1. PVNavigator, LLC
Developing Utility Scale PV Solar
Installations on Closed Landfills
Presented by
Robert Potter
WEST COAST
1 Pointe Drive, Suite 320
Brea, CA 92821
714.388.1800
www.PVNavigator.com
www.SafetyMoment.org
GULF COAST
15990 N. Barkers Landing Rd., Suite 325
Houston, TX 77079
713.468.5004
NORTHEAST
334 East 9th Street
New York, NY 10002
646.370.4588
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2. Who We Are and What We Do
What
PVN develops MW-scale, PV installations on landfills and
Brownfields sites
Typically fixed-tilt, rack-mounted, self-ballasted installations
Approximately 50 MW of site capacity under Option
More than 300 MW in overall PVN pipeline
Who
PVN is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Project Navigator, Ltd. (www.ProjectNavigator.com) and Alturus
Strategic Partners
Staffed by engineers, land development and power experts
4 year growth and branding effort
Where
Projects primarily in the USA
Caribbean expansion goals
How
Detailed sites/landfill locations knowledge
Knowledge of Fortune 500 boneyard acreage
Excellent regulatory relationships
Landfill post closure PV permitting expertise
Leverage proven PV technologies and apply to landfills
• (e.g. PVN’s California Energy Commission Grant)
Growing brand recognition
Economic backing from Alturus Strategic Capital Partners
Representative Projects
Milliken Landfill, CA
Big Bear Landfill, CA
Owens Corning Landfill, NJ
California Energy Commission Pilot Study Grant
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3. PV Solar Development Projects
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4
5 6
7
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8
CA
NV
OR
AZ
ID
1. Milliken Landfill: 3MW
2. Big Bear Landfill: 2MW
3. Avon Refinery: 10 MW
4. Purity Landfill: 1MW
5. OII Landfill: 4MW
6. BKK Landfill: 10MW
7. WDI Landfill: 4MW
8. Gemcor Site (Chevron Landfill): 10MW
9. Barstow Landfill: 10MW
West Coast
MA
VT
NH
NY
CT
RI
NJ
PA
DEMD
OII Landfill: 4MW
BKK Landfill: 10MW
Avon Refinery: 10MW
Buena Vista Landfill: 1MW
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Owens Corning: 3.1MW
Milliken Landfill: 3MW
10. Buena Vista Landfill: 1MW
11. Delaware City: 4MW
12. Ocean Township: 5.86MW
13. Lumberton Landfill: 2.4 MW
14. Owens Corning Landfill:
3.1 MW
East Coast
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4. Blower & Flare
Station
Power Generation via Gas Turbine
or Steam Cycle Systems
Waste/
Complex
Organics
Organic
Acids
Landfill
Gas
Other Landfill Monitoring
Systems (e.g. for
groundwater)
Landfill Gas
Collection Wells
in Waste
Breakdown Process of
Landfill Waste
Typical Landfill
Perforated
Gas Pipe
Methane and
Carbon Dioxide
Methane and
Carbon Dioxide
Landfill Gas-to-Power
Landfill gas (LFG) migrates to waste
prism extraction wells and the
associated collection systems. The LFG
is conveyed via a network of pipes to
feed a power generation plant.
While Large Scale (100 MW and up) Solar Facilities Are Planned for
throughout the U.S., They Face Permitting, Financing, and Interconnect
Challenges. Not so for Urban Located Landfill or Brownfield Sites.
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5. Perforated
Gas Pipe
Methane and
Carbon Dioxide
Methane and
Carbon Dioxide
Blower & Flare
Station
Power Generation via Gas Turbine
or Steam Cycle Systems
Waste/
Complex
Organics
Organic
Acids
Landfill
Gas
Landfill Gas
Collection Wells
in Waste
Landfill Gas-to-Power
Landfill gas (LFG) migrates to waste
prism extraction wells and the
associated collection systems. The LFG
is conveyed via a network of pipes to
feed a power generation plant.
