News

This section contains information on the news items highlighted on this Web site since 2007. Information on the older news items can be found in the Archives section.

MAC Presents a Technical College Course Series on the Fundamentals of CHP
Chicago, IL
November 5 and 12, 2009

John Cuttica of the U.S. DOE Midwest Clean Energy Application Center presented a 4-part technical college course series on the fundamentals of CHP to students at Wright State College. Mr. Cuttica covered the concepts and integrated technologies of CHP, discussed the target market sectors that are most suitable for CHP applications, and provided an introduction into evaluating a specific site for CHP technical and economic viability. The four modules that are available for download are:

• Module #1: DG/CHP Concept Characteristics
• Module #2: CHP Technology Building Blocks
• Module #3: CHP Example Market Applications
• Module #4: Preliminary Site Analysis

The Copies of these presentations are available: Modules 1 & 2; Modules 3 & 4

Energy Secretary Chu Announced More than $155 Million for Industrial Energy Efficiency Projects
Washington, DC
November 3, 2009

Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 that the U.S. Department of Energy is awarding more than $155 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for 41 industrial energy efficiency projects across the country.

Nine of the 41 industrial energy efficiency projects announced (totaling approximately $150M in federal funding) will promote the use of combined heat and power (CHP), district energy (DE) systems, waste energy recovery systems, and energy efficiency initiatives in hospitals, utilities, and industrial sites. The remaining 32 awards will provide local technical support for the industrial sector through university-based Industrial Assessment Centers, state agencies, regional partnerships, and a national technical assistance provider.

Listing of the nine awarded industrial technology projects (Midwest projects highlighted in bold print):

• Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Middleton, OH
• ArcelorMittal USA, East Chicago, IL
• Clean Tech Partners, Wisconsin
• Rhode Island LFG Genco, LLC, Johnston, RI
• Ridgewood Renewable Power, LLC, Brea, CA
• Seattle Steam Company, Seattle, WA
• Texas Medical Center Central Heating and Cooling Services Co., Houston, TX
• Verso Paper Corporation, Jay, ME; Bucksport, ME; Sartell, MN

The official U.S. DOE announcement, and a listing and description of the awarded projects are available for downloading by clicking on the shown links.

Waste to Energy Workshop for the Illinois Electric Cooperatives
Springfield, IL
October 20, 2009

On Tuesday, October 20th, 2009, the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC), along with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the U.S. DOE Midwest Clean Energy Regional Application Center, and the Blue Moon Fund, sponsored a one-day workshop for the Illinois electric cooperatives on the topic and concepts of anaerobic digester and combined heat and power (AD/CHP) technologies. The concept of anaerobic digesters (AD) and combined heat and power (CHP) projects for farm and food processing facilities has been a market sector gaining increasing interest for waste to energy project opportunities. The one day workshop was aimed at providing a forum to introduce the topic and concepts to the co-op leaders and to provide preliminary discussions on formulating an initiative to investigate potential AD/CHP projects in Illinois electric cooperative service territories.

Participants Learned:

• The Concepts and Benefits of CHP Technologies
  
• AD Basics and the Opportunities for Farms and Food Processing Facilities
  
• Integrating CHP Technologies With ADs
  
• Beginning an AD/CHP Project and Learning where to Start and what to Account For
  
• The Partnership between the Co-op and Producer
  
• Insights and Lessons Learned of Existing AD/CHP Projects
  
• Environmental Impacts and Accounting for Carbon Credits
  
• Funding Opportunities for Biogas-to-Energy Projects
  

Workshop brochure, presentations and presenter bios are available.

Wayne Hartel of Illinois DCEO presenting the State of Illinois Biogas and Biomass to Energy Program	Jay Solomon of the University of Illinois Extension presents on the topic of anaerobic digesters for the farm livestock industry

The U.S. DOE Midwest Clean Energy Regional Application Center co-organized the workshop and its representatives, Henry Kurth and Cliff Haefke, moderated the workshop and provided presentations.

WEBINAR: Waste to Energy Opportunities in Wastewater Treatment Facilities Utilizing Anaerobic Digesters and CHP Concepts and Technologies
September 22, 2009

On Tuesday, September 22^nd, 2009, the National Association of State Energy Offices (NASEO), in conjunction with the Association of State Energy Research and Technology Transfer Institutions (ASERTTI) and the U.S. EPA Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Partnership, co-sponsored a 90 minute webinar for the State Energy Offices covering the energy efficiency opportunities available for wastewater treatment facilities (WWTF) utilizing the generated biogas from the wastewater treatment process through anaerobic digesters. The Midwest CHP Application Center (MAC) co-organized the webinar and its representatives, Cliff Haefke and John Cuttica, provided presentations.

