Consulting-Specifying Engineer - July 2008 - (Page 12)

M/E Roundtable Technology is power This month’s panel discusses on-site power, with regard to power generation, PARTICIPANTS new designs, and renewable technologies. BY MELISSA HILLEBRAND, Associate Editor The client desires a USGBC LEED rating and CSE : How are facility administrators focusing on issues of on-site power generation and distributed generation? obtains LEED points for “on-site generation,” and the heat generated by the system is recovered and used to pre-heat a large boiler. In this case, the client meets technical and reliability demands, corporate goals, and might see a fiveyear ROI. CSE: What are the most promising technologies and strategies for on-site primary power generation? KUPPINGER: Technologies like fuel cells, wind turbines, and photovoltaics are becoming more popular for small kilowatt loads and achieving longer term ROIs. The ability to scale up the systems to service even a small office building usually is not feasible, as the systems require large spaces and become complex. Natural gas and diesel generators are the vast majority of larger on-site generation projects that get built. One new technology is the use of bio-fuel for generators that move this age-old design toward a more sustainable solution. KEN LOVORN: While solar, photovoltaic cells have some clear advantages from the environmentalists’ perspective, there is a conflict between the cleaning of the environment due to the increased use of these cells and the increase in pollution created by the greater production of solar cells. The rare earth elements required for the operation of photovoltaic cells are some of the most toxic elements in the world, and containing these pollutants is a major concern. Wind turbines have a lot of potential but, again, the environmentalists who are in favor of Thomas F. Flickinger PE, CSI Principal, VP–Director of Electrical Engineering Durrant Madison, Wis. Michael Kuppinger, PE Senior Vice President– Mission Critical Facilities and Technology Environmental Systems Design Inc. Chicago THOMAS FLICKINGER: Obviously, financial incentives play a large part in most of their decisions. If funding is readily available, then distributed power (microturbines, fuel cells, photovoltaics, and wind turbines) can be considered. If facility administrators have to rely solely on the distributed power system economic payback (sans rebates), then alternate power sources become less viable and certainly more of a challenge. For more information regarding available rebates for a given state, go to www.dsireusa .org. This is a noncommercial database, which appears to be routinely updated with the latest state and federal initiatives. MICHAEL KUPPINGER: The drivers for facility administrators going to on-site power generation, often referred to as “distributed power,” are specific trends and factors, the priority of which is as follows: 1. Reliability and availability of power for mission-critical operations, like a data center, call center, or healthcare facility; 2. Federal or other regulations like the SEC requirements for on-site emergency power; 3. Sustainable design and LEED goals, such as the ability to use “heat recovery” systems or meet other energy goals; and 4. Sufficient power in remote areas where electricity demands can not be otherwise met. The return on investment (ROI) for the initial capital cost of on-site generation is very difficult to achieve and usually takes several of the stated factors. For example, a 24/7 data center requires a generator. Ken Lovorn, PE President, Chief Engineer Lovorn Engineering Pittsburgh 12 Consulting-Specifying Engineer • JULY 2008 http://www.dsireusa.org http://www.dsireusa.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Consulting-Specifying Engineer - July 2008

Consulting-Specifying Engineer - July 2008 Contents Viewpoint Letters News M/E Roundtable 40 Under 40 Using Demand-Based Reset Strategies VFDs and Motors: Making the Right Match Grounding and Bonding Practices for Hazardous Areas Codes & Standards Case Study New Products Equipment Lifecycles Advertiser Index Green Space

Consulting-Specifying Engineer - July 2008

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