Community Biomass Workshop

Tools for Developing a Small-Scale Biomass to Energy Project

A two-day technical workshop building skills for using biomass to generate heat and power.
Where: Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Danville, VA
When: Sept. 7 & 8, 2011

Program Highlights—Day 1

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011

8:30 am. Host's Welcome, Dr. Liam Leightley, Director of the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research

8:40 am. Program Overview, Al Weed, Public Policy Virginia

8:50 am. Opening Remarks from Charles Poindexter, Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for the 9th District.

9:00 am. Keynote Presentation, Adam Sherman (link to bio), Biomass Energy Resource Center (link to BERC), Characteristics of a Successful Biomass Energy Project (link to presentation PDF).

9:30 am. Experience Sharing with L.W. Wilson, Buildings & Grounds Superintendent for Piedmont Geriatric Hosptial (link to PGH) (separate link to biomass project website), Reflections on Successful Biomass Operation (link to presentation PDF).

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

• 10:30 am–12:00 noon. Economics and Financing of Biomass Energy Projects
  

  Steve Langseth, Langseth Engineering (link to company): Economic Screening Tool and Business Plan Example (no PDF available)
  Marc Donihe, TRANE (link to company): Performance Contracting, ESCOs & Owner Financing (link to presentation PDF)
  Sarah Aubrey, Prosperity Ag & Energy (link to company): Grant Opportunities – State and Federal (link to presentation PDF)
  
  

• 1:00–3:00 pm. Feedstocks and Logistics for a Biomass Energy Project
  

  Bob Smith, Virginia Tech, Dept. of Wood Sci. & Forest Prods. (link to department/bio): Biomass, what is it? Types, availability and applications (link to presentation PDF)
  Terry Godwin, GFR Forestry (link to company): Woody Biomass Procurement, Contracting and Logistics (link to presentation PDF)
  Jon Walton, University of Tennessee (link to department/bio): Warm Season Grasses Procurement, Contracting and Logistics (link to presentation PDF)
  Verl Emrick, Virginia Tech, Conservation Management Institute (link to department): Biomass impacts on the landscape, wildlife and local economy (link to presentation PDF)
  

• 3:30–5:00 pm. Technical Specifics of Implementing a Biomass Energy Project
  

  Dan Wilson, Wilson Engineering Services (link to company): Technical Feasibility—Considerations, available technology and logistics of installation and operation (link to presentation PDF)
  Thomas Berkeley, Department of Environmental Quality (link to agency): Policy and Permitting Overview (link to presentation PDF)
  Brian Becker, Public Policy Virginia (link to company): Getting Started—What's involved in getting a biomass energy project going? (link to presentation PDF)
  

  
  
• Web Extras for Download:
  
  Small-Scale CHP Workshop--Summarized Notes, provided by Cassandra Stish, Buckingham County
  
  EIA Renewable Energy by Source charts & graphs
  

Program Highlights—Day 2

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011

8:00–11:00 am. Group Exercise: Design and Evaluate a Biomass Energy Project.

Note: We will plan to end this portion by 11 am for those interested in attending the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of the Longwood Heating Plant in Farmville at 1:30 pm.

We will convene at Averett University in Danville for a group exercise. Participants will work through a site-screening tool that estimates pay-back period and internal rate of return on a prospective project. Participants will then break into small groups to evaluate the University under the guidance of a certified engineer. Finally, groups will develop and present a plan for implementing a biomass energy project at the University.

11:00 am–12:30 pm. Workshop Conclusion and Lunch.

12:30–2:00 pm. Individual Consulting.

This event is an extension of the Community Power Initiative program of Public Policy Virginia in conjunction with the Virginia Biomass Energy Group (VBEG).