Oil Vs. RENEWABLES

Let’s sum up the reaction we have encountered to biodiesel more recently as “negative.” Servicing equipment that has been running on a biofuel can be “exasperating,” in the paraphrased wording of one industry member.

The U.S. Department of Energy (Energy.gov) has a very positive outlook on renewable energy. It asserts that besides reducing carbon emissions, a transition to renewables will increase reliability and resilience and security of the power grid, create jobs, and achieve energy independence.

Still according to the Department of Energy, renewable energy now accounts for 20 percent of electric power generation, with wind responsible for more than half of that and hydropower more than one-quarter. For all the roofs covered with PV arrays that we see, solar still accounts for only 3.4 percent of U.S. electricity generation.

Storage, storage, storage. That’s the issue with relying on the vagaries of the weather—sun or clouds—to convert energy to power.

How many spaces covered with solar arrays and battery repositories do communities want? Are the PV arrays and batteries less impactful than coal that more or less gets dug as it’s needed? Is using natural gas to generate electricity the best way to use natural gas as a power source? All are questions we ought to be trying to answer with objectiveness.

The federal government is pumping huge sums of money into research and development projects that expand the use of renewables. At the same time, nuclear energy provides 20 percent of electric power. And 79 percent of total energy consumed in the United States derives from fossil fuels (36 percent petroleum, 33 percent natural gas, and 10 percent coal).

Feasibility

Incorporating specific renewable energy sources into an operation may be more practical in the near term than operating equipment with renewables. For instance, in industries like wood products it often makes sense to heat buildings with highquality wood-burning devices/boilers that use wood waste.

“We do not use any renewable energy sources at this time in our operation,” says Edgar Kron, sales manager at Bozeman Distributors and Cat Pumps, Baton Rouge, LA. There are possibilities, of course, but feasibility is essential to the industry.

“I believe the ICE [internal combustion engine] will be here for many, many years into the future, no matter what the government says or tries to push upon us,” says Kron. “Let consumer demand control this decision.”

Structural limitations cannot be ignored. “Currently the power grid cannot support everything going electric,” explains Kron. “If you were to pick any small town in America and force them to go all-electric overnight, with the flip of a switch, probably less than one percent would be able to function normally.”

And returning to batteries, so necessary for storage. “Battery power is not feasible or economical, in my opinion, to replace all gasoline-powered engines,” says Kron. “We face many issues with battery power replacing the ICE, such as weight-to-power ratio, initial cost, recharge times, replacement cost of batteries compared to gasoline powered engines, availability of recharge stations compared to gasoline stations, etc.”

An accounting of all variables must be made to determine what works best at a given point in time. Renewables imply ever-greater use of electric power.

“The infrastructure is not big enough or strong enough to support everything going electric,” says Kron. “In my opinion, portable battery-powered power washers are not in the near future of the power wash industry.”

Yet Kron does not discount the value of solar. “Having a solar-powered backup generator is an option to traditional gasoline-powered generators. After a hurricane or other natural disaster when fuel is in short supply, a solar generator will supplement a traditional gas-powered generator by conserving your fuel supply.”

The Honda Power Pod is a battery storage device that can be replenished with solar, for example. Kron owns two Oukitel P2000s and a 400W portable solar panel to support his Honda gasoline generator. “Solar power should be a part of everyone’s emergency backup plan, but it is not the total solution.”

Considered attention to how all the pieces fit together should be the focus in working out the relation between oil and renewables. That’s the best way to realize continuous improvement.

“From my experience, the oil industry—mainly offshore drilling, refining, and chemical plants—have been good for the power wash industry,” says Kron. “Drilling and refining are dirty jobs. Dirty jobs need to be cleaned, thus selling cleaning equipment into the industry.”

Constraints become apparent when actual jobs are to be tackled. “In many cases hot water is required or needed to make the cleaning process more efficient and cost effective,” says Kron.

“Most portable hot water units have gasoline or diesel engines with oil-fired burners,” explains Kron. “Propane and natural gas are available but are not always a good option for portability. If battery power was compared to the same process, you would have to overcome many obstacles.”

Kron enumerates the obstacles: “One, is there a battery-powered unit capable of the same flow rate and pressure needed to do the job? Not that I am aware of. Two, if there is a unit available, the initial cost to purchase and operate it needs to be considered. Three, what is the physical size and weight of the batteries and unit to match a 4 gpm at 3500 psi portable hot-water unit that can run for up to five to six hours on a few gallons of fuel? Four, what is the recharge time?”

Oil vs. renewables? For the present and foreseeable future, it’s oil and renewables and finding the optimal contribution of each CT