PV Solar Power
A photovoltaic (or PV) cell is a specially treated wafer of silicon, sandwiched
between two thin contact plates. The top contact is positively charged and the back
contact is negatively charged, making it a semiconductor.
• The n-type semiconductor has an abundance of electrons, giving it a negative
charge, while the p-type semiconductor is positively charged.
• Electron movement at the p-n junction produces an electric field that allows
only electrons to flow from the p-type layer to the n-type layer.
• When sunlight hits the solar cell, its energy knocks electrons loose from the
atoms in the semiconductor.
• When the electrons hit the electrical field, they’re shuttled to the top contact
plate and become a usable electric current.
• PV panels are mounted in racking systems specially designed to accommodate
landfill-specific requirements such as “no cap damage” and “waste
settlement.”
A typical racking module is
10ft. By 20ft. and generates
2.5kW. This translates to
about 1MW from every 3-5
acres.
Photovoltaic Cell
Detailed cross-section
Solar Panel
Glass covering
Transparent adhesive
Anti-reflection coating
Not to scale
Electric
Current
DC/AC Inverter
Necessary to convert
electric current for
consumer use
Utility Company
Solar Power to the Grid
Excess energy from the solar array is fed
into the power grid. It helps provide
extra electricity to the community,
especially during peak daytime hours.
Customers
Solar Panels
The sun gives
off about 400
trillion watts
of power
Other Landfill Monitoring
Systems (e.g. for
groundwater)
Landfill Sites are Excellent Platforms for PV Solar Facilities. Flat Acreage, Close to
Load and Interconnect, Putting Otherwise Unusable Acreage Back to Use.
Projects are Technically Straightforward but Administratively Complex.
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6. According to U.S. EPA, There is No Shortage of Brownfield and
Landfill Site Acreage Which Could be Suitable for Renewable Energy
Over 400,000 identified
Brownfield sites in the
United States
16 million acres are
available for development
of renewable energy
That’s enough land to
generate approximately
3,175,000 MW
(For reference, the Hoover
Dam generates about
2,000 MW)
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7. The Economic Viability of PV Power is Increasing
Reference:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/gifs/Fig23.gif
Reference: http://www.7gen.com/node/26000
High electricity prices,
combined with…
…State-specific
renewable portfolio
standards (RPS) and …
…the gradual annual
increases in power
prices…
… will make PV generation competitive
with fossil fuel generation.
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8. A Landfill Site is a Good PV Development Candidate If
Certain Screening Criteria Are Met
Environmentally
Impacted Land
(Restricted
Future Use)
Appropriate
Geographic
Location
Land Control
(Title or Long-
Term Lease)
Nearby
Interconnection
Point
Adjacent Load
(PPA Approach)
State-Mandated
Renewable
Portfolio
Standards
Green Corporate
Goals
Project
Financing
• External
• Internal
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9. The Stages in PV Solar Power Installation Development: The Development
Pathway Viewed from an Industrial Landowners’ Perspective
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4. The above tasks move the job from concept and proven economic feasibility through
detailed engineering, procurement and PV installation construction, into final start up and
power sales (under the terms of the early negotiated PPA). All the above work is performed
by PVN (and selected) EPC resources at PVN’s cost.
* Can be in form of an “option agreement” between landowner and PVNavigator, LLC, or a longer term land lease. Option
would convert to a land lease once the scope and economics of the proposed project are better defined, such as at the
execution of a PPA. PVN can supply a model option agreement, on request.
** Civil engineer and EPC contractor can be the one company.
Site
Identification
Civil Engineer
Selection**
Project
Financing
Site Control*
Technology
Provider/EPC
Contractor
Selection**
Tariff Rate
Determination
Permitting
Contract
Execution
Contract
Execution
Power
Purchase
Agreement
(PPA)
Site Plan /
Layout Design
Power
Scheme
Design
Inter-
connection
Agreement
Site Upgrades
Engineering &
Procurement
PV Facility
Construction &
Commissioning
Startup, Power
Sales,
Operations
& Maintenance
Early Planning, Negotiations and
Project Marketing Phase
• Power Purchase Agreement
(PPA) Proposal and/or
Negotiations
• Power Marketing
• Interconnect Study
• Environmental Permitting
Including Any EIR Work and
Associated Environmental
Document Revisions
• Facility Conceptual Design
• Project Economic Calculations
1. Should be performed in a consulting, “bed-side
manner” with landowners, where PV project
feasibility is generally discussed and assessed. All
very conceptual at this stage.
