Energy for Rural and Island Communities. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference Held at Inverness, Scotland, 16–19 September 1985

318 Pages·1986·17.617 MB·English

by  John Twidell, Ian Hounam and Chris Lewis (Eds.)

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Energy for Rural
and
Island Communities
IV
Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference held at Inverness,
Scotland, 16-19 September 1985
Edited by
JOHN TWIDELL
IAN HOUNAM and CHRIS LEWIS
Energy Studies Unit, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
Administrator
FIONA JORGENSON
PERGAMON PRESS
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First edition 1986
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Energy for rural and island communities, IV.
Includes indexes.
I. Power resources—Congresses. 2. Renewable
energy sources-Congresses. I. Twidell, John.
II. Hounam, Ian. III. Lewis, Chris.
TJ163.15.E5334 1986 333.79'09173'4 86-2553
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Energy for rural and island communities
IV : proceedings of the fourth international
conference held at Inverness, Scotland, September
16-19, 1985.
1. Power resources
I. Twidell, John II. Hounam, Ian III. Lewis,
Chris, 1948-
333.79'11'091734 TJ163.2
ISBN 0-08-033423-7
Printed in Great Britain by A. Wheaton & Co. Ltd., Exeter
Preface
This fourth conference has demonstrated the international nature
of innovative energy systems. Delegates from 30 countries arrived
at Inverness to consider the needs of rural and remote communities
where energy supply limits economic development. It became quickly
obvious that problems and solutions are of equal concern to groups
in both the so-called developed world and the less developed
countries.
The theme of the Conference was 'integrated energy systems', and most
of the papers discussed the use of one or two renewable supplies in
combination with conventional systems. It is important to realise that
the basic principles of alternative energy systems have now been
established and that considerable experience has been accummulated
of individual working devices. The challenge today is to blend the
best options at a particular site into an economically viable and
reliable supply for the community concerned.
Likewise it is important to stress the need for efficient supply
systems and efficiency of energy use. Outstanding examples presented
at the Conference were two Norwegian wave power stations constructed
near Bergen. Each station uses a combination of physical effects to
enhance wave energy capture and to decrease the unit cost of the power
produced. Throughout the conference other examples appeared of such
opportunities to make 'clever' systems using the advantages of small
scale installations. In general smaller scale allows, (i) 'hot spots'
v
vi Preface
of renewable sources to be utilised, (ii) integration of several supplies,
(iii) substitution of a high price or depleted conventional source by
new alternatives, and (iv) the use of modern control systems usually
based on microprocessor instrumentation.
Once again, this series of conferences was able to demonstrate the range
of new and alternative energy sources. Many of the associated technologies
are now completely accepted in appropriate circumstances, e.g. biogas
from farming and waste products, passive solar design for new buildings,
grid connected wind turbine generators. The challenge today is to integrate
such proven technologies with conventional methods and with each other to
provide economic supply systems. Present at the conference were
representatives for the 13-European-country study for such integrated
systems for farms. This programme is being supported by the Food
and Agricultural Organisation (F.A.O) and the Development Programme
(UNDP) of the United Nations. International cooperation of this
scale, and crossing East-West political boundaries is extremely welcome.
At the closing session of the conference, participants expressed the clear
wish to have greater South-North cooperation amongst themselves. As a
result we decided to begin an information bulletin for circulation to
those attending ERIC conferences. The purpose is to give participants
the opportunity to contact each other directly for visits, the exchange of
equipment, information etc. The bulletin will be produced from the
Energy Studies Unit. There is also the desire to hold conferences in
other countries, and the organisers would be pleased to see this happen.
The next major conference in the series is planned for September 14th to 17th,
1987.
John Twidell, Ian Hounam, Chris Lewis and Fiona Jorgenson
Energy Studies Unit Telephone [phone]
University of Strathclyde Telex: 77472-UNSLIB
Glasgow
Scotland
Sponsors
The Conference was sponsored by:
Bank of Scotland
British Council
British Petroleum
British Renewable Energy Forum
Chivas Brothers Ltd.
UK Dept. of Energy
Grampian Regional Council
Highland Regional Council
James Howden & Co.Ltd.
Royal Bank of Scotland
Scottish Branch of British Wind Energy Assoc.
Scottish Development Agency
Scottish Solar Energy Group
Western Isles Islands Council
University of Strathclyde
The Sponsors, whilst supporting the aims of the Conference, did not necessar­
ily endorse the views expressed by the Contributors.
An Energy Overview of
Canada's Remote
Communities with Reference
to the Remote Community
Demonstration Program
D. E. Rodger
Remote Community Demonstration Program, Department
of Energy, Mines and Resources, Ottawa, Canada
ABSTRACT
This paper provides an energy orientation of Canada's 37^ communities
which are not served by grid electricity or natural gas distribution
systems. It reviews current and projected energy demand in consideration
of energy conservation and alternative supply opportunities. It outlines
the Remote Community Demonstration Program, a national program designed
to help remote communities and their energy supply agencies to identify,
assess and implement such opportunities. Finally, the paper presents
four approaches to integrated energy systems.
KEYWORDS
Remote communities; Canada; energy conservation; alternative energy
supply; integrated energy systems.
THE COMMUNITIES
Currently, there are 371* communities in Canada considered remote in the
sense that they are not served by grid electricity or natural gas
distribution systems. While a small portion of these communities will be
so served over the next decade, most have virtually no option for such
connection. With a total population of less than 200,000, they comprise
approximately 0.8% of the total population of Canada. In the second
largest country (by area) in the world, the land area they cover is
miniscule.
In their common features, they are very different from major Canadian
population centers.
Size
With an average population of approximately 550, they may range from 10
A1.1
3
4 D. E. Rodger
households to 15,000 people. Family sizes are often larger than the
Canadian norm.
Location
Located in northern latitudes, they are geographically isolated from the
