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TCAAP Energy Integration Resiliency Framew ork <br />Policy White Paper – Energy Supply Alternatives <br /> <br /> 20 <br />5. Energy Supply Alternatives <br />While reviewing the energy supply alternatives that are currently available to the TCAAP site or could <br />become available over the next 50 years, the Project Team evaluated two types of energy supply <br />options: electric and thermal. The options identified are described in detail below. <br />5.1. Electric Energy Supply Alternatives <br />The local electric utility, Xcel Energy, is expected to distribute electricity to all of the development <br />within the TCAAP site. The following technologies could work in collaboration with the electric grid to <br />optimize the utilization of local electricity supply and improve the overall efficiency of TCAAP. <br />5.1.1. Solar Photovoltaic Panels <br />Through the utilization of solar radiation and photovoltaic technology (PV), renewable electricity can <br />be generated and provided to a community grid, microgrid, or individual end -user on the TCAAP site. <br />The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Renewable Resource Data Center (RReDC) <br />provides access to renewable energy resource data, maps, and tools. Based on the average annual <br />solar radiation data, the City receives between 2 to 3 kWh/m2/day, which is slightly below the national <br />average, yet still considered viable. Even so, according to NREL, solar is Minnesota’s largest energy <br />resource by technical potential.1 Community solar projects allow residential and commercial customers <br /> <br />1 Lopez, A. July 2012. U.S. Renewable Energy Technical Potentials: A GIS-Based Analysis. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). <br />Accessed Jan. 2013. http://www.nrel.gov/gis/re_potential.html <br />Key Takeaways: Energy Supply Strategies <br /> Development of solar PV and solar thermal systems, in collaboration with AHATS, could meet <br />a significant portion of the energy needs on -site. Integration with energy storage would <br />increase the reliability of these energy sources. <br /> Combined heat and power would fit well in the commercial and light industrial areas of TCAAP <br />such as the Town and the Thumb, where there are coincidental electric and thermal loads. <br /> Ground-source and water-source heat pumps could be an efficient and cost-effective energy <br />supply solution for the residential areas of TCAAP. This technology could leverage the low- <br />grade energy available in the ground water currently being treated on-site. <br /> Development of a microgrid in collaboration with AHATS would provide TCAAP with a reliable, <br />resilient energy solution that mitigates the risk of market volatility and grid disruptions.