(1)
Eligibility
Criteria. A Generation Unit may qualify as an APS Alternative
Generation Unit subject to the limitations in 225 CMR 16.05.
(a)
Technologies.
The Generation Unit shall use one or more of the technologies listed in 225 CMR
16.05(1)(a)1. through 6.
1.
Gasification. This technology is no longer eligible
because it was eliminated pursuant to M.G.L. c. 25A, §
11F1/2.
2.
Combined Heat and Power. A Generation Unit that is
operated to produce Combined Heat and Power may qualify as an APS Alternative
Generation Unit, subject to the limitations in 225 CMR 16.05(1)(a)2.
a.
CHP Metering and Reporting
Requirements. A CHP Unit shall provide for the metering of
electrical energy generated, Useful Thermal Energy produced, and fuel consumed;
for calculating the net quantity of MWh for which Alternative Energy Attributes
are qualified, and for reporting to the NEPOOL GIS of that net qualified MWh
quantity in a manner prescribed in 225 CMR 16.05(1)(c), for each quarter of the
Compliance Year. Monitoring, reporting, and calculating of electrical energy
and Useful Thermal Energy produced in that quarter shall be expressed in MWh,
and the total of all fuel and any other energy consumed in that quarter is
calculated using the energy content of the fuel based on higher heating
value.
b.
Determination
of APS Alternative Energy Attributes. The Generation Unit shall be
provided APS Alternative Energy Attributes as specified in 225 CMR
16.05(1)(a)2.b.
i. A CHP Unit which produced
neither electrical nor Useful Thermal Energy before January 1, 2008, shall be
provided APS Alternative Energy Attributes equal to the result, if positive, of
the following calculation: take the sum of:
(i) the electrical energy generated divided
by the overall efficiency of electrical energy delivered to the end-use from
the electrical grid (which efficiency is equal for this purpose to 0.33);
and
(ii) the Useful Thermal Energy
divided by the overall efficiency of thermal energy delivered to the end-use
from a standalone heating unit (which efficiency is equal for this purpose to
0.80); and subtract from this sum the total of all fuel and any other energy
consumed by the CHP Unit in that quarter expressed in MWh and calculated using
the energy content of the fuel based on its higher heating value.
ii. A CHP Unit which produced
either or both electrical and Useful Thermal Energy before January 1, 2008, and
added either or both Incremental Useful Thermal Energy or Incremental
Electrical Energy after such date, shall be provided APS Alternative Energy
Attributes equal to the result, if positive, of the following calculation: take
the sum of:
(i) the Incremental Electrical
Energy generated divided by the overall efficiency of electrical energy
delivered to the end-use from the electrical grid (which efficiency is equal
for this purpose to 0.33); and
(ii)
the Incremental Useful Thermal Energy divided by the overall efficiency of
thermal energy delivered to the end-use from a standalone heating unit (which
efficiency is equal for this purpose to 0.80); and subtract from this sum the
total of all Incremental Fuel and any other incremental energy consumed by the
CHP Unit in that quarter expressed in MWh and calculated using the energy
content of the fuel based on its higher heating value.
c.
Energy
Deliverability Requirement. The CHP Unit shall deliver Useful
Thermal Energy to an end-use load located in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
3.
Flywheel Storage Unit. A Flywheel Storage Unit that
stores and discharges electrical energy may qualify as an APS Alternative
Generation Unit, subject to the limitations in 225 CMR 16.05(1)(a)3.
a. The Flywheel Storage Unit must participate
in the ISO-NE regulation market.
b.
The portion of the electrical energy output of a Flywheel Storage Unit that may
qualify for APS Alternative Generation shall be calculated each quarter of the
Compliance Year as 65% of the electrical energy discharged from the Flywheel
Storage Unit during the quarter.
c.
The electrical energy output, the calculation made to derive the net quantity
of MWh for which Alternative Energy Attributes are qualified and that net MWh
quantity shall be reported to the NEPOOL GIS as specified in 225 CMR
16.05(1)(c).
4.
Paper-derived Fuel. This technology is no longer
eligible because it was eliminated pursuant to M.G.L. c. 25A, §
11F1/2.
5.
Efficient Steam Technology. (Reserved)
6.
APS Renewable Thermal
Generation Unit. A Generation Unit that uses one or more of the
technologies provided in 225 CMR 16.05(1)(a)6.a. and generates Useful Thermal
Energy may qualify as an APS Alternative Generation Unit, subject to the
limitations in 225 CMR 16.05(1)(a)6.a. and the provisions in 225 CMR 16.05(4).
a. Eligible APS Renewable Thermal Generation
Unit technologies and standards:
i.
Air-source Heat Pump. An air-source heat pump
Generation Unit uses compression and evaporation to transfer thermal energy
from the ambient outdoor environment to a thermal load as Useful Thermal
Energy. The Generation Unit must be designed to operate effectively in cold
climates, such that the air-source heat pump provides meaningful net annual
reductions in conventional energy use. Air-source heat pumps are provided APS
Alternative Energy Attributes only when operating in a heating mode; that is,
when transferring thermal energy from the ambient outdoor environment to a
thermal load. An applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
Department that the air-source heat pump is the primary source of heating for
the residential Generation Unit, building, or process it serves, and meets the
design criteria, as provided in the Department's Guideline on Metering
and Calculating the Useful Thermal Output of Eligible Renewable Thermal
Generation Units.
ii.
