CHAPTER 1:
Introduction
Project Goals and Objectives
The project addressed California’s tree mortality crisis and its stance on climate change, by developing and testing a new energy technology, the 150-kilowatt (kW) Powertainer. The Powertainer is a modular biomass gasification platform that converts woody biomass such as forest waste to renewable, on-demand, carbon-negative energy. In addition, All Power Labs partnered with two laboratories at the University of California, Berkeley. They conducted a comprehensive economic and regional analysis of large-scale regional tree die-off and interconnection locations to determine the market opportunity for this novel technology, under this unique fire mitigation use case. Further, by monetizing forest refuse, the resulting increased thinning will aid in reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Reduced forest load will also contribute to additional water and hydropower resources. With estimates based on historical data, gasification for energy instead of burning for disposal will substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Through this project, All Power Labs demonstrated the impact of the 150-kW, 20-inch containerized biomass gasification platform operating on fire-hazard load reduction, while at the same time producing electricity.
The goals and objectives of this project include:
- Proving the design intent and viability of modular 150-kW systems to convert forest waste to electricity, while meeting applicable emissions standards
- Analysis and summary of air quality improvements
- Quantifying the economics of small-scale biomass gasification to create renewable electricity, while improving air quality, and scope of potential market opportunity for biomass waste to scale as a renewable energy solution
- Quantifying the potential monetization of forest waste
- Analysis of the financial value to the electrical grid of creating on demand mobile renewable electricity
The research under this project fits directly within the larger narrative of California’s energy policy, as well as other climate-change policies and laws. This is an unprecedented time where the effects of climate change are being experienced throughout the state. Several years of drought and insect attacks have killed over 150 million trees and the state expects those numbers to increase until precipitation returns to normal levels over the course of many years. Governor Brown issued an emergency proclamation in October 2015 to raise awareness and start directly addressing this catastrophic issue. More recently, Executive Order B-42-17 aims to strengthen the response. The Powertainer is an ideal fit for addressing this emergency because the dead trees are a potential fuel that can produce electricity, usable heat, and biochar, providing products with immediate value across a larger range of benefits to the state.
