Category: Research and program updates

The Schatz Center’s offshore wind research team presented at two events held earlier this month in San Francisco: the Pacific Rim Offshore Wind conference and the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) IEPR Commissioner Workshop on Offshore Wind. Throughout the week, representatives from both public agencies and private sector companies indicated strong interest in exploring offshore wind development possibilities along the California north coast, to help the state reach its ambitious goal of 100% clean energy by 2045.

Arne Jacobson participated in a conference panel discussion about transmission, substation, and interarray challenges and solutions. He noted that substantial investments in transmission infrastructure would be needed to support development of a commercial-scale wind farm — comparing the existing transmission lines to a capillary where an aorta is required.

Mark Severy shared some early results from our offshore wind feasibility studies during the CEC workshop. Close inspection of wind speed data has revealed high variance over the course of a day, week, or season, and from year to year. The graph below charts potential generation for a 144 MW wind farm in the Northern California BOEM call area, based on wind speed data from three weeks: two in late June to early July 2008, and one from early July 2009.

The top graph shows a period where wind speeds are too slow to power turbines, while the middle graph shows a period of nearly maximum generation for six days, followed by an abrupt descent below the minimum speed required to power turbines. The bottom graph reflects rapidly shifting wind speeds, with resultant generation vacillating between zero and peak production over one week. (Note: a minimum 3 m/s is typically required to power turbines; above 25 m/s turbines shut off to avoid deformation.)

This figure demonstrates that we will need a more granular understanding of wind speed than is provided by daily averages, in order to best integrate offshore wind into the California electrical grid. Our working estimates for this farm design are that full capacity power production would be generated 32% of the year, no power would be produced for 21% of the year, and that for 47% of the year, the farm would produce at partial capacity. Overall, this wind farm as modeled would produce 46% of its rated capacity annually, with higher production in the spring and summer.

The next steps of our modeling will investigate how different scale wind farms can integrate into the local electricity grid. We will study how offshore wind can operate in parallel with existing power plants and renewable energy resources and, through a partnership with PG&E, look at the costs and requirements to upgrade the transmission infrastructure.

Takeaways from our student researchers…

In addition to Schatz professional staff, three students participated in the OSW conference and CEC workshop…

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Attending the PacRim Offshore Wind conference was an incredibly valuable experience. I gained quantifiable data to use in our project analyses, and also was able to learn a lot from observing how professionals are interacting with each other and how they are talking and thinking about the wind industry. In addition to gathering valuable information about the status of offshore wind technology and the market, there were good presentations and lots of information about current environmental science. And, I was able to talk to numerous experts who are willing to provide feedback on the economic models I am developing for the Schatz Center and for my thesis.

Julia Anderson is a graduate student in Energy Technology & Policy, who is working on the economic components of our offshore wind feasibility studies.

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The Pacific Rim Offshore Wind conference and the CEC workshop really opened my eyes to how optimistic the offshore wind industry is and how great the resources off the coast of Northern California are. I got the opportunity to meet so many leaders, policymakers, and researchers in the industry who helped validate the work that I’ve been doing for the Schatz Center. It was most exciting to see our energy commissioners listening so intently and encouragingly to the research that we’ve been working on, especially because of the aggressive goals California has set to completely rely on clean energy sources by 2045. I’m inspired by the enthusiasm shown from the industry and grateful that this is such a favorable time for me to start my future career in renewable energies.

Tina Ortega is a senior in Environmental Resources Engineering. She has been working to model the energy generation from each wind farm scenario, and is analyzing key trends in the data to see how these generation patterns will match up with the grid.

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The conference highlighted both the potential value of offshore wind to California as well as the many challenges involved in developing this resource. From a technological perspective, floating offshore wind seems near ready for large-scale deployment and could provide a great deal of value to the California renewable grid mix and the economy as a whole. However, determining how to accomplish large-scale development in a manner that is economical for California ratepayers and minimizes the impacts to the local environment and stakeholders remains a tricky problem to solve. As a student in my final year at HSU, my experience at this conference has left me feeling highly motivated to seek out professional opportunities to address these challenges!

Craig Mitchell is finishing a second bachelor’s, in Environmental Resources Engineering. He interned this summer with Aker Solutions in Oslo, Norway.

