Sacramento seeks interest for biomass power project

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) is requesting interest in the implementation of a Biomass Gasification project for a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) application in Sacramento, California.

The objective of this request is to identify a qualified and experienced project developer that will implement a Biomass Gasification project for CHP application in partnership with SMUD and the project site host. The developer will finance, design, build, own, and operate the project under SMUD’s grant disbursement and power purchase agreement (PPA) requirements.

Through passage of a bioenergy feed?in tariff (FIT) bill (SB 1122), California has recently recognized the benefits that small?scale bioenergy applications bring the state, such as, local, distributed renewables generation, GHG emissions reductions, support for economic development in urban and rural communities and local environmental benefits.

SB 1122 will provide guaranteed funding for biomass gasification projects smaller than 3 MW. However, this ratepayer?funded incentive is only available to investor owned utilities (IOUs). Publicly owned utilities (POUs), such as SMUD, do not benefit from this incentive program. Nonetheless, SMUD wants to incentivize the development and deployment of small?scale bioenergy projects in its service territory.

The project is planned to be operation by 2017 or sooner.

SMUD is offering $1.15 million funding, help securing the project site, a long?term (e.g., 10?, 15?, 20?year) power purchase agreement (PPA), assistance obtaining permits and assistance with grid interconnection.

The deadline fo submissions is November 26th, 2014.

See tender ad: http://ucanr.edu/blogs/WoodyBiomass/blogfiles/25850.pdf