trading.
Renewable Energy Fund Round 5
Project Cost/Benefit Worksheet
RFA AEA12-001 Application Cost Worksheet Page 1 7-1-11
Please note that some fields might not be applicable for all technologies or all project
phases. The level of information detail varies according to phase requirements.
1. Renewable Energy Source
The Applicant should demonstrate that the renewable energy resource is available on a
sustainable basis.
Annual average resource availability. 25 Billion BTUs of Sewage Sludge Biomass
Unit depends on project type (e.g. windspeed, hydropower output, biomasss fuel)
2. Existing Energy Generation and Usage
a) Basic configuration (if system is part of the Railbelt1 grid, leave this section blank)
i. Number of generators/boilers/other 1 SuperCritical Water Reactor & 1 Active Generator
ii. Rated capacity of generators/boilers/other Reactor: 3 Million BTUs; Generator: 1MW-1.5MW
iii. Generator/boilers/other type Supercritical Water & Steam or Supercritical CO2
iv. Age of generators/boilers/other All New Construction & Installations
v. Efficiency of generators/boilers/other Reactor: >95%; Generator: 30%-45%
b) Annual O&M cost (if system is part of the Railbelt grid, leave this section blank)
i. Annual O&M cost for labor $95,000
ii. Annual O&M cost for non-labor $80,000
c) Annual electricity production and fuel usage (fill in as applicable) (if system is part of the
Railbelt grid, leave this section blank)
i. Electricity [kWh] Between 2.2 Million KWh and 3.3 Million KWh (depending on efficiency)
ii. Fuel usage
ZERO Diesel [gal] ZERO
Other About 50MWhs of grid electricity from hydropower
iii. Peak Load About 1 MW (larger possible with higher efficiency turbines)
iv. Average Load About 800 KW
v. Minimum Load About 500 KW
vi. Efficiency About 60% to 75% with combined heat & power (all from renewables)
vii. Future trends Stable to Slight Growth (Zero Likelihood of Decline)
d) Annual heating fuel usage (fill in as applicable)
i. Diesel [gal or MMBtu] ZERO
ii. Electricity [kWh] 50,000
iii. Propane [gal or MMBtu] ZERO
iv. Coal [tons or MMBtu] ZERO
v. Wood [cords, green tons, dry tons] ZERO
vi. Other ZERO
1
The
Railbelt
grid
connects
all
customers
of
Chugach
Electric
Association,
Homer
Electric
Association,
Golden
Valley
Electric
Association,
the
City
of
Seward
Electric
Department,
Matanuska
Electric
Association
and
Anchorage
Municipal
Light
and
Power.
Renewable Energy Fund Round 5
Project Cost/Benefit Worksheet
RFA AEA12-001 Application Cost Worksheet Page 2 7-1-11
3. Proposed System Design Capacity and Fuel Usage
(Include any projections for continued use of non-renewable fuels)
a) Proposed renewable capacity
(Wind, Hydro, Biomass, other)
[kW or MMBtu/hr]
2.8 MMBtu/hr from sewage sludge biomass
25 Billion Btu annually
b) Proposed annual electricity or heat production (fill in as applicable)
i. Electricity [kWh] Between 2.2 Million kWh and 3.3 Million kWh
ii. Heat [MMBtu] About 4,500 MMBtu available after electricity production
c) Proposed annual fuel usage (fill in as applicable)
i. Propane [gal or MMBtu] ZERO
ii. Coal [tons or MMBtu] ZERO
iii. Wood [cords, green tons, dry tons] ZERO
iv. Other 25 Billion Btu of sewage sludge biomass
4. Project Cost
a) Total capital cost of new system $19,725,000
b) Development cost $75,000,000 (already incurred), ZERO during project
c) Annual O&M cost of new system $375,000
d) Annual fuel cost $10,000
5. Project Benefits
a) Amount of fuel displaced for
i. Electricity 160,000 gallons diesel
ii. Heat 125,000 gallons diesel
iii. Transportation 5,000 gallons diesel
b) Current price of displaced fuel $4.50 per gallon
c) Other economic benefits $6 million new local annual economic activity
d) Alaska public benefits Offset almost 45 thousand tons of CO2 equivalent
emissions annually, extend Juneau landfill life by at
least five years
6. Power Purchase/Sales Price
a) Price for power purchase/sale $0.063 per kWh (includes 25% green premium)
7. Project Analysis
a) Basic Economic Analysis
Project benefit/cost ratio NPV20: $44.6 Million IRR: 22% DROI: 2.97:1
Average Gross Margin: 86%; Average Net Margin: 73%
Payback (years) Pay off monetized debt in nine years, profitable in Year 1.
Renewable Energy Fund Grant Round V Grant Budget Form 7-1-11
Milestone or Task
Anticipated
Completion
Date
RE- Fund
Grant Funds
Grantee Matching
Funds
Source of Matching
Funds:
Cash/In-kind/Federal
Grants/Other State
Grants/Other
TOTALS
(List milestones based on phase and type of project.
See Attached Milestone list. )
Preliminary processing plant bid 09-Jun-2011 $ZERO $25,000 Investors/Principals $25,000
Site Acquisition & Initial Preparation 01-Nov-2011 $ZERO $350,000 Monetization Funds $350,000
Final Bid Document Preparation (Kick-Off Meeting) 01-Jan-2012 $ZERO $50,000 Monetization Funds $50,000
Contractor Selection, Final Site Preparation, Building
Construction, Utilities Upgrades 01-Jun-2012 $ZERO $950,000 Monetization Funds $950,000
Plant Construction at Factory (Downpayment) 01-Nov-2012 $ZERO $1,750,000 Monetization Funds $1,750,000
Plant Factory Wet Testing 01-Jan-2013 $ZERO $50,000 Monetization Funds $50,000
Electrical Switching Equipment Installation 01-Feb-2013 $ZERO $650,000 City & Borough of Juneau $650,000
Plant Disassembly, Shipping, Reassembly/Installation,
Wastewater Plant Integration, Basic Testing 01-Mar-2013 $ZERO $7,000,000 Monetization Funds $7,000,000
Plant Wet Testing of Final Installation 01-May-2013 $ZERO $150,000 Monetization Funds $150,000
Plant Commissioning (Final Delivery) 01-Jun-2013 $4,000,000 $4,750,000 Monetization Funds $8,750,000
TOTALS $4,000,000 $15,725,000 $19,725,000
Budget Categories:
Direct Labor & Benefits $ $225,000 Monetization Funds $225,000
Travel & Per Diem $ $75,000 Investors/Principals,
Monetization Funds $75,000
Equipment $2,775,000 $10,500,000 Monetization Funds,
AEA Grant Funds $13,225,000
Materials & Supplies $125,000 $475,000 Monetization Funds,
AEA Grant Funds $600,000
Contractual Services $ $350,000 Investors/Principals,
Monetization Funds $350,000
Construction Services $1,100,000 $4,100,000 Monetization Funds,
AEA Grant Funds $5,200,000
TOTALS $4,000,000 $15,725,000 $19,725,000
Applications should include a separate worksheet for each project phase (Reconnaissance, Feasibility, Design and Permitting, and Construction)-
Add additional pages as needed