Solar on Landfills - Trash or Treasure
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The document discusses the potential for installing solar photovoltaic systems on closed municipal landfill sites. It notes that landfills provide large, open parcels of land in buffered locations that are well-suited for solar. Municipalities can either develop and own solar projects on landfills or lease land to third-party developers who would construct and operate the systems. Key considerations for landfill solar projects include technical challenges, permitting requirements, potential revenue sources, and programs available in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut that support solar development.
![Alan Benevides, PE, LSP Woodard & Curran 866.702.6371 [email_address] Questions & Answers Miles Walker, LEED AP Woodard & Curran 866.702.6371 [email_address]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/room552solaronlandfills-111022155408-phpapp02/85/Solar-on-Landfills-Trash-or-Treasure-31-320.jpg)
Solar on Landfills - Trash or Treasure
- 1. Solar on Landfills: Trash or Treasure? Alan Benevides, PE, LSP - Woodard & Curran, Inc. Miles Walker, LEED AP â Woodard & Curran, Inc.
- 2. Solar on Landfills How many of you have heard about this topic before today? Have you been to another presentation about SOL? Have you put out an RFP for a SOL project? Have you signed an agreement for a SOL project?
- 3. Todayâs Focus Municipal officials Closed municipal landfill sites Large ground-mounted solar projects (> 5 acres) Massachusetts most active to date
- 4. Why All the Buzz? Why Landfills? Large, open parcels typically 5-20 acres Limited options for alternate use Typically in buffered locations with greater likelihood of public acceptance Owners likely willing to tie-up site use for 15+ year period Low long-term value of landfill property For municipal sites, you are the land owner AND power purchaser (especially MA)!
- 5. Why All the Buzz? Why Landfills? ïš Greenfield sites = higher value, owners typically unwilling to tie-up site for 15+ years for solar project ïš Rooftops typically small = not as financially attractive when not grant funded (>0.5 MW)
- 6. Why All the Buzz? Why Massachusetts to Date? SOLAR RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS (SRECS) MA and NJ have high value provided by SRECsâŠmakes MA projects financially attractive to solar developers and financers VIRTUAL NET METERING Allows power generated at one site (landfill) to be purchased at any other site within a large geographic region
- 7. Basic Terms: Cell, Module, Panel, Array Cells wired together to create module (or panel) Modules wired together to create string Several strings form an array Photo: Florida Solar Energy Center
- 8. System Components Sunlight, array â together generate power AC/DC inverter â power is converted to a wave Power fed through breaker on property electrical panel Net metering â more power created than demanded
- 9. Typical Landfill System Components
- 10. Rules of Thumb for Solar Landfill Projects 5 acres 1 MW For construction, $1,000,000 per acre $100,000 Power Generation
- 11. Two Options for Municipalities Option 1 â Develop and own project Option 2 â Lease land to, and purchase power at reduced cost from, a third party
- 12. Option 1 â Develop/Own Project Significant financial & technical undertaking! High upfront costs (>$4M) Canât take advantage of tax incentives Financial Risk
- 13. Option 2 â Lease Land/Purchase Power Low upfront investment of time/resources with moderate long-term financial gain What is âmoderate long-term financial gain?â Long-Term ïš 15 to 20 years Land Lease ïš $0 - $20,000 per MW Savings from reduced cost power ïš $50K to $200K per year Can vary significantly based on site, power cost, project size, future cost of power
- 14. Key Players & Roles Municipality Lease Property Purchase Power Financial Backers Provide Capital Receive ROI Realize Tax Advantage/Secs **** Very Important **** Solar Developer Contracting Entity Engineering & Permitting Construction Operations & Maintenance RFQ
- 15. Key Players & Roles Municipality Lease Property Purchase Power PPA Lease Financial Backers Provide Capital Receive ROI Realize Tax Advantage/Secs **** Very Important **** Solar Developer Contracting Entity Engineering & Permitting Construction Operations & Maintenance RFQ Regulators Permits Utility Provider Interconnection Agreement Engineers/Lawyers
- 16. Is my landfill a good candidate for a solar project? Capped/certification approved by Regulatory Agency Large area with low slope (>5 acres 5% - 10% slope) South/west facing slopes (oriented east-west) Low amount of shading Long time since landfilling occurred Existing Site Security Close to power connection to the grid Lack of Abutters No Sensitive Environmental Areas (wetlands, endangered species, ACEC, etc.)
- 17. Technical/Engineering Challenges Cap Protection Weight (construction & long-term) Puncture Landfill Differential Settlement (Cap and Array) Slope Stability Wind/Snow impact to panels Drainage Site Maintenance/Mowing
- 18. State Post Closure Permitting Landfill Post Closure Use Permit MassDEP Guidance Documents Developing Renewable Energy Facilities on Closed Landfills MassDEP Solid Waste Facility Post-Closure Use Permits Website: www.mass.gov/dep/energy/landfill.htm RI and CT â currently, nothing specific for guidance
- 19. MassDEP Post Closure Permit Application Components Site plan (500âR) Drainage plan Landfill gas plan Capping system interface Environmental Monitoring System OM&M Plan Design drawings/specifications Erosion control plan Settlement and stability evaluation Utility interconnection Risk Assessment Financial Assurance Mechanism
- 20. RI & CT Components Nothing formal Look to Massachusetts for guidance
- 21. Other Potential Permits/Approvals Federal NPDES Construction General Permit State MEPA Local Building Permit Order of Conditions Site Plan Approval Utility Interconnection Agreement
- 22. Solar â Broader Perspective
- 23. Solar Programs Renewable Energy Credit with âSolar Carve Outâ Suppliers required to have a portion Solar Power generated with Solar receive SREC Market Based High value with high volatility Feed In Tariff Contract with utility for power and attributes Long term contracts Grants http://dsireusa.org/
- 24. Massachusetts Programs State has supported SREC Market Adjusted program to support development Set floor price to support market Virtual Net Metering 60 MW developed of 400 MW target PPA Typical
- 25. Rhode Island Programs Rhode Island enacted legislation (H.B. 6104) in June 2011 Distributed Generation Standard Offer Contracts (DG Contracts) for new distributed renewable energy generators up to five megawatts (MW) in capacity 40 MW by the end of 2014 Standard contracts include a fixed payment rate 15-year term
- 26. Rhode Island Programs Sized for feed in tariffs Lease payment for sites Lower lease payment due to âsmaller incentiveâ for developer $0-20K per year per MW
- 27. Connecticut Programs Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credit ZREC up to 1 MW Program Underdevelopment Anticipated systems will be similar to MA Up to 5 acres Lower lease payments than MA Higher than RI?
- 28. Summary Landfills can be good sites for solar CT, MA and RI support solar installation Different programs in each state Process similar for each state Potential revenue for community
- 29. Where Do I Start? Conduct basic preliminary feasibility analysis Assembling a team of experts to analyze the technical, legal and financial considerations of the potential site Talk to Developers Develop and Issue RFQ Select Solar Developer with a strong financial partner
- 30. Final Thoughts Programs and pricing are evolving Solar construction costs decreasing Incentives increasing in scope SREC market volatile Technical, Financial and Legal Partnership Can create value!!! Stay tuned for SNEAPA 2012âŠ
- 31. Alan Benevides, PE, LSP Woodard & Curran 866.702.6371 [email_address] Questions & Answers Miles Walker, LEED AP Woodard & Curran 866.702.6371 [email_address]