Ground Source Heat Pump. A ground source heat pump
Generation Unit uses compression and evaporation to transfer thermal energy
from the ambient underground or water environment to a thermal load as Useful
Thermal Energy. The Generation Unit must receive all applicable permits,
approvals, and registrations from the MassDEP. An applicant must demonstrate to
the satisfaction of the Department that it meets the design criteria, as
provided in the Department's Guideline on Metering and Calculating the
Useful Thermal Output of Eligible Renewable Thermal Generation Units.
Ground or water-source heat pumps are provided APS Alternative Energy
Attributes only when operating in a heating mode; that is, when transferring
thermal energy from the ambient underground or water environment to a thermal
load.
iii.
Deep
Geothermal Heat Exchange. A deep geothermal heat exchange
Generation Unit uses hot geological formations deep below the ground surface to
produce heat through direct heat exchange. The Generation Unit must receive all
applicable permits, approvals, and registrations from the MassDEP, and must
demonstrate to the Department it can operate at or above minimum performance
requirements as provided in the Department's Guideline on Metering and
Calculating the Useful Thermal Output of Eligible Renewable Thermal Generation
Units.
iv.
Solar Thermal. A solar thermal Generation Unit uses
collectors, to transfer solar irradiation energy to a working fluid, as well as
a pump or fan to actively circulate the air, water, or other working fluid
through the collectors. Solar thermal collectors must have a performance
certification issued by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation,
International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, or other
performance certification approved by the Department. Unglazed flat plate
collectors for pool heating are not eligible to qualify as an APS Renewable
Thermal Generation Unit.
v.
Woody Biomass. A woody biomass Generation Unit must
use automatically fed boilers or furnaces, and must utilize either Eligible
Biomass Woody Fuel, or bio-oil refined through pyrolysis or biogas derived from
Eligible Biomass Woody Fuel. Woody biomass Generation Units must meet the
provisions regarding efficiency, system performance, use of thermal energy
storage, particulate matter and carbon monoxide emissions, fuel supply
sustainability, fuel quality, and greenhouse gas emissions in
225 CMR
16.06(4)(g). and the
Department's Guideline on Biomass, Biogas and Biofuels for Eligible
Renewable Thermal Generation Units, as well as receive all applicable
permits from the MassDEP.
vi.
Biogas. A biogas Generation Unit uses Eligible Biogas
Fuel derived from either an Anaerobic Digester, as that term is defined in
310 CMR
7.70(10)(b):
Definitions, or a landfill that has received all applicable
permits from the MassDEP or comparable environmental agency responsible for
regulating such facilities. Eligible Biogas Fuel must be conveyed directly from
its source to the biogas Generation Unit in a dedicated pipeline. Biogas
Generation Units may co-fire with other fuels subject to the provisions in 225
CMR 16.05(2), and must meet quality and performance criteria provided in the
Department's Guideline on Biomass, Biogas and Biofuels for Eligible
Renewable Thermal Generation Units.
vii.
Liquid
Biofuels. A liquid biofuel Generation Unit must use Eligible
Liquid Biofuels. Liquid biofuel Generation Units may co-fire with other fuels
subject to the provisions in 225 CMR 16.05(2), but shall contain at least 10%
by volume Eligible Liquid Biofuel. The liquid biofuels Generation Unit must
meet quality and performance criteria provided in the Department's
Guideline on Biomass, Biogas and Biofuels for Eligible Renewable
Thermal Generation Units, must receive all applicable permits from the
MassDEP, and is subject to the provisions in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(f).
viii.
Compost Heat Exchange
System. A Generation Unit that uses a facility to recover or
exchange heat from the aerobic biodegradation of organic matter during the
production of compost.
b.
Determination of APS Alternative Generation
Attributes. Each Generation Unit listed in 225 CMR 16.05(1)(a)6.
shall earn APS Alternative Energy Attributes as specified in 225 CMR
16.05(1)(a)6.b., 225 CMR 16.05(4), and in the Department's
Guideline on
Metering and Calculating the Useful Thermal Output of Eligible Renewable
Thermal Generation Units, as follows:
i. An APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit
shall earn APS Alternative Energy Attributes for each MWh of net Useful Thermal
Energy generated on a quarterly basis.
ii. Earned APS Alternative Energy Attributes
shall be for the generation of Useful Thermal Energy, net of any fossil fuel
energy and electrical energy input to the APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit
necessary for its operation, however, the Department may exclude small energy
uses including, but not limited to, fans, pumps, meters, controls, and data
collection. The Department shall prescribe the calculations for netting energy
input from the Useful Thermal Energy in the Department's Guideline on
Metering and Calculating the Useful Thermal Output of Eligible Renewable
Thermal Generation Units.
iii. Notwithstanding 225 CMR
16.05(1)(a)6.b.i., APS Alternative Energy Attributes for an APS Renewable
Thermal Generation Unit that meets the criteria of a small Generation Unit, as
defined in the Department's Guideline on Metering and Calculating the
Useful Thermal Output of Eligible Renewable Thermal Generation Units,
may be pre-minted in one calendar quarter in a quantity equal to the APS
Alternative Generation Attributes that the small Generation Unit is deemed to
generate over its qualification period; as prescribed in 225 CMR
16.05(4)(c).
c.
Energy Deliverability Requirement. An APS Renewable
Thermal Generation Unit shall deliver Useful Thermal Energy to an end-use load
located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
d.