Participants Learned:

• Basics of Anaerobic Digesters
• Strategies Utilizing Generated Biogas
• Concepts and Benefits of Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
• Incorporating Biogas / CHP Projects in State Energy Programs
• Examples of Successfully Operating Biogas / CHP Systems in WWTFs
  

Combined Heat and Power (CHP): A Concept for Wastewater Treatment Facilities
Presented By: Clifford P. Haefke, Midwest CHP Application Center
Cliff provided an overview and introduction to combined heat and power (CHP) and anaerobic digester technologies discussing how these systems are integrated together in wastewater treatment facilities for energy savings, emissions reduction and energy reliability opportunities. A copy the presentation in PDF format is available (667kb).

Combined Heat and Power (CHP): A Concept for Wastewater Treatment Facilities
Presented by: Neeharika Naik-Dhungel, EPA CHP Partnership
Neeharika discussed the market potential for CHP applications in wastewater treatment facilities and also share with us some of the available incentives from the federal level for these integrated systems and also share some of the programs that various states are embarking on to promote these technology concepts. A copy of the presentation in PDF format is available (125Kb).

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) At Wastewater Treatment Facilities Case Studies
Presented By: John J. Cuttica, Midwest CHP Application Center
John provided the final presentation by highlighting some case studies of actual wastewater treatment facilities that are already utilizing and taking advantage of the concepts and technologies of anaerobic digesters and combined heat and power systems. A copy of the presentation in PDF format is available (459Kb).

A copy of the combined audio of all the three presentations is available: Audio file of the whole webinar (9.9Mb)

A copy of the combined audio and video of all three presentations is also available: Audio and Video file of the whole webinar.

MAC and NET Participate in University of Notre Dame’s Energy Week
Notre Dame, IN
September 14, 2009

The Midwest CHP Application Center (MAC) and Nisource Energy Technologies (NET) teamed up to participate in the University of Notre Dame’s Energy Week. Cliff Haefke (MAC) and Rich Sichtermann (NET) manned a table display to promote the concepts and technologies of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) to some 3,000 students and faculty that passed through the University’s outdoor Quad area. NET has designed and installed several CHP microturbine applications in the State of Indiana. Other energy and environmental organizations also participated in this event promoting such concepts as energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and recycling. For more information on the Energy Week and copies of the table top display are available.

FREE WEBINAR SERIES: "Energy Efficient Practices and CHP Technologies for Data Centers
September 2009

The Midwest CHP Application Center offered a complimentary series of 4-part “lunch-hour” webinars on Energy Efficient Practices and CHP Technologies for Data Centers. In each one-hour broadcast industry professionals discussed ways to cut power demand and make your data center more energy efficient. The webinars included a tutorial on assessing energy demand in a data center and identifying savings opportunities by using the U.S. Department of Energy’s DC Protool software, energy efficient practices and technologies for implementation in data centers, how to integrate combined heat and power (CHP) in data centers, and case studies of CHP projects installed in data centers. The webinar were scheduled on September 1st, 3rd, 9th, and 10th. Copies of the webinar slides and audio are now available (This will be linked to the following page).

Webinar #1 (September 1): Energy Efficiency Performance in Data Centers Utilizing US DOE Software Tool
Presented By: Steve Greenberg, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Various formats of the presentation are available: Slides (1.2Mb), Audio (5.3Mb) and Video (30.1Mb).

Webinar #2 (September 3): Understanding Energy Efficiency Concepts and Technologies for Data Centers
Presented By: William Tschudi, PE, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Various formats of the presentation are available: Slides (1.6Mb), Audio (6.5Mb) and Video (16.0Mb).

Webinar #3 (September 9): Combined Heat & Power (CHP) Opportunities for Data Centers
Presented By: Clifford P. Haefke, Midwest CHP Application Center
Various formats of the presentation are available: Slides (2.1Mb), Audio (7.0Mb) and Video ( 21.1Mb).

Webinar #4 (September 10): Case Studies of Data Centers Implementing Energy Efficiency and CHP Systems
Presented By: Ralph Renne, NetApp and Phil Higgins, First National Bank Data Center
Various formats of the presentation are available: Slides (4.2Mb), Audio (6.4Mb) and Video (14.2Mb).

