Asking The Big Questions: Joel Tallaksen West Central Research and Outreach Center University of Minnesota College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural 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 Wind Resource

West Central Research and Outreach Center Solar

West Central Research and Outreach Center Agricultural Biomass (corn)

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 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.

B

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

West Central Research and Outreach Center Renewable Energy Partners

West Central Research and Outreach Center Acknowledgements Mike Reese, –West Central Research and Outreach Center Lowell Rasmussen, –U of M Morris Photos: » » Visit us at renewables.morris.umn.edu