Presentation Transcript

1. Finance Emerging Renewable Technologies David McAndrew Federal Energy Management Program
2. The Federal Angle:Why We’re Motivated * Defines “renewable energy” as electric energy generated from solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, ocean (including tidal, wave, current, and thermal), geothermal, municipal solid waste, or new hydroelectric generation capacity achieved from increased efficiency or additions of new capacity at an existing hydroelectric project. † A double counting bonus exists for renewable projects on Federal or Native American land.
3. Unlike the Private Sector, Federal Agencies are constrained by the statutory and regulatory framework within which we operate. Competition in Contracting Act – unless an exception applies, the Government must always openly compete contracts 40 USC 591, FAR Part 41 - 10 year contract max for Civilian Agencies Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 41 prescribes the acquisition process. 10 USC 2922a DOD authority – 30 year authority only recently construed by OSD to apply to all types of energy generation (few examples) Environmental regulations (NEPA). Anti-Deficiency Act (Gov’t can’t spend money before it’s appropriated—criminal penalties apply). Misc. Receipts Act (31 U.S.C. § 3302(b)) (Government must return income to Treasury—can’t augment appropriations.) Government may always Terminate for Convenience (T4C). Agencies unable/unwilling to pay premium for renewable electricity. 40 USC 591 – Agencies must buy electricity in compliance with state law Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review of projects. The Federal Angle: Why We’re Different
4. It’s Complicated… Agreements PPA: Federal Site, DESC or Western, and Developer Land Use Agreement: Federal Site and Developer (not shown on diagram) Interconnection/Net Metering Agreement: RE Developer (or Federal Site) and Utility Possible Additional Agreements Interagency Agreement (IAA): Western and Federal Site REC Contract: Developer and Utility Excess Electricity Contract: Developer and Power Purchaser Utility (or other for REC sale) REC Payment Interconnection/Net Metering Agreement RECs DESC, Western or Other Contracting Agent IAA (for Western only) PPA Renewable Developer Federal tax and other incentives Federal Agency Power Payment($) Electricity (MWh) Excess Electricity (if any) Power Payment ($) Western Area Power Administration’s Renewable Resources for Federal Agencies (RRFA) Via Inter-Agency Agreement, Western acts as Agency’s agent and contracts to purchase renewable energy from the developer’s project on Agency host’s land. Agency then buys the renewable power from Western. Utility or other Excess Electricity Purchaser
5. Federal On-Site Renewable PPA Basic Structure Private entity installs, owns, operates and maintains customer-sited renewable equipment and the Site purchases electricity through a PPA. Pros RE developer (or partner) eligible for tax incentives, accelerated depreciation No agency up-front capital required/Minimal risk to government RE developer provides O&M Known long term electricity price for portion of site load Eligible for EPAct 2005 Section 203 double bonus towards RE goal Cons Transaction costs 10-year Civilian Contracting Authority (DOD can contract up to 30 years) Limited Federal Sector experience, but expanding rapidly Developer constructs RE resource on Federal land/building and sells energy to Site. Site hosts third party owned and operated RE resource and purchases RE. RENEWABLE ENERGY $ per kilowatt hour
6. Federal On-Site Renewable PPA Partnering with Western Private entity installs, owns, operates and maintains customer-sited renewable equipment. Western Area Power Administration (Western) contracts with the developer for the purchase of the electricity on behalf of the Federal facility. (Site must be within Western’s service territory.) All PPA Pros plus: Long-Term Contracting Authority (up to 25 years) Western purchases RE from developer on behalf of the Agency. Developer constructs RE resource on Federal land/building and generates RE. RENEWABLE ENERGY Site hosts third party owned and operated RE resource. RENEWABLE ENERGY
7. Federal On-Site Renewable PPAPartnering to Respond to Utility Call for RECs Utility issues call for RECs, Site responds with RFP for industry partners. Site competitively selects industry partner. Industry partner and agency submit joint bid to utility Renewable Portfolio Standard RFP. Industry partner constructs resource on host Agency’s land and sells RECs and/or Power to the utility. Agency gets cheap power or other “consideration for the use of the land. *Every large-scale solar project at a Federal site has involved the local utility. Examples: NREL, Brookhaven, Ft. Carson Cons Tough to predict timing of utility requirements Have Site team ready to spring into action Need good state incentives Developer constructs RE resource on Federal land/building and sells RECs to utility. RECs Utility issues call for RECs. Site hosts third party owned and operated RE resource.
8. Other Deal Structures ESPC New OMB position (Oct 2012) Government must take title to equipment Energy savings from efficiency measures may buy down RE cost Tax credits and grants not available Biomass CHP projects are good candidates UESC Energy savings from efficiency measures may buy down RE cost Term 25 years Civilian, 30 years DOD/2922a, DOD must own Equip Partnering with local utility company Utility constructs, owns, and operates array on Federal land and sells electricity to the host Agency but retains RECs. Same term issues as other PPAs Utility constructs, owns, and operates the array on Federal land, incorporates it into rate base and takes the power and RECs to meet system needs, provides agency consideration
9. Key Issues Contract structure considerations Is the PPA model legal in the state/utility service territory? Is the renewable developer subject to Commission oversight? Commission approval requirements (for REC sale or other)? Will RE project affect facilities status at NERC/FERC 40 USC 591: Electricity purchases must abide by state law Coordination with the local utility Utility rate impacts – possible tariff change, standby charges, etc. Demand Charge impacts if project goes down Interconnection requirements – application, cost, study requirements and timeframe Renewable system tie-in options Net Metering (and Feed-In Tariff if applicable) rules
10. Example Projects
11. Fort Carson PV Project in CO 2 MW, 3200 MWh in first year (~2% of Ft. Carson’s load) Fixed, non-escalating energy rate 17-year contract, with 3 year option (utilizing Western) No cost 20 year lease (using 10 USC 2667 lease authority – DOD only) RECs sold to Xcel Energy (20 year contract) Ground-mounted, fixed system covering 12 acre former landfill First Solar thin film, 25 year warranty Came on-line December 2007
12. USCG Petaluma PV Project in CA 855 kW ground-mounted, fixed PV on slightly less than 4 acres PPA price is 13¢/kWh in the first year, with 3.5% annual escalation One year contract with 24 one year renewal options Irrevocable 25 year license Developer receives 25¢/kWh California Solar Initiative (CSI) performance based incentive (PBI) payments for first 5 years Site retains RECs Construction completed October 2009
13. Long Island Solar Farm BNL served has array host BP Solar Project Developer 20-year contract between LISF and National Grid for purchase of 100% of output and RECS 20-year easement between BNL and LISF Largest array in North America when energized Peak capacity 32 MW (AC) Annual Energy Output 44,000,000 kWh 200 acres of land, ~160,000 panels Ground mounted crystalline solar PV modules Energize date ~ November 2011
14. Contacts and Questions David McAndrew Federal Energy Management Program 202-586-7722 david.mcandrew@ee.doe.gov