Waste to Energy Workshop: Advances and Opportunities in Ohio’s Livestock and Food Processing Industries
Wooster, OH
April 7, 2009

The Midwest CHP Application Center (MAC) co-organized and co-implemented the workshop with the Ohio Department of Development (Ohio Energy Office), the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (Ohio Biomass Energy Program), and the Ohio Agriculture Research & Development Center at the request of the Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Energy Office. The workshop was held at the Arden Shisler Conference Center in Wooster, Ohio. The Conference Center is part of the Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center, Ohio State University.

This was the tenth such waste-to-energy workshop conducted by the MAC over the past several years, and the second in Ohio. Previous workshops have been conducted in Iowa (2), Illinois (2), Indiana (3), Ohio (1), and Michigan (1). The Ohio workshop attracted the largest audience, with over 240 attendees, including representatives from the Ohio livestock industry, food processing industry, academia, utility industry, engineering, architecture and manufacturing industries, and state government. Among the many highlights of the workshop was the active participation of the Governor’s Energy Advisor, Mr. Mark Shanahan.

Many of the attendees were members of the livestock and/or food processing industries in Ohio. The workshop focused on providing enough information to these potential users of the technologies and concepts as to encourage them to evaluate the concepts at their facilities. The workshop also provided them with information on how they could proceed with the evaluation.

The large and enthusiastic turnout for the workshop was the result of the backing of the many workshop co-sponsors including

• U.S. Department of Energy
• Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Energy Office
• Ohio Agriculture Research & Development Center
• Ohio State University
• Ohio Department of Agriculture
• Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Ohio Biomass Energy Program
• Center for Innovative Food Technology
• Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
• Ohio Farmers Union
• Wayne Economic Development Council
• Ohio Soybean Council
• Ohio Corn Growers
• Midwest CHP Application Center
• Blue Moon Fund

The attendees were welcomed by Dr. Steve Slack, Director of the Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center and Mr. John Cuttica, Director of the Midwest CHP Application Center. The lunch time key note speaker was Mr. Mark Shanahan, the appointed Energy Advisor to Governor Ted Strickland.

Workshop brochure, presentations and speakers' bios are available.

Forever Energy: Biomass for Sustainable Energy Solutions
Dubuque, IA
July 17, 2008

The workshop was sponsored by Limestone Bluffs Resource Conservation and Development, The City of Dubuque, The Driftless Area Initiative, The Iowa Energy Center, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Dubuque Main Street, Washington Neighborhood Association, Down to Earth Solutions, Dubuque Metro Area Solid Agency and Sustainable Land Development Inc.

The one-day workshop was held at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa on the topic of regional sustainability for the City of Dubuque and the surrounding area utilizing biomass fuels as a renewable source of energy. Mayor Roy Buol provided the welcoming speech to the 80+ gathered in attendance. The workshop was organized into the following sessions:

• Regional Biomass Resources
• Environmental Considerations with Biomass to Energy
• Biomass Energy System Opportunities
• Technologies and Business Opportunities for Biomass
• Project Development Initiatives and Assistance

Cliff Haefke of the Midwest CHP Application Center provided two presentations:

The Use of Wood Biomass for Distributed Energy Generation in Iowa
This presentation was based on the study completed in January 2008 for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and authored by Dr. Steffen Mueller of the Midwest CHP Application Center. The presentation outlined the potential use of wood biomass as a distributed energy source in the State of Iowa and then identified the CHP generating capacity using wood biomass fuels in the City of Dubuque and the surrounding area. A copy of the presentation is available.

Biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Systems – The Concept
This presentation provided an overview of the basic concepts and building blocks of combined heat and power (CHP) systems using biomass fuels. Biomass fuels can be converted into fuel for energy utilizing these biomass conversion technologies: boiler (combustion), fermentation, landfill gas, gasification, and anaerobic digestion. A copy of the presentation is available.

Other documents and reports mentioned in Mr. Haefke’s presentations:

• The Use of Wood Biomass for Distributed Energy Generation in Iowa; A Modeling Approach Based on the Energy Demands of Ethanol Energy Systems (Midwest CHP Application Center)

• Biomass CHP Catalog of Technologies (US EPA CHP Partnership, 2007)

• Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Resource Guide (Midwest CHP Application Center, 2005)

• Combined Heat and Power Market Potential for Opportunity Fuels (Resource Dynamics Corporation, 2004)

Energy Savings Opportunities for Indiana WWTFs: Energy Efficiency and CHP
Elkhart, IN
May 21, 2008

