Piloting a Combined Heat and Power / Distributed Generation System, Powered by Carbon-Free, Renewable-Based Anhydrous Ammonia

Presented on September 20, 2016 during the NH3 Fuel Conference 2016

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Abstract

UCLA-STPP is an interdisciplinary science / policy research unit, enjoining faculty in schools of engineering, public health, law, business, and medicine. The two-part mission of UCLA-STPP is to: (1) evaluate the viability of safer, cleaner, greener, more sustainable substitutes for existing hazardous services, processes, systems, and/or technologies, and (2) employ diffusion analysis to identify institutional, policy, and regulatory barriers to the adoption of viable safer substitutes and prescribe policy changes to overcome key barriers. UCLA-STPP has taken leadership in developing and institutionalizing “alternatives analysis” as policy/regulatory tool as a method to evaluate and identify safer, cleaner, greener, more sustainable substitutes.

UCLA-STPP is employing this alternatives analysis approach to evaluate the commercial viability of using renewable-based NH3 for peak power generation and natural gas for base load power in a camless engine genset system to be installed at a distributed generation pilot demonstration facility in the greater Los Angeles region. This pilot demonstration project, funded by the California Energy Commission (CEC), uses Sturman camless engine technology, and is guided by an active stakeholder advisory committee including each of the leading regional utilities and regulatory agencies, a leading regional environmental NGO, two renewable fuel-based associations – NH3 and biofuels – as well as the CEC.

In evaluating the commercial viability of this technology, including the use of renewable-based NH3, UCLA-STPP will be using four main alternatives analysis criteria including: Technical performance (e.g. system efficiency, power generation capacity), environmental impacts (e.g. CO2 generation/reduction), human health impacts (e.g. criteria and toxic emissions, storage safety of fuels), and economic impacts (e.g. $/kWh using different fuels). The relative viability of each of these measures will be compared to electricity supplied from the grid as well as other power generation options (e.g. fuel cells).

This presentation will discuss the regional / statewide / national policy context for this pilot RD&D study, the challenges in developing and implementing such a commercial pilot demonstration project, and the specific challenges of using renewable-based NH3 as a fuel for distributed power generation.

Topics Ammonia Engine Policy Power Generation Stationary Power

Authors Peter Sinsheimer

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