Big Q: who would be the power offtaker?
2. Landowner buys into a “PV-vision”, and via an
option agreement between landowner and PVN,
grants interim site control to PVN to push forward
on a PV plan. Any power offtaker will want to
know that PVN has site control for interconnect FS
purposes. No cost to landowner.
3. Above tasks are the meat and potatoes of
PVN’s PV planning and project feasibility
studies. Interaction at this stage occurs with
power purchaser, and environmental and
permitting agencies. All work is performed by
PVN at PVN’s cost in role of developer.
Overview: Where Project Cash Flow Occurs and How an Industrial Landowner Can Participate
1. All project development fees are paid by PVN (from feasibility to design to construction. No development costs need be
incurred by landowner).
2. In the simplest business model, landowner receives revenue from a land lease for 25 to 30 years. If site is in a remediation
OM&M phase, lease revenues can offset OM&M costs.
3. More innovative (complex?) PV development financial arrangements are possible which can include components such as:
a. landowner receives a fraction of power sales revenue (replacing lease); b. power can be sold to a landowner’s “facility” at
a “project-economic” rate; or c. landowner could co-invest in the PV facility, if consistent with the entity’s power purchase
needs and sustainability goals.
Key Metrics:
• From concept to operations in about 2 years
• PVN pays for all project development costs
• PVN's construction costs will be about $2.5M per MW, or 4 acres of installation
• Landowner can receive lease fees, or more innovatively participate (see below)
• PV facility lifetime is 25 to 30 years
• PVN remotely monitors the facility, augmented by monthly onsite inspections
• PPA with power offtaker sets power sales rates, and escalator
• Landowner sustainable project credit
• PVN's evolution from the landfill EPC services world insures that PV installation
will be "cap-compatible"
10. Key Design Criteria are Minimal Settlement & The
Continued Need for Cap Functionality.
Design considerations include eliminating
cap penetration, continued functionality of
the ET cap, storm water management, wind
design and insuring protectiveness during
an earthquake event.
Design of PV Array will take into consideration:
1. Settlement
• Total
• Differential
2. Panel placement on cap
• Spread footings
• Anchors
3. Continued performance of
evapotranspirative (ET) cap
• Infiltration minimization
• Vegetative growth
4. Stormwater management
• No standing water
• Runoff management
5. Other
Settlement monument
Electrical lines in above-ground, lightweight,
flexible steel conduit
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1
3
4
ET monocover
Drainage swale
Solar array with adjustable
footing
Swale cross-section
design
Landfill ET
cap designs
Pre-cast concrete footing
SunPods adjustable
footing Ballasted racking
Types of footings for
rigid glass solar panels
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11. The Solar Panel Rack’s Design Must Not Damage the Landfill’s Cover
and Must Accommodate Future Settlement.
Degreeof
CapPenetration
Earth Anchors/
Auger System
Shallow Piers Self Ballasting,
Higher Load
Type of Racking System
L
M
H 1
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1. http://www.mass.gov/dep/energy/solarlf.pdf
2. http://aec.army.mil/usaec/newsroom/update/win08/win0812.html
3. http://www.sunpods.com/sunpods-products-and-solutions.html
REFERENCE:
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12. Prefabricated, Racked PV Systems Specifically Designed
for Landfill Caps Will Be Used
Features of a Self-Ballasted
Landfill PV Solar Unit
Minimal onsite assembly
20 ft X 10 ft arrays
Supported on a leveling support
system
• Eliminates landfill cap
penetration
• Self ballasting
10 Gauge steel frame
Rated to 110 mph + wind speed
Ready to connect
Minimal maintenance
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13. PV Racks Support Geotechnical Calculations
Very Dense and
Very Hard
Dense and Hard
Medium Dense
and Very Stiff
Loose and Firm
Very Loose and
Soft
First data point is
at 5 ft bgs
N
*Ref: Rogers, J.D, 2006, Surface Exploration Using the Standard Penetration Test and the Cone Penetrometer Test, Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, Vol. XII, No.2 pp162
Legend*
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14. PVNavigator, LLC Entered into an Agreement with the County of San
Bernardino to Develop a 3 MW PV Solar Installation on the Milliken
Sanitary Landfill in Ontario, California.