Combination of
Funding. If a Generation Unit receives funding in an amount
exceeding 80% of the Generation Unit's total construction and installation
costs from a grant or incentive program administered by the Department or any
other state agency prior to December 29, 2017, the Generation Unit shall not be
eligible to qualify in the APS.
7.
Fuel Cell. A Fuel
Cell Generation Unit that produces electricity and/or Useful Thermal Energy may
qualify as an APS Alternative Generation Unit, subject to the limitations in
225 CMR 16.05(1)(a)7.
a.
Source of
Hydrogen. A Fuel Cell Generation Unit that uses hydrogen generated
through the use of propane shall be required to certify that the propane was
manufactured using only natural gas.
b.
Overall
Efficiency. To qualify as an APS Alternative Generation Unit, a
Fuel Cell Generation Unit shall be more efficient than the current average for
emitting locational marginal units as based on the heat rates for these units
shown in the most recent ISO-NE Electric Generator Air Emissions Report
available in the same year in which a Fuel Cell Generation Unit submits an SQA.
A Fuel Cell Generation Unit that generates both electricity and Useful Thermal
Energy must have an overall efficiency of at least 55%. The overall efficiency
of a Fuel Cell Generation Unit shall be calculated as the sum of the MWh of
electricity generated, excluding any electricity utilized for parasitic load,
plus the MWh of Useful Thermal Energy, divided by the total higher heating MWh
value of fuel consumed by the Fuel Cell Generation Unit. Supporting operating
data, confirming that the Fuel Cell Generation Unit continues to meet the
Overall Efficiency requirement in
225 CMR
16.06(1)(a)7.b., must be
submitted to the Department on an annual basis in order for the Fuel Cell
Generation Unit to maintain its Statement of Qualification.
c.
Attribute
Multiplier. A Fuel Cell Generation Unit shall earn 11/2 APS
Alternative Energy Attributes for each MWh of electricity and/or 3,412,000
British thermal units of net Useful Thermal Energy generated. A Fuel Cell
Generation Unit shall retain the multiplier, provided at its time of
qualification, as long as it continues to meet all other applicable eligibility
criteria in 225 CMR 16.05.
d.
Metering Requirements. The net energy output from a
Fuel Cell Generation Unit shall be metered according to the specifications in
the Department's Guideline on
Metering and Calculating
the Energy Output of Eligible Fuel Cell Generation Units and verified
by an independent Third Party Meter Reader, as defined in Rule 2.5(j) of the
NEPOOL GIS Operating Rules and approved by the Department. The APS Alternative
Generation Attributes reported to the NEPOOL GIS by an independent Third Party
Meter Reader shall be the amount that is qualified for Alternative Energy
Attributes, as specified in 225 CMR 16.05. This amount will be inclusive of the
application of any multiplier provided in 225 CMR 16.05(1)(a)7.c.
8.
Thermal
Waste-to-energy. A Thermal Waste-to-energy Generation Unit may
qualifyas an APS Alternative Generation Unit and shall be metered according to
thespecifications in the Department's Guideline on Metering and
Calculating the Useful
Thermal Output of Eligible Renewable
Thermal Generation Units.
(b)
Commercial Operation
Date. With the exception of Thermal Waste-to-energy Generation
Units, an APS Alternative Generation Unit's Commercial Operation Date shall be
on or after January 1, 2008, however, for an APS Renewable Thermal Generation
Unit, the Commercial Operation Date shall be on or after January 1, 2015, and
for a Fuel Cell Generation Unit, the Commercial Operation Date shall be on or
after January 1, 2017.
(c)
Metering. Except as provided in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(b),
the APS Alternative Generation from a Generation Unit shall be verified by an
independent verification system or person participating in the NEPOOL GIS
accounting system as an independent Third Party Meter Reader, as defined in
Rule 2.5(j) of the NEPOOL GIS Operating Rules, or any successor rule, and
approved by the Department. The APS Alternative Generation reported to the
NEPOOL GIS by a Third Party Meter Reader shall be the net amount that is
qualified for Alternative Energy Attributes, as specified in 225 CMR
16.05.
(d)
Location. The Generation Unit must be located within
the ISO-NE Control Area, except where otherwise specified in
225 CMR 16.00, and subject to
the limitations in 225 CMR 16.05(1)(d).
1.
Off-grid Generation. If the Generation Unit produces
Off-grid Generation, such Unit must be located in Massachusetts.
2.
Behind-the-meter
Generation. If the Generation Unit is wired to the electrical
system on the End-use Customer's side of a retail electric meter, such Unit
must be interconnected to the electric grid in Massachusetts.
(e)
Net Carbon Dioxide
Emissions Rate. A Generation Unit that generates electricity shall
not exceed a net site carbon dioxide emissions rate equal to the average
emissions rate of the current average value for emitting locational marginal
units as shown in the most recent ISO-NE Electric Generator Air Emissions
Report available in the same year in which an SQA is submitted for the
Generation Unit. In quantifying the net site carbon dioxide emissions, the
emissions attributable to any site fuel consumption displaced by the Useful
Thermal Energy generated by the Generation Unit is to be subtracted from the
emissions due to the direct consumption of fuel by the Generation Unit. The
monitoring, calculation, and reporting of the net carbon dioxide emissions rate
shall be subject to verification by an independent consultant acceptable to the
Department and, in consultation with the MassDEP and at the expense of the
Unit's Owner or Operator. An APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit using
Eligible Biomass Fuel shall not be subject to the net carbon dioxide emissions
rate in
225 CMR
16.06(1)(e), but instead
subject to the net greenhouse gas emission requirement in
225 CMR
16.06(4)(i).
