Renewable Energy Technology Assessments - Kauai Island Utility ...

Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative
Renewable Energy Technology Assessments 1.0 Executive Summary
1. Solid biomass (p. 3-3)
1.1 Direct fired
1.2 Cofiring
2. Biogas (p. 3-14)
2.1 Anaerobic digestion
2.2 Landfill gas
3. Biofuels (p. 3-21)
3.1 Ethanol
3.2 Biodiesel
4. Waste to energy (p. 3-32)
4.1 Mass burn
4.2 Refuse derived fuel
4.3 Plasma arc
5. Hydroelectric (p. 3-42)
6. Ocean energy (p. 3-47)
6.1 Ocean thermal energy
conversion
6.2 Wave
6.3 Tidal
7. Solar (p. 3-57)
7.1 Solar photovoltaic
7.1.1 Residential
7.1.2 Commercial
7.2 Solar thermal
7.2.1 Parabolic trough
7.2.2 Parabolic dish stirling
7.2.3 Central receiver
7.2.4 Solar chimney
8. Wind (p. 3-67)
8.1 Wind farm
8.2 Distributed wind
9. Geothermal (p. 3-74)
10. Multi-fuel generation technologies (p.
3-76)
10.1 Reciprocating engines
10.1.1 Spark ignition
10.1.2 Compression ignition
10.2 Small combustion turbines
10.3 Microturbines
10.4 Fuel cells
(Page references for the technology screening section are shown in parentheses.
The five technologies carried forward for detailed analysis are underlined.)
Generally, each technology was described with respect to its principles of
operation, applications, resource characteristics, cost and performance, environmental
impacts, and outlook for Kauai. The outlook for Kauai included an assessment of the
potential developable resource within the next 3, 5, 10 and 20 years.
1.3 Renewable Energy Technology Screening
A technology screening methodology was used to evaluate, rank and select Kauai
renewable energy resources for further investigation. The assessment methodology
employs a set of seven weighted criteria:
• Cost of energy (50 percent)
• Kauai resource potential (10 percent)
• Fit to KIUC needs (10 percent)
• Technology maturity (10 percent)
• Environmental impact (7.5 percent)
21 March 2005 1-2 Black & Veatch