Biomass Conversion Fact Sheet

Biomass Conversion

Overview of college

• All-electric campus (pre-conversion)
• 450,000 square feet
• 5,000 day and evening students

The Biomass District Heating System

• Start-up date: December 2002
• Closed loop, two pipe hydronic heating system
• New heating plant building
• 8Mbtu (million British thermal units) Messersmith Combustion unit
• Hurst boiler
• Chip storage: 85 tons
• Projected annual chip consumption: 1000 tons
• Actual consumption 2002-2003 heating season: 854 green tons
• Actual consumption 2003-2004 heating season: 1212 green tons
• Feedstock: green hardwood sawmill residue chips
• Back-up system: 320bhp (base horsepower) Clever-Brooks #2 oil burner
• Emission controls: LSR Technologies Inc., Core Separator

Note: Summer 2004; Emission Control system has been replaced with a baghouse system to capture a larger percentage of particulate matter

Significance of Biomass Conversion at MWCC

• Lessen dependence on foreign oil
• Demonstrated use of a sustainable feedstock
• Addresses the nation's energy and homeland security policies
• Stimulate local economy
• Eliminate woody biomass from the waste stream
• Demonstrate technologies that reduce greenhouse gas
• Potential demonstration site for other biomass renewable technologies
• Outreach educational program on biomass technologies

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Biomass Conversion Economics

Project cost: $4,337,911 ((total for all Energy Conservation Measures (ECM) at MWCC))

Project cost breakdown:

• Electric to Biomass Heat Conversion: $2,914,375
Power plant construction, equipment, feedstock handling system, chip storage unit, emission controls, control software, oil backup system, permitting, engineering design, project management, materials and labor.

• All other ECM’s: initial energy audit, engineering and design, lighting, water conservation, variable frequency drive units on air handlers, domestic hot water conversion, unit ventilator replacement, parking lot lighting, and greenhouse conversion

Funding Sources, Cost Breakdown, and Savings

• US Department of Energy Appropriation:  $1,000,000
• Mass Electric Rebates:  $173,914
• MA Department of Capital Asset Management (DCAM)
• Deferred maintenance: $344,999
• Mass Technology Collaborative (MTC)
• Renewable Energy Trust Fund: $750,000
• Tax Exempt Lease Purchase (TELP): $1,861,300 (funded by guaranteed energy savings)
• Pre-conversion electricity usage:  8,600,000 kWh/yr
• Post conversion electricity usage: 6,277,600 kWh/yr
• Pre-conversion electric energy cost:  $750,000/yr
• Post conversion electric energy cost: $587,531/yr
• Estimated energy savings: 3.3 MkWh/yr
• TELP annual payment: $264,306
• Guaranted Energy Savings: $272,826/yr
• Positive Cash Flow Year 1: $8,520

NOTE: Electrical default rate before conversion: $.043/kWh. Current default rate: $.067/kWh

College operating hours have increased due to additional course and program development, more community usage, 12,000 sq. ft. addition, increased computer labs, etc.

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