(f)
Eligibility of RPS Class I
Renewable Generation Units, and RPS Class II Renewable Generation
Units. A Generation Unit that is qualified as an RPS Class I
Renewable Generation Unit pursuant to
225 CMR 14.00:
Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Class I or as an RPS
Class II Renewable Generation Unit pursuant to
225 CMR 15.00:
Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Class II may also be
qualified as an APS Alternative Generation Unit provided it meets all
eligibility criteria in
225 CMR 16.00.
(g)
Reclassification of APS
Alternative Generation Units. An APS Alternative Generation Unit
that meets the eligibility to qualify more than one type of APS Alternative
Generation Unit shall only qualify as one type of APS Alternative Generation
Unit, which the Owner shall designate in its Statement of Qualification
Application. An APS Alternative Generation Unit shall have the option to switch
the type of APS Alternative Generation Unit for which it has received a
Statement of Qualification one time during the duration of its qualification
period.
(2)
Co-firing Waiver. A portion of the electrical energy
or Useful Thermal Energy output of a Generation Unit that uses an APS
Ineligible Energy Source with another fuel may qualify as APS Alternative
Generation provided the Generation Unit meets the eligibility requirements of
225 CMR 16.05, subject to the limitations in 225 CMR 16.05(2).
(a) The percentage of the total electrical
energy or Useful Thermal Energy output that qualifies as APS Alternative
Generation in a given time period shall be equal to one minus the ratio of the
net heat content of the APS Ineligible Energy Source consumed to the net heat
content of all fuel consumed in that time period.
(b) If co-firing an APS Ineligible Energy
Source with another fuel, the entire Generation Unit must demonstrate to the
satisfaction of the Department in consultation with the MassDEP that the Unit
meets or will meet the emission performance standards, including the net carbon
dioxide emissions rate, that are or would be required by the MassDEP for
comparably-fueled Units within Massachusetts, including the standards specified
for the technology type of the Unit as set forth in 225 CMR 16.05(1)(a) and
(e). The Department may require the Generation Unit Owner or Operator to retain
at its own expense a third-party consultant deemed satisfactory to the
Department, to provide DOER and the MassDEP with assistance in determining
whether this criterion is or will be met by the Unit.
(c) The Generation Unit must provide a fuel
supply plan that specifies each and every fuel that it intends to use, in what
relative proportions in co-firing, and with what individual input heat values.
Such plan shall include the procedures by which the Unit will document to the
satisfaction of the Department its compliance with the plan.
(d) The provisions of 225 CMR 16.05(2) shall
not apply to the incidental use of an APS Ineligible Energy Source solely for
the purpose of cold starting a Generation Unit that otherwise exclusively uses
other fuels.
(3)
Special Provisions for Aggregations. An Aggregation of
Generation Units that are located behind the customer meter or that are
Off-grid Generation Units, each of which could independently meet the relevant
requirements of 225 CMR 16.05, may receive a single SQ and be treated as a
single APS Alternative Generation Unit under the following criteria and
procedures:
(a) Each Generation Unit in such
Aggregation must use the same technology as all other Units in the
Aggregation.
(b) Each of the Owners
or Operators of Generation Units within the Aggregation must enter into an
agreement with a person or entity that serves as the Authorized Agent for the
Aggregation in all dealings with the Department and with the NEPOOL GIS, and
such agreement must include procedures by which the electrical energy output
and, in the case of a CHP Unit, the Useful Thermal Energy output and fuel
input, of each Unit shall be monitored and reported to the NEPOOL
GIS.
(c) The Authorized Agent of
the Aggregation must establish and maintain a Generator account at the NEPOOL
GIS under the NEPOOL GIS Operating Rules, including all provisions for
Non-NEPOOL Generator Representatives, as that term is defined in Rule
2.1(a)(vi) of the NEPOOL GIS Operating Rules.
(d) The electrical energy output, or the
Alternative Energy Attribute qualified portion of such output as provided in
225 CMR 16.05(1)(a)2.a., 225 CMR 16.05(1)(a)3., or 225 CMR 16.05(1)(a)6., of
each of the Generation Units in the Aggregation must be individually monitored
and recorded, and it must be reported to the NEPOOL GIS as part of an
aggregated total for the Aggregation, by an independent Third Party Meter
Reader as defined in Rule 2.5(j) of the NEPOOL GIS Operating Rules.
(4)
Special Provisions
for APS Renewable Thermal Generation Units. A Generation Unit that
meets the eligibility provisions under 225 CMR 16.05(1)(a)6., shall be subject
to the following provisions:
(a)
Size Classification. APS Renewable Thermal Generation
Units shall be classified as small, intermediate, or large based on the rated
capacity of the system. If an APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit consists of
several individual and separate units, the individual unit's capacities shall
be summed and the total capacity will be considered against the size threshold.