— a Sustainable Futures Speaker Series talk with Jen Marlow and Michael Gerace —

Kivalina, Alaska, is pursuing planned community relocation as a comprehensive strategy to adapt to the realities of climate changed–world in the Arctic. Kivalina people have been pursuing relocation ever since the U.S. government forcibly consolidated the Kivalliñiġmiut onto a shifting barrier island at the coastal edge of their traditional 2,200-square-mile territory in 1905. Kivalina’s relocation plans encompass a comprehensive strategy to protect the village from present and future climate harms, and to improve current living conditions by providing more room to build new homes and alleviate overcrowding, provide access to water and sanitation services (homes in Kivalina still do not have running water or toilets), and expand economic opportunities by connecting village residents to the mainland.

Since 2012, Jen Marlow and Michael Gerace have directed Re-Locate, a series of projects designed to address a wide range of issues determined by Kivalina leaders to be among the most urgent or useful to the village’s relocation planning efforts. Re-Locate has co-organized local coalitions around projects with individuals and institutions from Kivalina, raised required project funds, recruited multidisciplinary partners who bring the expertise projects need to be successful, and managed the development and deployment of project outputs. Re-Locate is working toward creating the support these outputs need for their long term sustainment. This talk will explore this history and the sustainability, desirability, and success of such a process as a response to climate displacement.

Jen Marlow is an Assistant Professor in the Environmental Science and Management Department. She teaches Environmental Law & Regulation and Environmental Conflict Resolution. Jen came to Humboldt State via Anchorage, Alaska, but is originally from upstate New York. Jen received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies with a focus in literature from Middlebury College in Vermont, and a law degree from the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle. She is licensed to practice law in Washington and Alaska, and her special research interests are in climate law, climate justice, and climate–induced displacement.

Michael Gerace is an ethnographic artist and designer currently making mobile and waterless sanitation infrastructure, participatory digital platforms, and residential architecture. Michael is the founder and co-director of Re-Locate, a group of multidisciplinary partners who work with the people and institutions of Kivalina, Alaska in support of a community-led and culturally specific relocation and he is co-owner of Re-Locate LLC, a business researching and developing non-sewered and mobile sanitation technologies.

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Sustainable Futures Speaker Series

Our visiting speaker series stimulates interdisciplinary collaboration around issues related to energy, the environment, and society. All lectures are free and open to the public, and are sponsored by the Schatz Center, the Environment & Community graduate program, and the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences at Humboldt State.

Fall 2019 lectures will be held on Thursdays from 5:30 – 7:00 pm in Founders Hall 118.

• For additional details on upcoming events or to request accessibility accommodations, email serc@humboldt.edu or call (707) 826-4345.

Climate change is challenging our communities to redesign how we meet basic needs. Our specific mission at the Schatz Center is to increase energy access and reliability while shifting power generation to clean and renewable sources.

During this week’s public safety power shutoff, the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe’s main campus remained electrified thanks to its fully integrated solar+storage microgrid. The Rancheria’s gas station also stayed operational, running on a backup diesel generator that will be replaced later this fall by a second solar+ microgrid. The Schatz Center played a leading role in the design and development of both microgrids, working in collaboration with the Rancheria and other project partners.

This week, the Rancheria microgrid was able to provide a safe, warm environment for local families to study and play, charge cell phones, and access the internet; supported a mobile office for Humboldt’s daily newspaper; charged electric vehicles; and gave an electrical boost to municipal water and sewage systems. The gas station delivered fuel and other services for emergency response vehicles, government agencies, the Mad River Fish Hatchery, and thousands of community members.

One of the greatest concerns during power outages is the impacts on people whose medical needs require ongoing access to electricity. During the power shutoff, the Rancheria housed eight people with acute medical needs in their hotel, by request of the County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). DHHS credited the Rancheria with saving their lives, due to their critical needs for power. Emergency diesel was also provided to United Indian Health Services, to power the backup generators that keep perishable medicines cold.

As we prepare to deploy new microgrids currently under development for the north coast and beyond, it’s good to see our first commissioned microgrid successfully delivering critical services for our region!

Learn more about our microgrid projects…

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

Between 1-2 billion people live without reliable access to an electrical grid. Homes and businesses in these communities suffer outages that last from hundreds to thousands of hours each year — if a grid is even available and affordable. To supply both their intermittent and ongoing electrical needs, many people rely on backup generators (BUGS). And, while generators do increase energy access, they also emit air pollutants, create sound pollution, and can carry significant fueling costs. BUGS are also frequently used inside homes and businesses, increasing the proximity of exposure.