commercial and industrial centers of Canada and have severe access
constraints (often limited to plane, barge, or ship) with resultant high
transportation costs.
Climate
Climate is characterized by relatively long, cold (down to -60°C) winters
with short (often hot) summmers. Growing seasons are limited by short
frost-free periods. Snow and ice are normal winter conditions.
Permafrost, or permanently frozen ground, is a common building constraint
for foundations and infrastructure. Above the Arctic Circle, periods of
24 hour darkness occur in winter and 24 hour daylight occur in summer.
Culture
Most of the communities are characterized by native (Indian or Inuit)
population and culture. Religion is normally traditional native or
Christian.
Economy
Often traditional economies based on fishing, hunting and trapping
predominate. Some communities are governmental administrative centers.
Some are based on forestry, mining or commercial fishing. Some have
tourism as a base. Many feature local crafts and fabrication. Per
capita incomes are usually low relative to the rest of the country.
Level of Service
Health, education, infrastructure and other community services are often
of a lower level of service than the Canadian norm.
CURRENT REMOTE COMMUNITY ENERGY USE
Current energy use is characterized by a high dependence on petroleum
fuels for power generation and space heating. Petroleum resources are
depleting, vulnerable to world-scale cost fluctuations, subject to supply
disruptions internationally or in delivery to the communities.
Consequently, energy supply to the communities is of considerable concern.
Communities below the treeline are also very dependent on wood fuel for
space heating. While wood harvesting is often a source of employment,
for climatic reasons tree growth is very slow and wood use may not always
be a sustainable option. Other energy resources such as solar, wind,
hydro, geothermal, peat, etc. exist but are generally of restricted
applicability among communities.
Fuel and electricity costs are high, as much as 15 times the costs in
southern Canada due to transportation costs. A litre of fuel oil (air
supply) in Fort Severn, Ontario exceeds $1.60. Electricity costs in
communities where oil is flown in exceed 50^/kWh. In the south this cost
A1.2
Canada's Remote Communities 5
may be 4#/kWh. These high costs are offset to the consumer by a variety
of governmental subsidies. While easing the consumer energy bill, these
subsidies also reduce the incentive of consumers to conserve energy.
Subsidies are a major barrier to the pursuit of energy conservation and
alternative energy supply options.
Total remote community energy use is summarized as:
- total energy 35.6 PJ
- per capita energy use 181 GJ
- oil for electricity 9.15 PJ
- oil for space heat 12.09 PJ
- cost of oil ($millions) 214.5
The reasons to pursue energy conservation and alternative energy supply
opportunities are two-fold:
for the communities potential benefits include: improved and more
secure energy supply, improved opportunities for economic and social
development, improved social conditions (e.g. quality of housing),
and in some cases reduced energy prices.
to the energy supply agencies benefits include: reduced energy
costs, consumer subsidy reductions, and increased commercialization
opportunities for Canadian contractors and manufacturers. Based on
known viable off-oil options, the projected reduction for energy
requirements is 25% and for oil requirements 38/6. All communities
have viable energy conservation opportunities and many have
alternative supply opportunities. The response of the Canadian
government to these opportunities has been the Remote Community
Demonstration Program.
REMOTE COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
To help reduce dependence on oil, the federal Department of Energy, Mines
and Resources has established the Remote Community Demonstration
Program. This Program is designed to help remote communities and
agencies responsible for their energy supply to identify, assess and
implement appropriate energy alternatives and energy conservation
opportunities. To do this, the Program offers advice and limited
financial assistance for carrying out studies to explore these
opportunities. The Program also contributes funds to a limited number of
demonstration projects in selected remote communities across Canada. It
then transfers the knowledge gained from funded studies and projects to
all communities and agencies where this knowledge is needed.
The Program aims to help communities achieve greater energy
self-reliance, lower long-term energy costs and, in some cases, increased
levels of electrical service for home, community and local industrial
needs.
Eligible communities
To be considered under the Program, communities must be permanent (or
have at least five years of planned life remaining) and have no less than
A1.3
6 D. E. Rodger
ten occupied principal residences, and not be connected to the
electricity grid or natural gas sytsems.
Eligible applicants
eligible communities or groups of communities as represented by
recognized local organizations (preferably local governments)
companies (e.g., forestry, mining) that maintain eligible communities
as part of their operations
provincial or territorial utilities
federal, provincial and territorial departments and agencies
other agencies responsible for, or directly interested in, energy
supply and conservation for remote communities.
Technologies and measures
In the now completed study phase, a wide variety of energy options were
studied, including but not limited to: power supply systems based on
wood, wind, hydro, solar, geothermal and tidal resources and energy
conservation measures ranging from more efficient use of diesel systems
to building retrofits and energy efficient new construction. These
studies took place in a diversity of community situations. Many of these
studies have led to implementation by communities or energy supply
agencies. The priorities which have been identified for follow-up
demonstrations are:
Residential space heating
This accounts for 36% of energy used in a typical remote community.
Approximately 50% of residential space heating is by oil. Even in homes
using wood heat there are opportunities to use the fuel more
efficiently. Projects will address:
1. Improving the energy efficiency of new houses through improved design
and construction techniques.
2. Improving the energy efficiency of existing homes through energy
conservation measures and more efficient energy consuming equipment.
3. Substituting wood for oil as the major fuel for space heating and
encouraging the safe, efficient use of wood.
Non-residential space heating
Non-residential buildings which account for 19% of energy consumption are
often high energy users. Projects will include:
4. Improving energy efficiency of institutional buildings through energy
conservation measures and more efficient energy-consuming equipment.
5. Substituting wood for oil as the major fuel for space heating
institutional buildings.
A1.4