Distributive Generation

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Distributive Generation
Landfill
Wind
Solar
Fuel Cell
Micro-Turbine
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CPS Energy Generation
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Major Issues and Trends

• Texas has net metering law in place since 1986
  for renewables only.
• On Feb 4 1999, the Public Utility Commission of
  Texas adopted interconnection guidelines for
  distributed generation and requested that staff
  continue its investigation of distributed
  resources
• The costs of interconnection with CPS Energy can
  get expensive. System upgrades are borne by the
  Customer, such as service line and/or meter
  facilities, conductor, communications, SCADA
  equipment, etc. required for the interconnection.
• High Voltage readings at interconnection point
• Micro turbine and Fuel Cell projects have shown
  to be too expensive to maintain
• Solar estimated payback is 20yrs
• Trends
• Landfills receive over 5,100 Tons of garbage
  daily, with decomposition in about 5-6 yrs.
  Covel location expected to double its generating
  capacity.
• Wind continues to be a dominant source of
  renewable DG, with another 130 MW coming on-line.

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Volume of Requests

• Requests have been minimal
• 3 Landfill Projects
• Tessman Garden (4.8MW)
• Covel Garden (9.6MW)
• Nelson Garden (3.0MW)
• 1 Fuel Cell
• 1 Micro turbine (80kW)
• 4 Solar (private customer, Institute of Texan
  Culture CPS Energy 40kW)
• Wind (260MW)

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Overall Process

• The electrical generation equipment must be
  powered by renewable energy sources
• The sun (directly or indirectly)
• Wind
• Geothermal sources
• Biomass and/or biomass-based waste products
  (including landfill gas)
• Customers interested in DG must fill out an
  application.
• CPS Energy issues a study fee to applicant
• CPS Energy determines if circuit upgrades are
  needed (if so, upgrade costs are added to
  Agreement)
• Application is approved and agreement is
  submitted to Applicant
• After Agreement is signed by applicant, upgrades
  to distribution circuit are performed, including
  communications, SCADA, protective relaying,
  metering
• Once Commissioning Tests are conducted, DG is
  approved for operation
• CPS Energy will ensure that the required DG
  safety devices are operating properly. These
  devices provide safety to our personnel who are
  performing maintenance on distribution
  facilities. All customer equipment -- up to the
  service point -- will be inspected by the City of
  San Antonio to ensure compliance with City of San
  Antonio codes.

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Unusual Installations

• San Antonio Water Systems (SAWS) proposing a DG
  project at a sewer treatment plant. Fuel source
  Methane Gas
• Fuel Refinery proposing a 10MW DG project.
  Fuel source - a product of hydrogen that would be
  combined with LP gas
• Engine Testing Laboratory various size engines
  (lawnmower to diesel trucks) that when attached
  to a generator, the load generated by the engine
  is dumped onto the distribution grid

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Landfill Gas Projects
Covel Garden Landfill 6 1.3 MW Units 9.6 MW
Total
Nelson Garden Landfill 2 1.5 MW Units 3.0 MW
Total
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Whats Next?
Landfill
Wind
Solar
Fuel Cell
Micro-Turbine