Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has published the results of a feasibility study for the implementation of a wind energy storage facility at Sorne Hill Wind Farm, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
The analysis into the feasibility of using an innovative energy storage system showed how such a system could support an uninterrupted supply of wind-generated electricity to the national grid and significantly improve the efficiency of the energy produced.
The study - which was jointly funded by SEI and Tapbury Management Limited, which oversees the management of Sorne Hill Windfarm - examined the costs and benefits of integrating a battery-based power storage system with a 6MW windfarm. The purpose of the report was to determine the optimum size for such a system in order to deliver an optimum return on investment and to review the main benefits that this system would offer. The report concluded that the optimum battery is a 2MW capacity battery, delivering 6 hours of electricity storage.
Commenting on the feasibility study, David Taylor, Chief Executive, SEI, said - "Ireland possesses a wind resource that is one of the best in Western Europe. In order to exploit this, SEI is supporting the development of strategically important technologies, which will enable Ireland to use large amounts of wind power reliably. This will help Ireland reach the Government's target to have one-third of Ireland's electricity supply coming from renewable sources by 2020."
The storage technology - a Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System (VRB-ESS™) from Canadian company, VRB Power Systems Inc. - is designed to allow wind energy generated at off-peak times to be stored and supplied to the grid at a scheduled time. The energy storage system has the potential to increase the reliability of wind energy supply and, thereby, reduce the cost of providing the power reserve requirements from electricity generation plants as more windpower connects to the system.
Batteries such as these can also be used to maximise the wind intensity in rural regions by providing high-quality power output and storing temporary excess wind power for later release. In this way, increased wind penetration can be achieved more rapidly, as the cost and effort of grid upgrades are deferred.
The battery may, therefore, generate additional income for the wind farm by -
* correcting power imbalances
* providing premium power quality
* delivering an energy trading service - and
* providing grid ancillary services in the Single Electricity Market.
John Ward, Director of Tapbury Management said - "The feasibility report provides, for the first time, an initial technical and economic validation for a number of the key revenue streams that we had previously identified in relation to the integration of windpower and storage. We will now build on these assumptions to finalise the project design and implementation of the pilot scheme at Sorne Hill II - which, we hope to have operational by mid-2008."
"This study demonstrates the economic viability of our systems for wind farms, such as Sorne Hill" - stated Tim Hennessy, CEO of VRB Power Systems. "The report also highlights the need for storage in Ireland to enable the successful roll-out of wind generation from the current installed base of approximately 800MW - up to and beyond the 3,000MW currently contracted or proposed - and to deal with the intermittency and constraint issues already being experienced.
"It is estimated that at least 700MW of storage may be required across Ireland. This sale will provide us with a 'blue-print' to execute on similar opportunities in Ireland and worldwide" - concluded Hennessy.
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Our global dependence on fossil fuels and our urgent attempts to free ourselves from this dependence have revealed a significant deficiency in our current energy generation and supporting infrastructure. We are making great strides in the energy generation field with a nuclear renaissance on the horizon and the emergence of new and innovative ‘green’ technologies; nonetheless, these gains are offset by the inefficiencies inherent in our infrastructure. Unless we invest in and develop our capabilities to store efficiently the energy that we are producing, we are only going to add to the problem. We need a cost-effective, reliable and efficient energy storage platform to 1) transfer energy into, 2) store the energy, and 3) release it when needed. If this ideal platform existed today we would be much closer to true energy independence. The consequence of such a break-through in energy storage technology would truly change the face of the globe and help us realize our dreams.
In order to gain a better perspective on what a universally desirable energy storage device should comprise, we should look at each of the processes above. This may be an overly simplistic view of energy storage, but it does provide insight into what we are up against. Of the three processes, numbers 1) and 3) are the biggest culprits when it comes to wasting the energy we are trying to conserve. These losses are repetitive and additive and are a consequence of the inability of the energy storage device readily to accept energy and its reluctance to release it when needed. For example, if you take an ordinary lead acid battery, the amount of energy required to recharge it is always greater than what is actually stored, and you can never get as much out of it as it can store. These inherent short-comings have been accepted in the industry and design philosophies have followed suit. The industry as a whole has adopted a design philosophy that compensates for energy storage device inadequacies rather than trying to fix the problem. In other words, the industry accepts the energy storage device ‘as-is’ and then designs its systems to work around the problem. This line of thinking is wrong and it is not an acceptable approach for those interested in energy conservation. AGT has identified, and is targeting the root cause for these energy losses by attacking it at the most fundamental level.
AGT’s patent-pending technologies (protections held in the US, Canada and Europe) offer customized Ultrasonic Energy Efficiency Improvement (UEEI) solutions for all battery based applications. AGT uses high-frequency, low-level ultrasonic energy to alter the electro-chemical conversion process within the energy storage device. Specifically, the ultrasonic signal is tailored to enhance the energy storage devices internal electro-chemical diffusion characteristics. By doing so, the energy losses (waste) associated with this limiting characteristic during the transfer of energy to and from the energy storage device are significantly reduced. AGT recaptures the wasted energy and uses it for its intended function. Until now, this energy storage device characteristic was considered fixed and dependent on the chemical make-up of the energy storage device—AGT recognized that it is also dependent on the influence of ultrasonic energy. Thus, the energy storage device becomes an integral part of the solution, an active and controllable component of the system, rather than part of the problem. AGT is not settling for the energy storage device in its manufactured (as-is) form; we take a commercial product, we modify it, and we control it to fit our application.
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Benefits of AGT’s Patent-Pending Technology and Process
• The size of a battery pack can be greatly reduced, to 1/3 of 1/2 of its original size
• Higher peak currents are available during discharge (power), up to 3X greater
• Faster charge times to 100% State of Charge (SoC), as much as 5X faster
• It will last 5-10 times longer, sharply reducing the need for battery pack replacement
• Its charge acceptance at lower currents is significantly increased (Solar)
• Its internal impedance can be adjusted to compensate for less than ideal wind speeds (Wind)
• The level of control is limitless and it is real-time, thereby allowing for compensation for load changes, environmental changes, etc
• The level of control can be altered via customized software solutions: A programmable battery pack
• Less weight compliments the plug-in hybrid initiative (40 miles on single charge)
• Lowered impact on the environment, fewer batteries being discarded
• Less gassing and at lower charging potentials, less sensitive to the cold (Fork-Lift)
• Industrial and residential applications
• Truly revolutionize energy storage without disrupting current production and distribution channels
• Cost effective and scalable solutions for energy storage worldwide
If we truly want to minimize or eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels and move toward a ‘green’ environment, we are going to have to change the way we think about energy storage. AGT has dedicated itself to solving these problems and will pave the way for others to follow. The gains achievable with the application of AGT technology are boundless.
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