Track 9: Renewable Heating
Track Chair(s): Ian Finlayson, MA Dept. of Energy Resources (DOER); Robert Rizzo, MA Department of Energy Resources; Neil Veilleux, Meister Consultants Group
How Renewable Heating Can Become New England’s Next Major Cleantech Growth Market
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM Thursday, March 8, Waterfront 3
Session Chair(s): Neil Veilleux
Session Speaker(s): Dwayne Breger, Charlie Niebling, Laura Richardson
Thermal energy use comprises approximately one-third of U.S. energy consumption, representing a significant source of fossil-based carbon emissions. Locally produced renewable heating such as solar thermal, biomass thermal, geothermal and biodiesel provides significant potential for regional job creation, economic growth and green house gas emission reductions. However, renewable heating does not receive comprehensive policy support at the federal, state or regional level. In this session, policy-makers and experts from across New England will discuss how policies can drive vibrant growth of New England’s emerging renewable heating market.
How Hamburg Will Generate 100% of Heat and Electricity from Local Renewable Resources
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Thursday, March 8, Waterfront 3
Session Chair(s): Galen Nelson
Session Speaker(s): Jan Gerbitz, Uli Hellweg
Uli Hellweg, Managing Director of the International Building Exhibition (IBA) Hamburg and colleges will discuss how the City of Hamburg has used local renewable heating resources to plan and develop an innovative district heating network. Mr. Hellweg’s team will describe the leadership, planning and technical resources needed to create heating grids that will provide 100% of heating from renewable resources by 2050. Technical discussions of thermal projects in Hamburg include re-purposing a World World II era bunker into a thermal storage unit; incorporating deep geothermal into district heating; and piloting a “distributed generation” renewable heating association to serve the district heating grid.
Project Innovation and Renewable Heating in the Northeast
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Thursday, March 8, Waterfront 3
Session Chair(s): Robert Rizzo
Session Speaker(s): Christopher Beebe, Jake Goodyear, Debra Hall, Tim Van Epps
Project development requires foresight, intensive planning and a creative attitude to realize successful implementation of renewable heating options whether for homeowners, housing authorities, municipal buildings or commercial and industrial settings. This session will highlight the conversion of an oil heat company in western Massachusetts to a renewable energy company, the installation of various renewable thermal technologies in affordable housing, and a “cold weather†air source heat pump technology that can provide 100% of a facilities heating and air conditioning requirements. Combined, our speakers will address opportunities, roadblocks and innovative deployment of renewable thermal projects throughout the state.
Closing Forum
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Thursday, March 8, Cityview Ballroom
Session Speaker(s):
This session opens with a special presentation by Senator Jutta Blankau of the City of Hamburg, Germany, whose vision helped shape the energy-efficient future of Hamburg. Following the presentation, we will invite the group to think about their experience over the past three days at the BuildingEnergy Conference and consider: What have we learned? What future can we now design? Participants will be invited to join communities of practice that share their goals and interests.