In the case of a combination of solar thermal technologies and other
technologies, the thresholds shall be applied separately to the solar and
non-solar units. APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit size classifications are
as follows:
Classification
|
Small
|
Intermediate
|
Large
|
AEC calculation basis
|
Calculated net renewable thermal
output
|
Calculated net renewable thermal based on
indirect metering
|
Calculated net renewable thermal output based
on direct metering of fuel input
|
Metered net renewable thermal
output
|
Solar thermal: evacuated tube and flat plate
solar hot water
|
Collector surface area less than or equal to 660 sq
ft
|
Collector surface area between 660 and 4,000 sq
ft
|
-
|
Collector surface area greater than or equal to 4,000
sq ft
|
Solar thermal: solar hot air
|
-
|
Collector surface area less than or equal to 10,000
sq ft
|
-
|
Collector surface area greater than 10,000 sq
ft
|
Solar sludge dryer
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
All
|
Eligible Biomass Fuel
|
-
|
-
|
Capacity less than or equal to 1,000,000 Btu per
hour
|
Capacity greater than 1,000,000 Btu per hour
|
Compost heat exchange system
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
All
|
Air source heat pump: electric motor or engine
driven
|
Output capacity less than or equal to 134,000 Btu per
hour
|
-
|
Output capacity between 134,000 and 1,000,000 Btu per
hour
|
Output capacity greater than or equal to 1,000,000
Btu per hour
|
Ground source heat pump
|
Output capacity less than or equal to 134,000 Btu per
hour
|
-
|
Output capacity between 134,000 and 1,000,000 Btu per
hour
|
Output capacity greater than or equal to 1,000,000
Btu per hour
|
Deep geothermal
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
All
|
Small Generation Units shall have the option to be classified
as either intermediate or large Generation Units if they wish to forgo
pre-minting and instead meter their Useful Thermal Energy as required by the
Guideline on Metering and Calculating the Useful Thermal Output of
Eligible Renewable Thermal Generation Units - Part 2 (Metering for Intermediate
and Large Generation Units). Intermediate Generation Units shall also
have the option to be classified as large Generation Units if they wish to
meter their Useful Thermal Energy as required by the Guideline on
Metering and Calculating the Useful Thermal Output of Eligible Renewable
Thermal Generation Units - Part 2 (Metering for Intermediate and Large
Generation Units). Generation Units which opt to change their size
classification must notify the Department in their Statement of Qualification
Application and must remain their chosen size classification for the duration
of their qualification period.
(b)
Metering
Requirements. The net Useful Thermal Energy output from an APS
Renewable Thermal Generation Unit shall be metered according to the
specifications in the Department's
Guideline on Metering and
Calculating the Useful Thermal Output of Eligible Renewable Thermal Generation
Units and verified by an independent Third Party Meter Reader, as
defined in Rule 2.5(j) of the NEPOOL GIS Operating Rules and approved by the
Department. The APS Alternative Generation Attributes reported to the NEPOOL
GIS by an independent Third Party Meter Reader shall be the amount as specified
in 225 CMR 16.05(1)(a)6.b. This amount will be inclusive of any netting of
energy use by the APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit as prescribed in 225
CMR 16.05(1)(a)6.b.iii., and the application of any multiplier in the
Department's
Guideline on Multipliers for Renewable Thermal Generation
Units.
1. An APS Renewable Thermal
Generation Unit that uses more than one eligible technology in 225 CMR
16.05(1)(a)6.a. is required to use the same independent Third Party Meter
Reader for all technologies.
2.
Each APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit is required to have its own
individual NEPOOL GIS asset. An APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit that uses
more than one eligible technology in 225 CMR 16.05 (1)(a)6.a. is required to
have a NEPOOL GIS asset for each technology. APS Renewable Thermal Generation
Units that utilize the same technology and are located in the same state may
qualify as an Aggregation and share a NEPOOL GIS asset.
3. An APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit
that meets the criteria of a small Generation Unit or an intermediate as
prescribed in 225 CMR 16.05(1)(b)(ii) shall be exempt from the metering
requirements in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(b) and, instead, be subject to the Small and
Intermediate Generation Unit Annual Net Useful Thermal Energy Determination in
225 CMR 16.05(4)(c).
(c)
Small and Intermediate Generation Unit Annual Net Useful Thermal
Energy Determination. An APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit
that meets the criteria of a small or intermediate Generation Unit as
prescribed in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(a) may have its annual net Useful Thermal Energy
generation output determined by a formula or methodology as prescribed in the
Department's Guideline on Metering and Calculating the Useful Thermal
Output of Eligible Renewable Thermal Generation Units. This
approximation shall be a reasonable determination by the Department to estimate
the net Useful Thermal Energy delivered by the APS Renewable Thermal Generation
Unit, specifically considering the APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit's
capacity, performance characteristics, and load application being served. The
MassCEC will act as the independent verifier for all small Generation Units and
intermediate Generation Units using Eligible Biomass Woody Fuel, and will
deploy appropriate and reasonable measures to verify ongoing operation of the
small Generation Units in line with their estimated net Useful Thermal Energy
generation.
(d)
Pre-minting of APS Alternative Generation Attributes for Small APS
Renewable Thermal Generation Units. An APS Renewable Thermal
Generation Unit that meets the criteria of a small Generation Unit as
prescribed in the Department's Guideline on Metering and Calculating
the Useful Thermal Output of Eligible Renewable Thermal Generation
Units may be provided all of its APS Alternative Generation Attributes
as follows, the APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit may have all of the APS
Alternative Generation Attributes in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(c) pre-minted as APS
Alternative Generation Attributes, and may be minted in the first quarter after
the APS Alternative Generation Unit's Statement of Qualification or Commercial
Operation Date, whichever is later. The volume of pre-minted APS Alternative
Generation Attributes shall be equal to 40 times the quarterly volume of the
monthly Attributes determined in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(c).
