Working Groups
Electric Tariffs |
Gas Interconnection |
Business Model Development |
Education |
Local Integrated Resource Planning
WIDRC's proposed objectives include establishment of
the following working groups. The task areas and committees below
represent the order in which they were prioritized by the WIDRC
membership.
Review utility tariffs, subsidies and cross-subsidization, and
other utility rates and pricing issues to determine how DR can be
enabled and not inhibited by inappropriate standby charges or other
barriers. Develop uniform state-wide “buy-back rates” for utilities to
purchase output from small, customer-owned DG (to avoid problems with
negotiating PPAs with utilities for such projects). Propose
enhancements to utility "Net Metering" tariffs on a state-wide to
promote changes in net metering approaches.
Background Links on Tariffs:
Current Project: Development of a Strategy Paper on Customer-Owned Distributed Gas Interconnection Issues and Methods
Status: White Paper finished June 2011
- Background
There is
increasing development of biogas production facilities in Wisconsin and
interest continues to build. Although anaerobic digestion (a biological
process) is currently the biogas production technology being developed,
gasification (a thermal process) may eventually be utilized at a later
time. The product of anaerobic digestion is a mixed gas primarily
composed of methane and carbon dioxide - which is commonly called
biogas.
Although the gas utilities and gas industry have extensive experience
with geologically-sourced natural gas in pipelines, they have little or no experience with
renewable natural gas produced from distributed customer-owned facilities. The key to utilizing renewable
natural gas as a pipeline fuel is clear delineation of the issues, methods and technical solutions for making
its use safely interchangeable with the conventional natural gas - without unduly increasing the maintenance burden on pipeline and end-use systems.
-
A WIDRC workgroup has been assembled to work on developing the strategy
paper. Tasks include:
- Prepare slideshow detailing issues and background for
project:
"Customer-Owned Distributed Methane Interconnection
Issues"
- Collect background information
- Frst draft strategy paper
- Zero in on important issues
- Produce final strategy paper
"Biomethane Production Facility Pipeline Interconnection in
Wisconsin, a White Paper" June 2011
ABSTRACT
This paper develops a strategy framework for the
interconnection of biomethane production facilities to the
transmission and distribution pipelines of Wisconsin’s
natural gas companies. A brief review of the following
topics is provided: 1) biogas production technologies, 2)
methane separation technologies, 3) examples of operational
biomethane systems, 4) natural gas processing, transmission
and distribution, 5) natural gas pipelines, 6) gas quality
and interchangeability standards applicable to biomethane
and 7) the generic biomethane interconnection.
The paper’s framework identifies many
interconnection related general and technical issues and
suggests potential strategies to address them. A set of
examples are provided for technical standards,
interconnection procedures and uniform
applications/agreements. An appendix delineates an Outline
of Model Interconnection Guidelines. The paper discusses
that for biomethane adoption, the right balance of
implementation requirements and market development must be
found. The effectiveness of overall approaches for
addressing general and technical issues is scored according
to technology adoption effectiveness and perceived level of
risk to gas providers.
The paper concludes that biomethane
provides a compelling means to turn the liability of
bio-based waste streams into an economic asset. In summary,
even though there are still unresolved issues about
biomethane injection into pipeline systems, there are no
unsolvable technical reasons for creating obstacles to
interconnection.
- Prepare slideshow of process and results
Address the need to find the right business model(s) under which DG
benefits are capturing full benefits – be they energy production or
energy savings.
Work with academic/education organizations for specific DG
curriculum development, especially train the trades. Explore
partnerships with academic organizations. See
Education & Workshops Co-Sponsored by WIDRC.
Develop a model (local integrated resource planning) that analyzes
the effects of DR on utility system performance against central
station power plant and T&D upgrades and new lines, in order to
develop distributed grids to benefit security and reliability by
locating generation closer to load/need. As a key policy-level issue,
DG represents a shift away from the central generation station
planning model and embodies the advantages of dispersed power
production and “energy surety”. How can state energy planning fully
recognize the value of DG given Wisconsin’s utility planning processes
?
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