Abstract

1. Renewable Energy Alternatives: A Best Practices Manual for Stantec Consulting Jenna Beatty, Jenny Lund, and Calvin Robertie Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Department of Civil Engineering Advised By: Fred Hart, Suzanne LePage, and Klaas Rodenburg (Stantec Consulting) Abstract The goal of this project was to develop a Renewable Energy Best Practices Manual for Stantec Consulting Ltd. The manual will be used by Stantec employees for assessing renewable energy alternatives at a specific location. The information researched for each option was current technology, best location, cost range, efficiency, and downsides/environmental impacts. The manual also includes a checklist and comparison table of each of the renewable energy alternatives, as well as fossil fuels. • Methods/Process • In this project the feasibility of future renewable and sustainable energy alternatives was analyzed. In order to reach the final goal of creating a BPM, the following steps were taken: • Research renewable energy alternatives, ensuring validity of the resources used. • Determine the feasibility considerations of a particular renewable energy option. • Compile findings into a BPM • Develop a checklist to help determine which renewable energy option is most applicable in a particular situation. • BPM Application • An arbitrary site was chosen to analyze using the BPM. The analysis process is as follows: • Determine most applicable system using comparison table. Solar panels and GSHP were eliminated, leaving micro-hyropower as the best option. • Determine power requirements necessary for a typical home by creating a load variation chart. • Determine power generated by the river using the stream flow and head differential. • Determine actual power generated knowing turbine efficiency • Perform a feasibility study to ensure the site is suitable for a micro-hydropower system. • Design system. • Background • Renewable energies increasingly need to be used to preserve our Earth. Despite the fact that renewables are being rapidly developed, traditional power generators still create most of the power consumed. • On a 2030 timeline there is an expected increase in renewable used, however due to the growing population there is also an expected increase in traditional power usage. • Various organizations and engineering firms are working to develop renewable energy technologies, Stantec included. • No document with a compilation of renewable energy information. • Stantec needed a resource to provide to it’s engineers to quickly bring them to speed on the current technologies available. • Results • A BPM with detailed information on the topics listed above • A comparison table complies all of the technologies, as well as fossil fuel data, to compare data. Below is an example of the table. • The checklist allows an engineer to get a better understanding of the renewable energy alternative and can use it to determine if it is viable or not. • Conclusions/Recommendations • All the World’s power could come from renewable resources • A huge financial investment is needed. • Hybrid power plants (a combination of traditional and renewable energy) should be considered.