(e)
Eligibility Criteria for
Small Air Source Heat Pumps. All small air source heat pump
Renewable Thermal Generation Units, as prescribed in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(a), must
meet all of the following requirements:
1. be
ENERGY START certified;
2. meet the
Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pump Specification (Version 2.0) published by
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships effective January 1, 2017 or any
version thereafter;
3. have a
variable speed compressor;
4. be
part of an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute matched
system; and
5. have a coefficient
of performance greater than or equal to 1.9 at 5°F and a coefficient of
performance greater than or equal to 2.5 at 17°F.
For new construction, the small air source heat pump Renewable
Thermal Generation Unit must supply 100% of the building's total annual heating
and cannot have any supplemental, non-renewable heating sources. In retrofit
construction or existing buildings, all small air source heat pump Renewable
Thermal Generation Units that do not meet the above requirement must be used as
the primary source of heat, supply at least 90% of the total annual heating, be
integrated to a heating distribution system, capable of distributing produced
heat to all conditioned areas of the building, and have a heat-rate capacity at
five degrees Fahrenheit that is at least 50% of the nameplate capacity of the
existing heating source equipment.
(f)
Eligibility Criteria for
Small Ground Source Heat Pumps. All small ground source heat pumps
Renewable Thermal Generation Units, as prescribed in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(a), must
meet the following requirements:
1. be
certified to the International Organization for Standards Standard 13256-1
Water-source heat pumps - Testing and rating for performance - Part 1:
Water-to-air and brine-to-air heat pumps, 1998 or the International
Organization for Standards Standard 13256-2 Water-source heat pumps - Testing
and rating for performance - Part 2: Water-to-water and brine-to-water heat
pumps, 1998;
2. have American
Heating and Refrigeration Institute rated operating coefficient of performance
and operating energy efficiency ratio equal to or greater than the following:
Small Ground Source Heat Pump System
Type
|
Cooling Energy Efficiency Ratio
|
Heating Coefficient of
Performance
|
Closed loop water to air
|
17.1
|
3.6
|
Open loop water to air
|
21.1
|
4.1
|
Closed loop water to water
|
16.1
|
3.1
|
Open loop water to water
|
20.1
|
3.5
|
3. be
installed by licensed contractors and/or plumbers in accordance with the
National Electric Code and manufacturer's specifications and must conform to
all applicable municipal, state, and federal codes, standards, regulations, and
certifications, as well as program requirements;
4. have blowers that are multi-speed or
variable-speed, high-efficiency motors. Motors qualify as energy-efficient if
they meet or exceed the efficiency levels listed in the National
Electric Manufacturers Association's MG1-1993 publication;
5. use compressors that are two-stage,
multi-speed, or variable-speed drives, unless they are water-to-water units.
Single-stage water-to-water systems are eligible, provided they include
accumulator tanks with the greater of ten gallons of capacity per heating ton
or industry/manufacturer recommended best practice;
6. for vertically bored closed-loop systems,
Generation Units must have a minimum depth of 150 feet per 12,000 Btu per hour
of heating load served by the system;
7. all closed-loop bore grouting must have a
grout conductivity equal to or greater than anticipated earth conductivity of
the drill site up to one Btu per hour-foot-degree Fahrenheit;
8. have at least 15 feet of separation
between closed-loop bore holes;
9.
must comply with MassDEP Bureau of Resource Protection Drinking Water Program,
Guidelines For Ground Source Heat Pump Wells, and Underground Injection
Control Program, December 2013;
10. all open-loop system wells shall be
installed in conformance with MassDEP's Private Well
Guidelines or MassDEP's Guidelines and Policies for Public
Water Systems, whichever is applicable;
11. all system wells shall be installed in
conformance with 313 CMR 3.00: Registration of Well Drillers and Filing
of Well Completion Reports;
12. standing column wells must include bleed
circuits and drywells to maximize thermal efficiency based on available water
production;
13. all systems must
supply 100% of a building's total annual heating; non-renewable supplemental
heat sources are prohibited; and
14. all closed loop systems must be installed
and tested in accordance with subsections 4 and 5 in section 1 of the
Closed-Loop/Geothermal Heat Pump Systems, Design and Installation
Standards, published by the International Ground Source Heat Pump
Association, dated 2017. In lieu of the pressure testing
described in subsection five in section one of the above-referenced standard,
closed loop systems shall be hydrostatically pressure tested in accordance with
ASTM Standard F2164 using the test pressure specified by the design engineer
for the system.
(g)
Restrictions and Standards on the Use of Eligible Biomass Woody
Fuel. An APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit using Eligible
Biomass Woody Fuel is subject to the following restrictions:
1.
Feedstock
Requirements. An APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit using
Eligible Biomass Woody Fuel must use a minimum percentage of Eligible Biomass
Woody Fuel derived from Forest Derived Residues, Forest-derived Thinnings,
Forest Salvage, or residues derived from wood products manufacturing consisting
of Clean Wood, as defined in the definition of eligible woody biomass fuel in
225 CMR 16.03. The
Department shall set the minimum feedstock requirement in the Department's
Guideline on Biomass, Biogas, and Biofuel for Eligible Renewable
Thermal Generation Units.
2.
Fuel Quality and Unit Control
Device Requirements. Generation units shall meet at least one of
the following fuel quality specifications:
a.
