Koda Energy

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and Rahr Malting formed the Koda Energy joint partnership to build and operate an innovative combined heat and power plant. The facility generates electricity and heat by burning agricultural byproducts and grown energy crops. The project gets its name from the word “Koda” which means "friend" in the Dakota Language.

Energy Solutions

Like many others across the country, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and its members are faced with growing energy demand, dependence on outside sources for that energy, and known environmental impacts associated with conventional energy sources. In response, the Community has been active in exploring local options to supply its energy needs. This focus on local options may reduce some of the environmental impacts associated with conventional energy sources. The SMSC has embarked on a plan to increase its energy independence through the development of alternative forms of energy. Most of the solutions under construction for the Community do not require extensive infrastructure, and initial investment costs are recouped over the life of the project, especially with rising conventional energy costs. Some projects have already been realized and are busy generating energy for the Community.

 

Solar Energy
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Fire Station addition completed in 2008 has incorporated efforts to utilize the free energy of the sun. Four skylights with daylight harvesting sensors light a training room and equipment bay, reducing daytime energy usage. Six solar cells capture energy to heat water for showers and vehicle washing equipment, reducing the use of natural gas.

The new Ice Center at Dakotah! Sport and Fitness has 16 solar panels to heat water for ice resurfacing equipment and eight skylights with daylight harvesting sensors. Between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays, the arena typically will not have a lot of use. By using skylights and daylight harvesting during these non-peak hours, energy consumption for lighting has been reduced by about 50%.

 

Waste Oil Recycling
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is now recycling waste oil on site. The Community’s 12 restaurants and the tribal government generate 18,000 gallons of waste vegetable oil each year. What was once considered waste is now considered an energy resource.

Waste vegetable oil is used to produce bio-diesel for use in Community vehicles. During the summer months, biodiesel can supply 100% of the required fuel; in winter months, there is a need to blend it with diesel fuel because of temperature extremes common to Minnesota. Bio-diesel produces cleaner emissions than petroleum-based diesel fuel and reduces the need to use regular diesel fuel.

Waste motor oil and vegetable oil are both being used to heat buildings. Previously, this waste oil was hauled away; but starting in 2009, some Community spaces were partially heated by waste oil. Using waste oil for heat reduces the use of natural gas.

 

Wind Turbine
This energy source has almost no environmental impact, as it is not located near a major bird or bat migratory flyway. This 1.5 megawatt wind turbine will supply nearly all of the Community residential energy demand.

The center hub stands 262.4 feet tall and is visible for miles around. The three blades are 123 feet in length and function like a propeller. Energy created by the turbine is metered as it enters a nearby electrical substation that provides electricity to the SMSC and the surrounding area. The generated energy is offset against Community energy costs.

More about the Wind Turbine

 

 

Waste Heat
Most heat produced by equipment is considered a large source of waste energy and is not utilized. The Community’s new Ice Center at Dakotah! Sport and Fitness captures waste heat from the refrigeration compressors used to cool the rink floor and uses it to heat the arena seats. By only heating the spaces where people are, there is no need to heat the entire arena, thus reducing energy consumption significantly. The two Dakotah! Sport and Fitness Ice Arenas serve as the home ice for the Prior Lake High School boys’ and girls’ hockey teams as well as the Prior Lake Savage Hockey Association.

 

Geothermal Temperature Control
Two new energy-efficient and water-efficient buildings on the reservation have a geothermal heating system for temperature control to capture heat and cooling from the ground. Geothermal wells were drilled down 180 feet to utilize the temperature of the earth, which maintains a constant 52 degrees, to help heat and cool the buildings. One of the two buildings houses the South Metro Federal Credit Union. The other is an office building for Community member-owned businesses.

 

 

Koda Energy
Koda Energy, a joint partnership of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and Rahr Malting, became operational in May 2009 as a combined heat and power plant which burns earth friendlybiomass. It is the first biomass facility in the country that burns only natural, non-manmade materials. (Others burn manmade materials along with biomass.) All natural products like oat hulls, barley malt dust, wood chips, and dry grasses areburned and that heat is turned into steam. The steam pushes a turbine to make electricity which is then sold. This renewable energy facility uses materials from within 60 miles of the plant, and it doesn’t compete with food or row crops. Koda Energy is highly efficient in terms of heat conversion compared to other types of energy, largely due to its suspension boiler.

For more information about Koda Energy Click Here.

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