To assess the benefits of replacing BUGS with clean and renewable energy systems, we first need to build a baseline understanding of where BUGS use and impacts stand today. Over the last year, we developed a modeling framework to estimate current generator usage and system characteristics, and emissions associated with public health and environmental impacts. We then applied the best available data from 167 low- and middle-income countries to create the first global profile of BUGS.

In collaboration with the International Institute of Applied System Analysis (IIASA), our results have been used to update an emission inventory which provides critical input to climate and air quality models used by planning agencies worldwide.

Among our key findings:

• Global BUGS use is massive. We estimate that 25 million generators are deployed in the 167 countries we surveyed. 75% of those BUGS are operated from locations where a grid connection does exist, but is of marginal quality — either unreliable and/or unaffordable. And, we found that small gasoline generators (under 5 kW) account for over three quarters of the global fleet.
• The countries surveyed spend in excess of $40 billion in total on generator fuel each year. In much of sub-Saharan Africa, communities spend more for generator fuel than is spent to maintain and manage their national electric grid. Co-project lead Nicholas Lam explains “This work really brings to light the immense scale at which polluting fossil-fueled generators are relied upon in developing countries. That BUGS are so broadly used as a stopgap measure for unreliable electrical grids demonstrates that grid quality is a critical pillar of energy access.

• A key part of our study was estimating the pollutant emissions associated with generator use, including particulates and greenhouse gases. Across the countries studied, we found that BUGS emit a total of 1500 kilotons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) annually. In Africa, BUGS alone account for 7% of the NOx emitted each year. Nitrogen oxides are primary components of smog and acid rain, and exposure can cause respiratory disease, and heart and digestive complications.

Next steps

• This first report and implementation of our model relied on existing data from surveys, inventories, and literature. As a topic that has not been examined in great depth, there exist knowledge gaps that if addressed through targeted field-based studies, would refine our model assumptions and allow for more accurate site-specific estimates of BUGS deployment, usage characteristics, and welfare impact.
• Further research is also needed to understand where and how clean, renewable energy systems such as solar+storage can be best deployed to replace BUGS in developing countries.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

Authors and partners

This Backup Generation Impact Study was designed and led by Research Scientist Nicholas Lam and Faculty Scientist Peter Alstone, at the Schatz Energy Research Center. As an engineering student and later a Schatz Research Engineer, Eli Wallach developed and implemented procedures for operationalizing the BUGS framework and identifying major sources of uncertainty affecting our results. Chih-Wei Hsu, a graduate student in HSU’s Energy Technology & Policy program, developed and implemented procedures for sizing and classifying generator fleets and disaggregating them into user sectors. Schatz Center Director Arne Jacobson provided guidance around study strategy and objectives.

This project was developed in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a sister organization of the World Bank and member of the World Bank Group, and funded by the IFC with support from the IKEA Foundation, and the Dutch and Italian governments.

The Schatz Center was recently awarded $150,000 from the CA Governor’s Office of Planning & Research to address three elements associated with offshore wind feasibility. Existing research in each of these areas is sparse — and lacks detail specific to the northern California coast:

• Military mission compatibility
• Geologic and seismic challenges
• Localized environmental impacts of a subsea transmission cable

Military mission compatibility: This project will assess the compatibility of offshore wind farms and military operations in northern California, including within the BOEM Call Area for Humboldt. We will be collaborating with the US Navy to understand their operational needs offshore and within Humboldt Bay. Recommendations for increased compatibility may address wind farm design elements including scale, layout, and turbine size.

Geologic and seismic challenges: Mark Hemphill-Haley (HSU Geology) and Eileen Hemphill-Haley (HSU Geology) will assess geologic and seismic hazards in the areas under consideration for an offshore wind farm, undersea cabling, and onshore facilities. In collaboration with ocean engineering experts from Mott MacDonald, we are conducting a geotechnical feasibility analysis to identify challenges associated with onshore cable landing sites and the different anchor types used for the floating wind platforms.

Environmental impacts of subsea transmission cabling: The energy generated by offshore wind would far exceed the power needs of the north coast. Transmitting energy south to San Francisco would involve either (a) expansion of the current onshore transmission system, or (b) development of a subsea transmission cable. In partnership with ecological consultants at H.T. Harvey, we are conducting a preliminary evaluation of environmental effects associated with subsea cable development. This research will evaluate probable and potential impacts to benthic organisms and other marine life and ecosystems, and identify areas for future in-depth review. Mott MacDonald’s ocean engineering team will provide guidance for subsea cable corridor selection and design.

