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The Drake Landing Solar Community

- Seasonal Energy Storage in Action

Okotoks, Alberta

Bill Wong, Bill Wong, P.EngP.Eng..SAIC CanadaSAIC Canada

Toronto & Region Conservation Authority

July 30, 2008

7/31/2008 2Source: EIA - DOE

No leveling off in sight

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ENERGY OUTLOOKENERGY OUTLOOK

� Huge increases in demand in the Far East (China, India)� Vulnerability of supply disruptions (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Nigeria,

Venezuela)

� Concerns about supply capacities from existing reservoirs� Bigger reservoirs are becoming harder to find and more expensive to

develop

A 20 year global forecast from US-DOE indicates:� 60% growth in energy consumption� 45% increase in coal use� 58% increase in oil consumption� 93% increase in natural gas use

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Seasonal Thermal Energy StorageSeasonal Thermal Energy Storage

One of the many tools in energy management.One of the many tools in energy management.Solar thermal is one of the heat sources.Solar thermal is one of the heat sources.

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Seasonal Thermal Energy StorageSeasonal Thermal Energy Storage

Solar Radiation on Slope=Latitude

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Monthly total solar in GJ

Miami

Toronto

May – September 100%

April – September 96%

Comparing how much sun we get here vs. Miami….Comparing how much sun we get here vs. Miami….

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Residential Energy End-Use

59.9%21.9%

0.7%

13.3%4.2%

1

2

3

4

5

Space heating

DHW

Space cooling

Appliances

Lighting

Space heatingSpace heating

Hot waterHot water

Space coolingSpace cooling

AppliancesAppliances

lightinglighting

EndEnd--Use Energy Data Handbook 1990Use Energy Data Handbook 1990--2000, NRCan, June 20022000, NRCan, June 2002

Residential Energy UseResidential Energy Use

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The The

Calgary Calgary

RegionRegion

Okotoks

Turner Valley

Rocky Mountains

Sheep River

Black Diamond

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The Sheep The Sheep

RiverRiver

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Why Why OkotoksOkotoks??

Sustainable Community PlanSustainable Community Plan

Necessity, Desire, Willingness, CommitmentNecessity, Desire, Willingness, Commitment

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ObjectivesObjectives

� Demonstrate the technical feasibility of achieving substantial fuel energy savings using seasonal storage of solar energy for residential space heating.

Drake Landing Solar CommunityDrake Landing Solar Community

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Drake Landing Solar Community

� First solar seasonal storage community in North America;

� First in world >90% solar fraction;

� Reduction of 5 tonnesGHG per home per year

� Largest subdivision of R-2000 single family homes in Canada (52 homes).

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Technology Study & Technology Study & Conceptual DesignConceptual Design

Detailed DesignDetailed Designparametric studies;parametric studies;

controls and operation.controls and operation.

ConstructionConstruction

District system District system commissioningcommissioning

Homeowners Homeowners started moving instarted moving in

Solar energy system Solar energy system commissioningcommissioning

April 2003 April 2003 –– March 2004March 2004

Mid 2004 Mid 2004 –– Early 2005Early 2005

March 2005 startMarch 2005 start

Feb. 2006Feb. 2006

March 2006March 2006

Fall 2006 Fall 2006 –– June 2007June 2007

Project Time LineProject Time Line

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Simplified SchematicSimplified Schematic

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The Energy CentreThe Energy Centre

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Solar PerformanceSolar Performance

� Annual Solar Resource: 6.1 GJ/m2 (1690 kWh/m2)

� Solar Collector Area: 2300 m2

� Solar Peak Output: 1.5 MWth

� Annual Collector Efficiency: 29%

� Solar Delivered to Storage: 1.6 GJ/m2 (455 kWh/m2)

� Solar Delivered to Load: 1.0 GJ/m2 (284 kWh/m2)

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PV Emergency Power SystemPV Emergency Power System

� 3.6 kW array on roof of Energy Centre

� 27 kWh battery bank plus inverters

� Provides back-up power to prevent overheating of glycol if power lost on sunny day

� Power fed to loads

during normal

operation

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Thermal StorageThermal Storage

� Short Term Storage: 2 – 120 m3 (31,700 gal)insulated water tanks

� Seasonal Storage: 144 boreholes, single U-tube 35 m deep X 35 m diameter

Soil Volume: 33,700 m3

Water Equiv: 15,800 m3

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Borehole Thermal Energy StorageBorehole Thermal Energy Storage

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Energy Centre and Borehole FieldEnergy Centre and Borehole Field

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Thermal Energy DistributionThermal Energy Distribution

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RR--2000 Homes & Air Handler Unit2000 Homes & Air Handler Unit

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Air Handler UnitAir Handler Unit

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Ownership ModelOwnership Model

� Owned and operated by local utility (ATCO Gas)

� Energy meters installed in each home with outside readout. Digital hand held devices used to record monthly consumption

� Fixed monthly payments ($60/mth) for first 5 years

� Above average energy users charged extra at year end

� Below average energy users qualify for rebate at year end (up to 20%)

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Solar Fraction

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Year

Fraction of Load

Solar Fraction

STES Fraction

BTES Fraction

Ten Year Solar PerformanceTen Year Solar Performance

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Drake Landing Solar CommunityDrake Landing Solar Community

