The National Academies Press

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From page 3... ... 3 Renewable energy holds a broad appeal for its environmental and local benefits. A Gallup poll conducted in 2013 showed that 76% and 71% of those surveyed expressed a desire to see the United States develop more solar and wind power, respectively.1 Advances in technology, which have benefited greatly from the revolution in materials science and the digital economy, have improved system performance and the capacity to generate power. Read the entire page →
From page 4... ... 4 Developing a Business Case for Renewable Energy at Airports • Chapter 6 walks through a model business case and evaluates each of the factors fundamental to the renewable energy business case. • Chapter 7 provides examples of similar renewable energy business cases from both the airport's perspective as well as other perspectives of other industries and the lessons learned. Read the entire page →
From page 5... ... Introducing a Renewable Energy Business Case 5 The research scope is consistent with the core purpose of a business case in that it seeks to evaluate various alternatives and arrive at the best option. However, it assumes that renewable energy projects have unique characteristics that could advance the economic, environmental, and social objectives of the airport business. Read the entire page →
From page 6... ... 6 Developing a Business Case for Renewable Energy at Airports dependent on resources controlled by organizations located in unstable geopolitical areas have a tremendous opportunity to be successful if they endorse sustainability.9 A useful summary of studies that prove the business case for sustainability was prepared in 2012.10 The drivers for sustainability that are communicated in the compendium include: • Natural resource, energy, and operational efficiency. Reduce input and overhead costs, militate regulatory sanctions, hedge exposure to volatile prices and supply chain disruptions, mitigate environmental degradation, and conserve capital for implementing a long-term growth strategy. Read the entire page →
From page 7... ... Introducing a Renewable Energy Business Case 7 • Wind power converts the kinetic energy from wind into electricity. • Ocean thermal uses the heat energy stored in the earth's oceans to generate electricity. Read the entire page →
From page 8... ... 8 Developing a Business Case for Renewable Energy at Airports As an alternative to building one's own renewable energy technology on-site, organizations can purchase green energy from remote, off-site sources. These are paper transactions where money is paid to procure power from a remote source but the actual electron flow is unchanged because once electricity is on the grid, its "green" or "brown" origin cannot be distinguished. Read the entire page →
From page 9... ... Introducing a Renewable Energy Business Case 9 consumption patterns into the future. The EIA also provides data separately by generating technology and information on the decreasing cost of installing renewable energy systems. Read the entire page →
From page 10... ... 10 Developing a Business Case for Renewable Energy at Airports infrastructure, and minimize wholesale energy demand charges.14,15 At times of peak power usage (such as a hot summer afternoon or winter cold snap) , more energy resources need to be deployed to meet the demand. Read the entire page →
From page 11... ... Introducing a Renewable Energy Business Case 11 increasing power generation efficiency. All of these factors have resulted in a dramatic decrease in the cost of producing power from renewable energy sources. Read the entire page →
From page 12... ... 12 Developing a Business Case for Renewable Energy at Airports with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) , the FAA must ensure that projects funded by them "use all practical means to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony." Many states have enacted similar broad scale legislation for state permitted projects (e.g., California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] Read the entire page →
From page 13... ... Introducing a Renewable Energy Business Case 13 Future elements needed to make the microgrid functional will include some type of electricity storage and on-site base load electricity generation sources which will allow the grid to be operational 24 hours a day. 1.3.2.7 Introduce Diversification of Power Supply Diversification reduces risk as any retirement investment professional will state. Read the entire page →
From page 14... ... 14 Developing a Business Case for Renewable Energy at Airports transactions provide producers of renewable energy (including government entities if they own the facility) with an opportunity to obtain additional value through the sale of RECs. Read the entire page →
From page 15... ... Introducing a Renewable Energy Business Case 15 case that they should be demonstrating their support for renewable energy as leaders in society. Airports may also perceive benefits from being societal leaders. Read the entire page →
From page 16... ... 16 Developing a Business Case for Renewable Energy at Airports To collect data on airports' decision-making process and the drivers for undertaking renewable energy, the project team prepared a simple web-based survey using Constant Contact. To improve response success rates, the survey was limited to 10 questions to make it easy for recipients to respond. Read the entire page →
From page 17... ... Introducing a Renewable Energy Business Case 17 Source of initiative: • Internal staff = 44.0% • Organizational strategic planning = 24.0% • Outside private party = 16.0% Leader of initiative: • Director = 29.2% • Facilities = 20.8% • Other = 41.7% Primary driver: • Economic = 40.9% • Environmental = 40.9% • Political = 9.1% Secondary driver: • Environmental = 42.8% • Economic = 33.3% • Social = 14.2% Most important factor (average score on a 1 to 5 scale) : • Reducing cost or generating revenue = 4.9 • Demonstrating industry leadership = 4.6 • Locking in long-term price stability = 4.0 • Diversifying energy supply = 3.4 • Meeting local/state renewable energy policies = 3.1 • Achieving GHG emission reduction targets = 2.6 • Meeting demands from investors and customers = 2.1 • Mitigating permitting obstacles to future expansion = 1.5 Degree to which the project has had a broad positive effect on the airport's bottom line: • Low = 47.6% • High = 19.0% • Undetermined = 19.0% • Medium = 14.2% Degree to which the project has had a broad positive effect on the airport and its business: • Medium = 42.8% • High = 23.8% • Low = 19.0% • Undetermined = 14.2% The information in the responses is somewhat conflicting in that it indicates economic factors are the most important drivers for the projects but the economic benefit realized was not as strong. Read the entire page →

From page 3...

... 3 Renewable energy holds a broad appeal for its environmental and local benefits. A Gallup poll conducted in 2013 showed that 76% and 71% of those surveyed expressed a desire to see the United States develop more solar and wind power, respectively.1 Advances in technology, which have benefited greatly from the revolution in materials science and the digital economy, have improved system performance and the capacity to generate power.