*Wind study 3 will examine the subsea cable option. We are investigating onshore transmission routes in parallel, as part of wind study 2.

Further reading:

To assess offshore wind feasibility for the northern California coast, we are conducting three complementary studies. Learn more about our offshore wind research…

The Blue Lake Rancheria’s main campus microgrid currently has a 500 kW battery system with an energy storage capacity of 950 kWh. We are in the process of integrating a new 634 kW / 1,014 kWh battery storage system into the existing microgrid. This additional storage will capture more solar energy and enhance system resilience while reducing to near-zero the need for legacy backup diesel generation when islanding or during emergencies.

This week, our microgrid team and the Blue Lake Rancheria utilities teams took a major project step by connecting a 2.5 MVA transformer to the microgrid’s 12 kV backbone. This transformer connects the new battery system to the microgrid and provides new electrical service for the Toma Resilience Campus, which is scheduled to open in 2021. The Toma will house sustainability-oriented programs in five major areas: disaster preparedness, response and recovery; clean energy; smart technology; light manufacturing; and sustainable food production.

Yesterday, we:

• islanded the Blue Lake Rancheria campus from the power grid
• de-energized the 12kV backbone, while keeping critical site functions online
• connected the new 2.5 MVA transformer to the 12 kV backbone
• upgraded fuses and adjusted relay settings at the point of common coupling with the power grid
• reconnected to the power grid
• conducted regression testing on the upgraded microgrid control system

Next steps include the final commissioning of the battery system and a witness test by PG&E to receive final permission to operate. The new system will be fully operational this fall.

Further reading…

• On September 5, the Blue Lake Rancheria received a Green Power Leadership Award from the Environmental Protection Agency for powering 23% of their electricity needs via the microgrid, cultivating partnerships to build local expertise in green power, and educating local and national audiences about microgrids.
• Learn more about our microgrid project work…

In California, we’ve made a lot of progress in improving greenhouse gas emissions in the electric sector, but have a long way to go in transportation. We need cleaner cars and robust, clean public transit systems that meaningfully support the state’s growing population.

One of the exciting things about working in transportation is that there are so many angles of approach. This summer, student research assistant Scott Machen and Schatz engineer Jerome Carman are developing strategies to allow a microgrid to control electric vehicle charging loads — which will expand microgrid demand response strategies during power outages and peak use days.

Scott’s objective is to build a prototype computer algorithm to enable smart control of electric vehicle charging for the Redwood Coast Airport microgrid. Jerome and Scott are running live tests on system behavior at the Blue Lake Rancheria’s tribal office charging stations, so that we can better predict how microgrids, chargers, and electric vehicles will interact.

Hello! I am a graduate student in the Energy, Technology and Policy option of the Environmental Systems program at HSU, and the first recipient of the Donald and Andrea Tuttle Fellowship for Clean Energy Studies. Currently, I am working on a team led by Dr. Sintana Vergara on characterizing greenhouse gas emissions from stored woody biomass. My thesis will be closely related to this topic, as my primary research interests are in waste, its potential reuse for energy, and climate impacts. 

I started attending HSU in the fall of 2018, a few months after graduating from CSU Bakersfield. There, I completed the coursework for a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Biotechnology. My past research work has involved various spectroscopic techniques for characterization of lysyl oxidase, an enzyme that creates connective tissue links between collagen and elastin, and plays a role in cancer cell metastasis. I am grateful for my time in biochemistry research, but I am excited to shift gears into renewable energy work. I am happy to be living in Humboldt County, where the community focus on sustainability and resource conservation is inspiring me to do my best work. 

~ Carisse Geronimo

As capital costs for offshore wind rapidly decrease and floating platform technologies come online, the northern coast of California is emerging as a promising site for the first offshore wind farm in the eastern Pacific. The region off Humboldt Bay is of particular interest due to its superior wind resource, existing deep water port, power interconnection capacity, and limited overlap with U.S. military operations. 

To assess offshore wind feasibility for the northern California coast, we are conducting three complementary studies. Wind study #2 is being funded by a $150,000 grant from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), with matching funds from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). This study will evaluate wind patterns and associated energy generation profiles, estimate transmission upgrades, and assess the economic viability of three wind farm models.