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-5.61-0.67-4.94Project Impact

2.430.971.46Solar +

R-2000

6.191.564.63R-2000

8.041.646.40Baseline

TotalHot WaterSpace Heating

Annual GHG Emissions in Annual GHG Emissions in TonnesTonnes per Homeper Home

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Drake Landing Project Team:Drake Landing Project Team:

Natural Resources CanadaNatural Resources Canada

SAIC CanadaSAIC Canada

IF Technology InternationalIF Technology International

EnermodalEnermodal EngineeringEngineering

National Solar Testing FacilityNational Solar Testing Facility

Thermal Energy Systems SpecialistThermal Energy Systems Specialist

Howell & Mayhew EngineeringHowell & Mayhew Engineering

FVB EnergyFVB Energy

Hurst Construction ManagementHurst Construction Management

EnerWorksEnerWorks

NuNu--AirAir

GolderGolder & Associates& Associates

JL RichardsJL Richards

Town of Town of OkotoksOkotoks

ATCO GasATCO Gas

United CommunitiesUnited Communities

Sterling HomesSterling Homes

Technical Steering Committee:Technical Steering Committee:

Frank Frank CruickshanksCruickshanks, EC, EC

Tang Lee, University of CalgaryTang Lee, University of Calgary

Chris Snoek, Chris Snoek, NRCanNRCan

Steve Harrison, Queen’s UniversitySteve Harrison, Queen’s University

Wil Mayhew, Wil Mayhew, NRCanNRCan

JanJan--Olaf Olaf DalenbackDalenback, Chalmers University, Chalmers University

Manfred Manfred ReussReuss, ZAE Bayern, ZAE Bayern

TOTAL TEAM EFFORT !TOTAL TEAM EFFORT !

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Drake Landing Project Cash Funding Partners:Drake Landing Project Cash Funding Partners:

Natural Resources CanadaNatural Resources Canada

Green Municipal Fund (FCM)Green Municipal Fund (FCM)Province of AlbertaProvince of Alberta

Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)Climate Change CentralClimate Change Central

ATCO GasATCO Gas

United CommunitiesUnited CommunitiesSterling HomesSterling Homes

Many organizations with inMany organizations with in--kind contribution to make kind contribution to make this project happen.this project happen.

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BTES RequirementsBTES Requirements

� BTES systems can be designed to work almost anywhere that a suitable aquifer for an ATES system is not found.

� Ideal Geological Conditions:– Low permeability – promotes conduction of heat rather than convection.

– High porosity, saturated – high water content results in a high heat capacity.

– Homogeneous material – uniform radial diffusion of heat.

– Moderate thermal conductivity – aids the transfer of heat into the subsurface store.

– If above do not exist; if rocks are highly fractured or there is a high permeability aquifer, consider an ATES system.

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A few observations:A few observations:

••Solar seasonal energy storage can be integrated with Solar seasonal energy storage can be integrated with

subdivision development;subdivision development;

••Low temperature district heating is workable in Canada Low temperature district heating is workable in Canada

(low (low exergyexergy systems);systems);

••Start sustainable community planning early;Start sustainable community planning early;

••Land developer, homebuilder, utility operator and Land developer, homebuilder, utility operator and

municipal government comunicipal government co--operation is key; andoperation is key; and

••ATES could provide both heating and cooling if there is a ATES could provide both heating and cooling if there is a suitable aquifer.suitable aquifer.

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Future Work Required Future Work Required

� Larger scale projects – 200 to 1000 units

� Higher density load applications

� Larger scale collector modules – building integrated

� Improved borehole designs – concentric

� More efficient storage medium – advanced thermo-chemical storage

� Community energy planning

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Energy Profiles of Energy Profiles of

Our Buildings..Our Buildings..

Community Energy PlanningCommunity Energy Planning

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SUMMERSUMMER

WINTERWINTER

HeatingHeating

HeatingHeating

CoolingCooling

CoolingCooling

Community Energy MappingCommunity Energy Mapping

TownhousesTownhouses ApartmentsApartments OfficeOffice RetailRetail

Energy Intensity (GJ/mEnergy Intensity (GJ/m22))

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Considerations in Community Energy Mapping:Considerations in Community Energy Mapping:

1.1. Estimate heating and cooling loads in summer Estimate heating and cooling loads in summer

and winter;and winter;

2.2. Work with existing energy resources in the Work with existing energy resources in the community;community;

3.3. Balance annual energy flow taking into account of Balance annual energy flow taking into account of storage losses and delivery efficiencies; andstorage losses and delivery efficiencies; and

4.4. Bring in renewable energy to balance and to Bring in renewable energy to balance and to

reduce energy import into the community.reduce energy import into the community.

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Bill Wong P.EngBill Wong P.Eng

Program ManagerProgram Manager

Renewable Energy and Climate Change ProgramRenewable Energy and Climate Change Program

SAIC CanadaSAIC Canada

bill.wong@saiccanada.com

(613) 563-7242 ext 333

We are just at the beginning…We are just at the beginning…

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Sustainable OkotoksSustainable Okotoks

““Leaving a Legacy”Leaving a Legacy”

“We didn’t inherit the Earth from our parents.

We’re borrowing it from our children”

Chief Seattle (1788-1866)

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