The Midwest CHP Application Center (MAC) organized and implemented two one-day workshops in Indiana: on May 19th in Indianapolis and on May 21st in Elkhart. Both workshops were sponsored by the Indiana Office of Energy & Defense Development, along with the following co-sponsors:

• U.S. Department of Energy
• Indiana Water Environment Association (IWEA)
• Indiana Industrial Operators Association (IIOA)
• Alliance of Indiana Rural Water
• Blue Moon Fund

These were the first workshops the MAC organized in Indiana this year targeting the wastewater treatment facility managers in the State of Indiana on the concepts of energy efficiency and biogas utilization from anaerobic digesters. The two workshops attracted more than one hundred interested attendees that engaged in many interactive discussions. Workshop attendees included wastewater treatment facility managers, engineering and environmental firms, government employees, private and public utilities, and others.

Welcome Slide listing Workshop Co-Sponsors

Cris Dorman of the Indiana Office of Energy & Defense Development (OED) welcomes the attendees to the Elkhart workshop

The workshop was organized into four program sections:

• Energy Efficiency and Performance Contracting
• Basic Understanding of Concepts and Technologies: Anaerobic Digesters, Gas Applications (including CHP), Gas Treatment, and Grid Interconnection
• Actual Applications and Example Installations
• Next Steps to Evaluating these Technologies and Concepts at Your Facility: Carbon Footprinting, Air Permitting, Financing Projects, and State Incentives

The workshop agenda, copies of presentations, and speakers' contact information are available.

Energy Savings Opportunities for Indiana WWTFs: Energy Efficiency and CHP
Indianapolis, IN
May 19, 2008

The Midwest CHP Application Center (MAC) organized and implemented two one-day workshops in Indiana: on May 19th in Indianapolis and on May 21st in Elkhart. Both workshops were sponsored by the Indiana Office of Energy & Defense Development, along with the following co-sponsors:

• U.S. Department of Energy
• Indiana Water Environment Association (IWEA)
• Indiana Industrial Operators Association (IIOA)
• Alliance of Indiana Rural Water
• Blue Moon Fund

These were the first workshops the MAC organized in Indiana this year targeting the wastewater treatment facility managers in the State of Indiana on the concepts of energy efficiency and biogas utilization from anaerobic digesters. The two workshops attracted more than one hundred interested attendees that engaged in many interactive discussions. Workshop attendees included wastewater treatment facility managers, engineering and environmental firms, government employees, private and public utilities, and others.

Welcome Slide listing Workshop Co-Sponsors

Chet Welle, Assistant Plant Manager of the Rochester Water Reclamation Plant, discusses the plant's CHP project and the associated benefits of the technology

The workshops highlighted energy efficiency, anaerobic digesters, combustion and gasification technologies as viable approaches to meeting the individual wastewater treatment plant’s energy and management planning requirements, and showed how these technologies can be combined with CHP systems to generate onsite electricity and recycle the heat for use in the plant digester, pre-heating the digested sludge, facility heating/cooling and domestic hot water. CHP systems can reach 75% to 85% fuel use efficiencies, reduce energy consumption, provide economic savings, reduce carbon emissions, and when integrated with anaerobic digesters can assist in odor reduction, pathogen mitigation, and the reduced volume of sludge.

The workshop was organized into four program sections:

• Energy Efficiency and Performance Contracting
• Basic Understanding of Concepts and Technologies: Anaerobic Digesters, Gas Applications (including CHP), Gas Treatment, and Grid Interconnection
• Actual Applications and Example Installations
• Next Steps to Evaluating these Technologies and Concepts at Your Facility: Carbon Footprinting, Air Permitting, Financing Projects, and State Incentives

The workshop agenda, copies of presentations, and speakers' contact information are available.

Bio-Energy Production Through Anaerobic Digester Technology
Lansing, MI
January 15, 2008

The MAC worked closely with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Michigan State Energy Office in organizing and implementing the above workshop. Over 130 representatives from the livestock, food processing, digester, state government, engineering, utility, and finance industries participated. The workshop agenda, copies of the presentations, and speaker bios are now available by clicking on the desired link.

Methane Recovery from Farm & Food Processing Waste
Richmond, IN
May 31, 2007

The MAC developed and implemented the above workshop, under the direction of the Indiana Office of Energy & Defense Development (state energy office) and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. Approximately 100 representatives from the livestock and food processing industries, the electric utility industry, state government, academia, and manufacturers attended the one-day workshop. More information on the workshop, its agenda, copies of the presentations and speakers are now available.