• Potential generation profile — In order to determine how offshore wind generation would align with regional and state energy needs, we will assess daily wind patterns and production capacity within potential lease areas.
• Transmission and interconnection — Large scale wind generation off California’s northern coast would exceed the capacity of the region’s electrical grid. Delivering power to larger load centers in California would require significant upgrades to transmission infrastructure. Upgrades and associated costs will be estimated with collaboration from PG&E.
• Subsea cable transmission analysis — Energy could potentially be transmitted to the San Francisco Bay Area via undersea cable. The study will involve preliminary feasibility analysis for this possibility.
• Economic viability — The economic viability and cost of electricity from three differently sized wind farms will be evaluated for the specific context of Humboldt County.

Our project will take the first in-depth look at the wind resource and transmission constraints in this region. Previous work has been done to characterize the general wind resource on the north coast, but we will be assessing project sizes and locations that are relevant to the current area being considered for lease. This project will provide a public report that describes the opportunities for energy generation and the expected costs of transmission upgrades. A final report for this wind study will be delivered to BOEM in May 2020.

With separate funding from California’s Ocean Protection Council and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, we are also conducting analyses related to environmental impacts, stakeholder benefits and and concerns, seismic hazards, policy and regulation, and other associated topics. Learn more about our offshore wind research…

In 1989, two environmental resource engineering professors — Peter Lehman and Charles Chamberlin — began the Schatz Solar Hydrogen Project. In April, we celebrated the Schatz Center’s 30th anniversary with a party attended by staff, faculty, and students, alongside members of our advisory board, project collaborators, and campus and community supporters. For me, the celebration was an inspiring and fun event with a wonderful group of people. It also provided an opportunity to reflect on our history and our future. I’d like to share three themes.

First, it is notable how much our team has grown. The initial core team for the Solar Hydrogen Project consisted of two founding directors and four students, with funding from Dr. Louis W. Schatz. Our group now includes nearly 50 people — including 10 faculty, 23 professional staff, and 16 students — and our annual budget has grown from $100K to nearly $7 million today.

Second, since the mid-1990s professional staff have played crucial roles in advancing our work, generating innovative ideas, managing projects, and mentoring students. They are truly a pillar of strength for our organization. During the celebration, we recognized four professional staff members who have been with the Center for more than half of its 30 years: Allison Hansberry, Marc Marshall, Greg Chapman, and Jim Zoellick. We are grateful for the substantial contributions they have made and for their continued leadership.

Third, much of our work continues to focus on the successful deployment of cutting-edge energy systems. Throughout the 90s, the Center was involved in developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and renewably generated hydrogen fuel, and in 1997 we deployed the first street-legal fuel cell vehicle in the United States. Mainstream manufacturers subsequently developed their own models, and fuel cell vehicles are now commercially available from companies including Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai.

Today, our work includes technologies ranging from renewable energy microgrids to off-grid solar systems. Our first solar microgrid went live at the Blue Lake Rancheria in 2017, and we have two more scheduled to launch in Northern California, in 2019 and 2021. Renewable microgrids address global climate change by (1) deploying low-carbon energy systems while (2) increasing onsite resilience through improved electrical reliability. This technology is now on the verge of going mainstream, with utilities such as Pacific Gas and Electric considering widespread deployment to mitigate wildfire risk and ensure reliable power for critical facilities. 

Likewise, in West Africa we are engaged in projects to generate reliable electricity for rural health clinics. Where successful, these systems can provide life saving improvements for health services ranging from support for mothers during delivery of babies to vaccination and surgery. In partnership with regional and national organizations and the World Bank, we are developing a new approach to deploy and maintain off-grid solar systems in clinics across Nigeria and Niger.

It is my pleasure to welcome new members to the Schatz Center team. We have hired four new professional staff since the beginning of the year: Tanya Garcia, Eli Wallach, Ian Guerrero, and Max Blasdel. We are also pleased to welcome three incoming graduate student fellows who will join us in August: Aditya Singh (Christina and Jack West Fellowship), Kristine Stern (Blue Lake Rancheria Fellowship), and Amin Younes (Schatz Energy Fellowship). Finally, we have a dynamic crew of thirteen students working for us this summer. We are very glad to have them all on our team.

Happy summer, and goodbye until next time. – Arne Jacobson