Milliken Landfill
Ontario, CA
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15. Milliken Landfill Solar Conceptual Layout
SouthMillikenAvenue
SouthHavenAvenue
12KV interconnect
switchgear (Preliminary
SWGR DIMS = 13’Wx3’D)
Last SCE 12KV Overhead Pole
The PV solar systems will not penetrate or damage the existing cap.
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16. PV Navigator, LLC Leads a Multi-talented Solar
Development Team
Project Financing Permitting Services
Project Owner, Manager
and Systems Integrator
EPC
Selected via RFP
Process
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17. Community Outreach and Media
Sierra Club has “unofficially” supported PVN’s Big Bear solar project
Multiple press releases and articles have been published
Fact sheets have been created for public hand-outs
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18. PVN Was Awarded a Grant from the CEC for a PV Solar
Pilot Test Program at a Closed Landfill Site
1. WiFi/telemetric system data collection/transmission
2. Reference settlement monument
3. Landfill lateral gas collection system (which may or may not exist for the
selected landfill)
4. Landfill waste
5. Engineered landfill cap/cover. This can be an ET monofill or a multilayer
RCRA equivalent cap
6. Weather station
7. Wireless strain gauge monitoring system, or associated system to measure
strain changes in the solar panel racking system
8. Tilt gauge
9. System orientation monitoring
10. Power generation capacity over entire annual cycle
11. Storm water run off management
12. Monitor growth of cap’s vegetative layer under array
13. Panel washing and associated water use; methods and frequency
Figure shows a small scale, PV solar rack pilot system, located on a landfill
cap. The purpose of the pilot unit is to measure and monitor the systems
power generation operating performance on a landfill site where prior desk-
top calculations have shown the installation of a 1 to 10 MW PV solar facility
may be technically and economically viable.
The pilot facility would typically be operated from 1 to 2 years, thereby
permitting any effects of the solar system on the cap (e.g. in the form of
increased load and altered storm water management) to be evaluated.
Software Generated Data Display
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3
4
5
6
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10
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12
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Goal: The collection of power generation
performance data as well as information on any
impacts the solar racking system may have on the
landfill cap’s functions regarding gas collection and
infiltration minimization.
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19. Solar on Landfills Business Model
is Working
Solar Permitting Can Be Expedited
When There is a Track Record of
Rigorous Closure Documents
Very Little to No Community
Resistance
Only a Few Companies Exist With
the Requisite Expertise
Project Financing
REC Program Uncertainty
Permitting Delays
Uncertainty in Panel Pricing
OPPORTUNITIES RISKS
Path Ahead: Opportunities Vs Risks
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20. Conclusions: Lessons Learned After 7 Years of
PVNavigator’s Solar Project Development Efforts
The challenges are in (1) permitting, and
(2) finding a power off taker who’ll pay
enough (cents/kW-hr) to make the
economics work
– Technology and construction
challenges are secondary
Have a good (probabilistic?) economic
model
Define and negotiate with the potential
offtaker(s) early
– Perform power interconnect /
feasibility study early in the process
Bid the forecasted power from the
development into utility RPS RFOs
Regarding landfill post closure use:
– If considering a closed landfill, evaluate
the quality/quantity of existing site
characterization data, esp. “geotech.”
Keep costs down by leveraging past info.
– Develop solar layout early in the process
– Cross check solar layout Vs final grades of
remedy
– Add “solar final use vision” text to
appropriate docs to environmental
agencies
Develop a project fact sheet, early, and
discuss with all possible stakeholders
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