U.S. EPA Launches New Web Site for CHP Partnership
August 2007

The U.S. EPA is pleased to announce the launching of its new Web site for The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Partnership. New project development resources are now available and portions of the Web site have been streamlined to improve the access to existing tools and information. Some of the changes include the following:

• Revised Funding Database - To build on the popularity of the original funding database, we have made the new funding database easier to navigate by including updated tabs and organizing the information by type of project and the type of incentive. Please visit the new Funding Database, at: http://www.epa.gov/chp/funding/funding.html.

• Revised Project Developer's Page - The Streamlining Project Development Web page, consolidates a number of different resources into a single location, using a common navigation menu. This descriptive resource helps to guide users through the entire procurement process: from analyzing site-specific technical potential for CHP to operations and maintenance of a completed CHP system. The guide also highlights various tools and resources that might be helpful at each stage of the CHP development process. This newly consolidated guide is available at: http://www.epa.gov/chp/project-development/index.html

• Newly Added Tools and Resources - The Web site now includes a number of new resources, such as: a section outlining CHP project economics, available at: http://www.epa.gov/chp/basic/economics.html; new information on the CHP Partnership's strategic market sectors for CHP, accessible at: http://www.epa.gov/chp/markets/index.html; and a publications page listing all CHP Partnership documents available on the Web site, located at: http://www.epa.gov/chp/publications/index.html.

• Improved Basic Information on CHP - More background information on CHP is included, such as a section on renewably-fueled CHP (a new home for information about biomass and biogas utilization for onsite power generation), as well as resources for quantifying the efficiency and reliability benefits of CHP compared to conventional separate heat and power generation. Please visit the new Basic Information Web page, at: http://www.epa.gov/chp/basic/index.html.

• More to Come - Over the next few months, we will be posting several reports currently under development to the new Web site, such as the Biomass CHP Catalog of Technologies - a follow-up to our CHP Catalog of Technologies. The Biomass CHP Catalog of Technologies will provide in-depth information on technology applications, the project development process, and other important considerations when building a biomass-fueled CHP system.

The CHP Partnership will be announcing several new tools and resources over the next few months to CHP Partnership members. For more information on joining the CHP Partnership, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/chp/partnership/how-to-join.html.

Waste-to-Energy Workshop for the Ohio Livestock & Food Processing Industries
January 31, 2007
Wooster, OH

The MAC developed and implemented the workshop at the request of the Ohio State Energy Office. The workshop was held at the Arden Shisler Conference Center in Wooster, Ohio. The Conference Center is part of the Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center, Ohio State University.

This was the seventh such waste-to-energy workshop conducted by the MAC over the past several years, and the first in Ohio. Prior workshops were held in Iowa (2), Illinois (2), and Indiana (2). The Ohio workshop attracted the largest audience, with over 180 attendees, including representatives from the Ohio livestock industry, food processing industry, academia, utility industry, engineering and manufacturing industry, and state government. Among the many highlights of the workshop was the active participation of Ohio State Senator Ron Amstutz and the newly appointed Governor’s Energy Advisor, Mr. Mark Shanahan.

Over half of the attendees were members of the livestock and/or food processing industries in Ohio. The workshop focused on providing enough information to these potential users of the technologies and concepts as to encourage them to evaluate the concepts at their facilities. The workshop also provided them with information on how they could proceed with the evaluation.

The large and enthusiastic turnout for the workshop was the result of the backing of the many workshop co-sponsors including

• U.S. Department of Energy
• Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Energy Office
• Ohio Agriculture Research & Development Center
• Ohio State University
• Ohio Department of Agriculture
• Ohio Edison Center for Innovative Food Technology
• Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
• Ohio Farmers Union
• Wayne Economic Development Council
• Ohio Soybean Council
• Ohio Corn Growers
• Midwest CHP Application Center

The attendees were welcomed by Ms. Sara Ward, Director of Ohio’s State Energy Office and Dr. Steve Slack, the Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration at Ohio State University and the Director of the Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center. The lunch time key note speaker was Mr. Mark Shanahan, the newly appointed Energy Advisor to Governor Ted Strickland.

The audience was also provided an update on an ongoing study being conducted by Professor Fred Hitzhusen of Ohio State University, entitled “Assessing Ohio’s Biomass Resources for Energy Potential Using GIS”. The Phase 1 report is available on line at:
www.llaede.osu.edu/people/publications.php?user=hitzhusen.1

The workshop agenda, copies of presentations, and speakers' contact information are available.

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Last Revised: April 17, 2009