St. Ansgar has secured its spot as the first school district in Iowa to approve the use of biomass energy to heat its facilities. The vote met unanimous support from school board members during a meeting Wednesday, May 15th. The decision simultaneously puts the St. Ansgar school district at the forefront for the use of alternative biomass fuels in public schools on a nationwide level.

“Biomass energy” refers to the use of organic solid materials to create energy. Biomass differs from biofuels in that it does not require the conversion of the organic matter to a liquid form in order to be utilized as an energy supply. The heating system will utilize a process called “vertically integrated gasification,” which will allow oat hulls in a solid, unprocessed state to act as the fuel supply, effectively eliminating the school’s use of natural gas.

Renew Energy Systems, of Osage, IA will own the unit, and provide heat to the school during the winter and to the municipal swimming pool during summer months. Steve Smith, managing partner at Renew, made a proposal that involves a sliding scale with pricing loaded on the front end to cover the cost of the unit. The proposal received wide support from board members and parents alike considering its approval will result in significant energy savings over the next several years. The new biomass system is expected to be up and running as early as mid-summer 2008.

The biomass system is one of many models offered by Alternative Energy Solutions, of Wichita, Kansas. According to the president of Alternative Energy Solutions, Gary Ridout, “This is an excellent example of how renewable energy can translate to savings. St. Ansgar has taken a bold and informed step that will serve as an example to schools and businesses across the country. They’re making a statement- ‘Biomass is here- and it works.'”

Oat Hulls To Energy
St. Ansgar’s biomass system is slated to run on oat hulls, a byproduct of a local grain processor. The oat hulls were selected because of their near limitless availability as a byproduct of local ongoing manufacturing operations, as well as their excellent performance as a feedstock for the boiler system. “Usually, when people talk about using biomass in the U.S, they are using wood,” said Smith, “The systems we offer give our customers a wide range of fuel options. We view fuel versatility as a must, because, as the biomass market evolves, our clients are going to need a wide range of biomass options to keep fuel prices as low as possible.”

The boiler system’s ability to accept a wide range of fuels, according to Ridout, is unique, and the result of engineering and experience. Throughout the course of the meeting, AES and Renew Energy Systems provided information that attested to the reliability of the technology. “The systems offered by AES have been widely utilized in Europe for over 50 years.” commented Ridout, “While biomass energy is a relatively new concept to the U.S, it doesn’t mean the technology is a prototype. There are literally thousands of these running all across the world.”

An Educational Opportunity
The prospect of having an advanced green energy system at an educational facility was of great interest to key decision makers. Scott Dryer, Principal at St. Ansgar High School stated, “I am very interested in the idea that this system is going to allow students in various classes to study how the system works.” It is expected that the system will also provide educational value for agricultural studies. “I enjoy the fact that our agricultural classes can use the ash products (of the biomass boiler) as fertilizer in project work.”

“A Sign Of Things To Come”
St. Ansgar’s decision to switch from fossil fuel heating to biomass will not only save money, but will reduce the carbon footprint of the school because it is fueled by an organic waste material instead of natural gas. “Many people believe that ‘going green’ means ‘expensive’- but if you look at the long term including energy costs, our customers realize substantial savings,” said Smith.

Renew Energy Systems and Alternative Energy Solutions maintain a partnership that focuses on making biomass technology and biomass fuel a realistic option for schools, businesses, government buildings and heavy industry. “This is a sign of things to come,” explained Ridout, “St. Ansgar has the vision to be an early adopter of this technology in the U.S. The rest of the country will follow close behind as people look for clean, cost effective alternatives to fossil fuels.”

Principal Dryer summarized his feelings on the new system, “All schools, all families are looking for a way to save money and be environmentally friendly. I like the fact that we are be able to accomplish this, as well as create an opportunity to educate our students.”

Contact AESI and start saving on energy costs! Power the light bulb to begin.