A boiler or furnace of less than 3,000,000 Btu per hour rated heat input that
utilizes an emission control device (e.g., electrostatic
precipitator), subject to the approval of the Department in consultation with
MassDEP, does not have to meet the fuel quality specifications in 225 CMR
16.05(4)(g)2.b. The emissions control device shall be designed and operated to
ensure that the boiler or furnace does not exceed the applicable particulate
matter emission limit in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(g)5.
b. A boiler or furnace of less than 3,000,000
Btu per hour rated heat input that does not utilize an emission control device
(
e.g., electrostatic precipitator) must meet the following
fuel quality specifications:
Fuel Quality Specifications
|
Pellets
|
Chips
|
Calorific value
|
Greater than 8,000 Btu per pound
|
Greater than or equal to 5,500 Btu per pound
|
Moisture
|
Less than or equal to 8%
|
Less than or equal to 35%
|
Ash content by weight
|
Less than or equal to 1%
|
Less than or equal to 1.5%
|
Chip size (percent retained by a 1/2 inch mesh
screen)
|
Not applicable
|
75% or adhere to manufacturer's protocol
|
Chlorides
|
Less than or equal to 300 parts per million
|
Not applicable
|
c. A
boiler or furnace of equal to or greater than 3,000,000 Btu per hour rated heat
input must receive a MassDEP plan approval pursuant to
310 CMR
7.02(5), which shall dictate
fuel quality specifications.
3.
Sustainable Forestry
Management. Forest Derived Residues and Thinnings shall only be
sourced from forests meeting Sustainable Forestry Management practices, as
independently verified through the attestation of a licensed forester,
certified forester, or independent certification.
4.
System
Performance. APS Renewable Thermal Generation Units shall meet
fuel conversion efficiency and performance standards achievable by
best-in-class commercially-feasible technologies, identified in the following
table:
Performance Requirement
|
Pellets
|
Chips
|
Thermal efficiency at nominal output
|
Greater than or equal to 85% Higher Heating
Value
|
Greater than or equal to 75% Higher Heating Value or
Greater than or equal to 80% Lower Heating Value if EN303-5 is used to verify
particulate emissions
|
Start up
|
Adhere to manufacturer's ignition protocol
|
Modulation/shut off
|
The system must automatically modulate to lower
output and/or turn itself off when the heating load decreases or is
satisfied
|
Pressurized portion of the system
|
Compliant with
522 CMR 4.00: Heating
Boilers and Other Heat Storage Sources
|
Thermal storage
|
Required, unless an exception is issued by the
Department
|
Fuel storage
|
The system must have covered bulk storage
|
Feedstock conveyance
|
The system must be automatically fed from feedstock
storage to the furnace or boiler
|
5.
Thermal Storage. Generation Units shall minimize any
significant deterioration of efficiency or air emissions performance due to
cycling by applying correctly sized and insulated thermal storage. Thermal
storage shall meet the following size thresholds:
Lead Boiler System Size (Heat
Input)
|
Thermal Storage Required
|
Less than 80,000 Btu per hour
|
80 gallons
|
Between 80,000 Btu per hour and 119,000 Btu per
hour
|
one gallon per 1,000 Btu per hour
|
Between 119,000 Btu per hour and 1,000,000 Btu per
hour
|
119 gallons
|
Greater than 1,000,000 Btu per hour
|
two gallons per 1,000 Btu per hour
|
An Owner or Operator of a Generation Unit may apply for an
exception from the requirements in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(g)4. if it can demonstrate
to the Department that an inclusion of thermal storage would deteriorate the
efficiency or air emissions performance of the Generation Unit, or the system
can maintain efficiency and air emission performance at low capacity without
thermal storage.
6.
Emission Performance Standards. APS Renewable Thermal
Generation Units shall meet air emission performance standards that are
protective of public health, including standards for particulate matter sized
2.5 microns or less and carbon monoxide, as identified in the following table:
A boiler or furnace of less than 3,000,000 Btu
per hour rated heat input must meet the applicable emission limits
below:
|
Pollutant
|
Pellets/liquid biofuels/biogas
|
Chips
|
Particulate Matter
|
No more than 0.08 lb PM 2.5
per 1,000,000 Btu input
or
No more than 0.03 lb PM2.5
per 1,000,000 Btu input at sensitive populations
|
No more than 0.10 lb PM2.5 per
1,000,000 Btu input
or
No more than 0.05 lbs total PM per 1,000,000 Btu
input if EN303-5 is used to verify emissions
or
No more than 0.03 lb PM2.5
per 1,000,000 Btu input at sensitive populations
|
Carbon monoxide
|
No more than 270 parts per million at 7%
oxygen
|
No more than 270 parts per million at 7%
oxygen
|
A boiler or furnace of greater than or equal to
3,000,000 Btu per hour rated heat input:
|
Particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and other
relevant criteria pollutants
|
MassDEP plan approval required, pursuant to
310 CMR
7.02(5).
|
For the purpose of 225 CMR 16.05(4)(f)5., sensitive populations
include schools, hospitals, nursing homes, or additional facilities determined
by the Department.
7.
Verification of Eligible Biomass Woody Fuel. In order
to verify the use of Eligible Biomass Woody Fuel, an APS Renewable Thermal
Generation Unit shall report the following to the Department on a quarterly
basis:
a. Supplier of the fuel;
b. Amount of fuel delivered;
c. Date of delivery; and
d. Fuel quality specifications prescribed in
225 CMR 16.05(4)(g)1., including a certification that any emission control
device was operated and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's
specifications in order to comply with the applicable particulate matter
emission limit in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(g)5.
