Zero Net Energy Farms

Creating a Zero Net Energy Farms through DER and Net Energy Metering Aggregation.

Grid Decarbonization and Decentralization Virtual Power Plants

Biodico, Inc.

Recipient

Santa Barbara, CA

Recipient Location

21st

Senate District

37th

Assembly District

beenhere

$887,327

Amount Spent

closed

Completed

Project Status

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Project Result

This project concluded in March 2018. The project developed an interactive tool designed for farm owners called the Zero Net Energy Farm (ZNEF) GeoPlanner, which enables users to assess the renewable energy potential of their property in meeting their specific energy needs. The ZNEF GeoPlanner enables users to estimate the cost and energy generation of various advanced energy technologies (such as solar, wind or biomass technology) geared specifically towards farms in California. An introduction to the ZNEF GeoPlanner is available at: http://www.zeronetenergyfarms.com. Biodico used the ZNEF GeoPlanner to develop a Master Community Design at the Red Rocks Ranch in Five Points, California.

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The Issue

Farms depend on the electricity grid and fossil fuels for everyday operations. These demands continue to increase and expand as new farming technologies are introduced and as ground water pumping demands increase. Many farms lack the tools and knowledge necessary to deploy distributed renewable technologies to meet these demands in place of conventional energy systems or increased reliance on the electricity grid. Furthermore, farms need guidance to effectively address permitting requirements and find competitive funding alternatives that will allow them to become leaders in California's distributed and renewable energy future.

Project Innovation

This project developed and piloted a Project Management Application tool for farm and agricultural communities. Included in this tool is information gathered from a trade study of available equipment vendors that will compare cost effectiveness and reliability of technologies for solar, wind, anaerobic digestion, and gasification. A unique feature about this project is that it integrated Net Energy Metering Aggregation (NEMA), a program through the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that enables agricultural communities to aggregate meters in a continuous property, with various other strategies to maximize the effectiveness of the Project Management Application. Development and testing was done in collaboration with four local jurisdictions in the Central Valley, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, and the US Navy.

Project Benefits

SB 350 (2015) sets a 50 percent renewable energy standard and a doubling of energy efficiency savings by 2030. Local governments can play a critical role in achieving that goal by helping facilitate community-scale deployment of Integrated Distributed Energy Resources (IDER) such as energy efficiency, onsite renewables, and demand response. This project piloted innovative planning, permitting and financing approaches and tools to help improve the business case for IDER adoption at the community-scale.

Consumer Appeal

This project will conduct a case study documenting the steps required to deploy IDER solutions in farms and agricultural communities, creating a roadmap making it easier for similar communities to follow and adopt.

Affordability

This project will reduce the time and costs needed to bring community-scale IDER projects to a shovel-ready state.

Economic Development

This project will pilot new approaches that increase the financial attractiveness of community-scale IDER projects, which could lead to increased investment in the community.

Key Project Members

Russell Teall

Subrecipients

West Hills Community College District

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District

Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center

Office of Community and Economic Development - CSU Fresno

City of San Joaquin

Fresno Council of Governments

PondelWilkinson

Red Rock Ranch, Inc.

San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization

18Thirty Entertainment, LLC

City of Huron

Match Partners