South River considers green energy options

SOUTH RIVER — Borough officials are looking at ways to go green, in more ways than one.

Research by the town's Alternative Energy and Conservation Committee shows that South River can use its unique resources and pursue others to become more environmentally friendly and possibly make money in the process.

"These are energy production solutions we are recommending to the borough," said committee Chairman William England, using a Power Point presentation to inform the Borough Council of its evaluations and recommendationsAug. 24.

The panel, which was formed a year earlier, now includes eight members: England, Vice Chairman Joe Hranowski, Secretary Gordon Anthony, and members James Maiello, Marilyn Meloni, Ken Semanovitch, William Synek, and Councilman Jim Hutchison. The members have backgrounds ranging from engineering and chemical areas to utilities.

South River is unique from other towns, England said, because it has its own electric utility, which controls the power distribution system within the borough. It is one of just nine municipalities in the Public Power Association of New Jersey (PPANJ).

"We have the potential to create our own energy for the electric grid, which could be significant revenue for the borough," England said. "South River has a strong economic incentive to explore the generation of our own electric power."

The committee presented the borough's energy production options as coal, coal gasification, natural gas, nuclear, bio-fuels, tidal, geothermal, solar, wind and micro-turbines.

In December, the committee will present recommendations on energy conservation solutions designed to reduce energy use for the town's municipal, commercial and residential users. Mayor Raymond T. Eppinger said officials would continue to discuss ideas, but stressed that nothing would be implemented without further investigation.

Power plant and anaerobic digester

The committee recommended the council explore partnering with PPANJ members to construct a natural gas-fueled electric power plant on the Ivan Way property, near the South River, and explore purchasing a five-ton anaerobic digester that would use the borough's organic waste to produce electricity.

According to the committee's findings, natural gas is North America's cleanest and one of the most plentiful carbon-based fuels. A major gas line runs through the borough's public works site on Ivan Way, and committeemembers said the borough has been identified as an ideal location for a power plant operation.

England noted that currently the townships of Manalapan and Middletown, both in Monmouth County, are using natural gas-fueled garbage trucks, which the borough could also look into.

An anaerobic digester would process and separate foods, grasses, organic waste and food oils to create renewable methane gas that is burned to create electricity or sold as a fuel.

In 2008, South River produced 7,438 tons of garbage waste, including 30 to 40 percent organic waste, costing the town $419,078 in landfill tipping fees. With the implementation of the digester, either residents would have to separate food and organic waste for a separate pickup, or garbage trucks would have to be refitted to separate food and organic waste from other wastes.

A small 5,000-ton plant can process waste from a population of 15,000 to 20,000 people. Committee members said South River has the space for a 2.1-acre plant that could run a 5,000-ton project serving only the borough.

Solar and geothermal

Committee members recommended the borough explore how to reduce or eliminate fees for installation of solar panels on buildings in town, and to evaluate the use of solar energy for municipal, school and residential use.

The group also wants to encourage geothermal heating and cooling for any new construction or renovation of municipal, school, commercial or residential buildings; and explore creating buying cooperatives for geothermal and solar panel installation in residential homes in South River.

Solar power is a clean, renewable energy source that converts sunlight to electricity, committee members reported. It can be used or stored in batteries for availability on cloudy days or at night.

The installation of solar panels is a large investment, with a solar hot water system valued $2,000 to $4000, and a 1-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system valued at $8,000 to $10,000. However, it is low-cost to operate and maintain, according to the committee.

Another source of power is geothermal. This uses the constant temperature of the earth, underground or underwater liquid-filled coils, the heat transfer property of liquids, and a pump to heat and cool buildings. Geothermal power uses 40- to 70-percent less energy than conventional systems. No carbon-based fuels, boilers, furnaces or air conditioners are needed. Maintenance costs are less, as inside components last 25 years and outside ground loops last 50-plus years. No above ground outdoor equipment is needed, and it is also quiet.

Tidal, wind, nuclear and other sources

Additional recommendations include potentially locating small wind-power turbines atop municipal structures such as water towers or schools, while exploring the purchase of wind power through PPANJ; consider the feasibility of adding micro-turbine systems for all new commercial, municipal and school construction; monitor developments in tidal and micro-nuclear and other technologies for consideration.

England noted that the borough not only controls its own electric utility, it has a river where underwater turbines, using the currents of rivers and tides, could generate renewable and reliable clean energy that can flow directly into the power grid.

"South River meets the depth and current requirements for tidal power — 35 feet deep and a current of at least two meters per second," England said.

Committee members said tidal turbines, with pivot-based assembly, can achieve 80- to 90- percent capacity, double those of wind and solar systems. Tidal power has lower upfront capital costs and few moving parts, which decrease operation and maintenance costs, members said.

Another source of power is alternative energy micro-turbine, which provides onsite electrical power for primary or stand-by applications, thereby reducing demand on the municipal electric grid. It consists of a turbine engine, solid-state power electronics and fuel system, and can be connected to the grid or be a standalone system.

Exhaust heat can be used for water heating, space heating, or absorption chillers, which create cold for air conditioning.

Committee Vice Chairman Joe Hranowski, who has a background in electrical engineering and controls and automation engineering, said micro-nuclear power is a new self-contained and self-regulating nuclear technology. The first installation of micro-nuclear power is planned for 2013 in Europe and is manufactured by Hyperion Power Generation. The estimated cost of implementation is between $25 and $30 million.

The power would be contained in a concrete cylindrical enclosure, which would be buried underground and dug up for shipment back to the factory for refueling every five to 10 years.

"The size is about the size of a residential hot tub, and it is capable of supplying South River's 24 megawatts of power capacity or 20,000 households," Hranowski said.

Lastly, committee members said wind power is a clean, renewable energy source that converts wind energy into electricity using wind turbines. The borough currently has ordinances in place restricting the use of wind turbines.