Renewable Energy Opportunities at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona

Abstract

Executive SummaryThis document provides an overview of renewable resource potential at Yuma Proving Ground, based primarily upon analysis of secondary data sources supplemented with limited on-site evaluations. This effort focuses on grid-connected generation of electricity from renewable energy sources and ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) . SolarSolar photovoltaics (PV) were not found to be cost-effective without additional incentives. The presence of a RPS that features a DG clause creates a REC market that may allow PV systems to be economically feasible under certain conditions. The most economic solar project potential is for axis-tracking PV arrays as well as lower cost roof membrane arrays. A number of appropriate buildings for membrane arrays were identified, although a more thorough study should be conducted to explicitly identify candidate buildings. In short, although Yuma Proving Ground has some of the best solar resources of all Department of Defense locations, the access to very low cost power hampers the economic viability of these systems unless RECs sales can be leveraged. Details are given in Appendix E. Ground Source Heat PumpsRetrofitting existing heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems with GSHPs at Yuma Proving Ground was found to be economically feasible for a limited number of buildings and GSHP configurations. Moreover, GSHPs are eligible technologies for the DG REC market. To be eligible for the DG REC market, these GSHPs will need to displace APS power. The cost-effective building types identified need to be evaluated against the projected APS load requirements, before determining the total potential of GSHPs. Detailed results are provided in Appendix D.Other renewable technologies did not prove to be cost-effective or worthwhile to develop with current conditions and assumptions. Yuma Proving Ground does not have the necessary geothermal resources in proximity to develop economic geothermal power projects (Appendix C). In addition, Renewable Energy Opportunities at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, June 2010iv the proposed plant size would be excessive given Yuma Proving Ground's average load. The wasteto-energy projects evaluated at Yuma Proving Ground represent marginal potential. Given Yuma Proving Ground's relatively small waste generation quantity and the low population of the surrounding area, a waste-to-energy project will be challenging unless the REC market is leveraged to improve the overall project economics. However, because the majority of Yuma Proving Ground's energy is provided by a utility not governed by the RPS and small scale waste-to-energy projects (less than 1 MW) are generally not feasible, waste-to-energy projects, including landfill gas, are not recommended (Appendix B). Biomass projects suffer from similar constraints regarding feedstock quantity, proper sizing, and issues surrounding access to the DG REC market (Appendix B). Lastly, the wind resource was not sufficient to justify large or small scale wind p...