The Department will review the Department's Guideline
on Biomass, Biogas, and
Biofuels for Eligible Renewable
Thermal Generation Units every two years in consultation with the
MassDEP and DCR and update the Guideline where appropriate.
The Department will assess the impact of biomass heating on the
region's forests in 2018 and 2020, as well as every five years thereafter in
coordination with the Forest Impact Assessment under the Renewable Portfolio
Standard Class I, as prescribed in
225
CMR 14.06(8)(b) 2., and
make changes as necessary. The Department will report annually on the aggregate
woody biomass fuel
(h)
Aggregation of Units using
Eligible Liquid Biofuels. An APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit
using Eligible Liquid Biofuels or Eligible Liquid Biofuels blended with heating
oil shall seek qualification as an APS Renewable Thermal Generation Unit only
as part of an Aggregation, as provided for in 225 CMR 16.05(3).
(i)
Greenhouse Gas Emission
Reduction. APS Renewable Thermal Generation Units utilizing
biomass, biogas, or biofuel shall reduce life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by
at least 50% compared to a high-efficiency unit utilizing the fuel that is
being displaced or for a new load, a high-efficiency natural gas unit, if
natural gas is available at reasonable cost to the site, or otherwise, the fuel
that is most likely to be utilized. The procedures for calculating whether a
Generation Unit meets the 50% reduction can be found in the Department's
Guideline on Biomass, Biogas, and Biofuels for Eligible Renewable
Thermal Generation Units and in the Department's
Guideline on
Reduction of Greenhouse Gases for
Eligible Renewable Thermal
Generation Units Using Eligible Woody Biomass. Generation Units that
report a percent under-compliance in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(i), shall be placed in a
probationary status and the Department shall notify the Owner that its
Statement of Qualification shall be revoked at the end of five Compliance Years
following the Compliance Year for which the percent under-compliance was
reported. The Generation Unit's probationary status shall be rescinded and the
Generation Unit's Statement of Qualification shall no longer be subject to
revocation if either:
1. for any three
Compliance Years of the probationary period the Generation Unit demonstrates
that it is complying with the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions requirements;
or
2. the Generation Unit's
accumulated percent under-compliance is offset by any net over-compliance with
the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions requirement during the probationary
period.
(j)
Cap on the Available Number of Attributes for Generation Units
Using Eligible Liquid Biofuel.
1.
In each Compliance Year the total number of Attributes minted to Generation
Units using Eligible Liquid Biofuel may not exceed 20% of the total projected
annual compliance obligation for the Compliance Year, in which they are
generated, with no more than 10% of the Attributes generated prior to July
1st. If 100% of the Attributes available prior to
July 1st are not allocated, the remaining number of
available Attributes shall be rolled over and allocated during either of the
remaining quarters in that calendar year. If the number of Attributes reported
by Generation Units exceeds the available Attributes, the number of available
Attributes shall be allocated on a pro-rata basis.
2. The Department shall estimate the
compliance obligation by multiplying the Minimum Standard percentage by the
total MWh of electrical energy sales by Retail Electricity Suppliers to End-use
Customers in the Compliance Year two years prior. The Department shall
calculate the annual and per quarter number of Attributes available for
Generation Units using Eligible Liquid Biofuel in a given Compliance Year no
later than August 31st of the preceding Compliance
Year. The Department shall publish this information on its website at
www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-energy-resources.
(k)
Eligible Biomass
Woody Fuel Suppliers List. The Department shall establish and
maintain a list of suppliers of Eligible Biomass Woody Fuel on its website at
www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-energy-resources.
Any fuel supplier wishing to be included on the Department's list must complete
the application provided on the Department's website at
www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-energy-resources.
Suppliers will be classified into one of three classes based on the percentage
of residues contained in the fuel distributed to Generation Units and the fuel
being displaced by the Generation Unit, as follows:
Class
|
Fuel Being Displaced
|
Minimum Combined Percentage of Forest Derived
Residues, Non-forest Derived Residues, and Forest Salvage
|
Class I
|
Natural gas, electric resistance, propane, fuel oil
#6, fuel oil #2
|
55%
|
Class II
|
Electric resistance, propane, fuel oil #6, fuel oil
#2
|
50%
|
Class III
|
Fuel oil #6, fuel oil #2
|
35%
|
Upon qualification, Generation Units will be notified by the
Department which fuel class they must purchase when sourcing fuel from a
supplier on the Department's Biomass Suppliers List. Any Generation Unit that
desires to purchase fuel from a supplier not on the Department's Biomass
Suppliers List may request approval from the Department and shall be required
to provide additional information. Generation Units displacing an existing
biomass system shall have their fuel class determined by the Department.
(l)
Eligible Liquid
Biofuel Suppliers List. The Department shall establish and
maintain a list of suppliers of Eligible Liquid Biofuel on its website at
www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-energy-resources.
A fuel supplier must complete and submit an application to the Department to be
included on the Department's Eligible Liquid Biofuel suppliers list. Fuel
suppliers must be registered in the Environmental Protection Agency's Renewable
Fuel Standard (RFS2),
40
CFR §§
80.1400 through 80.14.74,
and must verify that they produce biodiesel from organic waste feedstocks. Fuel
suppliers may be required to provide documentation to the Department after
being added to the list in order to demonstrate continued compliance.