Biogas Energy Electricity Generation And Interconnection To The Power Grid

Executive Summary

Increasing energy prices and the availability of new small generation technologies are encouraging many small consumers and mid-sized business to consider alternative energy sources. Renewable energy sources include power from wind, solar, hydro and biomass projects. Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Development would like to develop the steps required to effectively interconnect small and mid-sized generation applications to the electrical utility systems. The steps for interconnection will provide an easily followed outline of actions to be taken in developing a facility. The recommendations will identify items that would allow individual producers the flexibility required to develop the generation from numerous available agriculture feedstocks. The report encompasses individual producers capable of producing generation to offset their own load, and generation from commercial sized facilities with excess electrical capacity available to the Alberta Integrated Electric System (AIES). This report covers generation sizes typically from 10 kilowatts to 5 megawatts that are generally connected to the distribution system (25kV and below). While this report will focus mainly on generation interconnections for Biogas Plants supplied from numerous agricultural feedstocks, the processes, discussions and technical requirements are common to generation interconnections from all renewable energy sources. The report reviews the existing generation interconnection requirements and will map out a simplified process for interconnections with identification of barriers and gaps in order to facilitate a straight forward, easily understandable generation interconnection process. A discussion of Net Metering is included. The development of a streamlined process and elimination of barriers are intended to unleash the huge potential market that is available for renewable energy sources. These choices will lead to reduced emissions, improved reliability and efficiency, and provide greater security in the event of energy shortages The challenge now is for the governments and industry regulators to encourage this new, evolving industry to grow quickly in a way that is both safe and efficient.