6 minute read
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
by ETNews
Energy Storage Fluence on June 16 announced LS Power, sPower, and Siemens, and major power suppliers and industries Fluence Operating System (OS): Built on a decade of digital the launch of its have already committed to deploy control system development, the sixth-generation Fluence’s sixth-generation technology fully integrated operating platform energy storage in Asia Pacific, North America, and combines comprehensive controls, technology stack combining factoryEurope. system visibility, and asset built hardware, advanced software, and Fluence sixth-generation technology management to improve asset data-driven intelligence. stack creates the foundation for three performance at a single site or across
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The company which is a result of purpose-built systems, Gridstack, entire fleets. two pioneers in the energy storage Sunstack, and Edgestack, that Fluence Cube: The factoryfield coming together, Siemens and are configured for grid, renewable assembled building block is 4-5x more AES, has already secured orders for and commercial & industrial (C&I) modular than traditional systems and 800 MW, 2300 MWh of projects using applications, respectively, while easily incorporates the latest technologies the new technology. Fluence already addressing the need for larger systems for rapid installation and scale, is the popular choice for customers in and larger fleets of systems. consistent operations & maintenance, the renewables industry such as Enel, According to the company, the sixthand improved quality control. generation energy storage technology Fluence over the years has includes three components: reduced the total cost of energy Fluence IQ: Digital intelligence storage systems by 90 percent and engines use data and machine learning the new technology stack "focuses to improve system decision-making, on driving down the non-battery costs Fluence’s sixth-generation energy storage manage battery degradation, reduce of energy storage systems by up to technology built for Gridstack. operating costs, and optimize energy 25 percent" addressing the need for Source: Fluence market dispatch. larger systems” company claimed.
Form Energy secures its first utility deal: to deploy 1MW/150 MWh energy storage technology
Form Energy, the Bill Gates backed startup which is working on creating a new class of batteries that would provide long-duration storage at ultra-low-cost has secured its first utility deal for novel super-long duration energy storage technology.
The Massachusetts-based startup signed a contract with Minnesota utility Great River Energy to jointly deploy a 1MW/150 MWh pilot project which will come up in Cambridge, Minnesota. Minnesota utility Great River Energy on May 7 confirmed that it will pilot Form’s technology – an 'aqueous air' battery system. Form Energy’s battery system is a significant leap as it delivers 1 MW of power for 150 hours — significantly huge over the Li-ion batteries currently in use at most grid-scale storage projects lasting for about two-to-four hours max. "A true low-cost, long-duration energy storage solution that can sustain output for days, would fill gaps in wind and solar energy production that would otherwise require firing up a fossil-fueled power plant. A technology like that could make a reliable, affordable 100 percent renewable electricity system a real possibility," said Jesse Jenkins, an assistant professor at Princeton University who studies low-carbon energy systems engineering.
Amara Raja partners with Gridtential Energy for bipolar battery technology
Amara Raja Batteries Ltd, one of the leading industrial and automotive battery manufacturers, has entered a formal agreement with Gridtential Energy to collaborate on bipolar battery technology on June 1.
As per the technology evaluation agreement, Amara Raja Batteries and Gridtential Energy will assemble and test Silicon Joule bipolar reference batteries (invented by Gridtential Energy) using Amara Raja's active material to determine improvements in cycle life, energy density, battery efficiency, charging rates and manufacturability.
According to the statement released by the two companies, Silicon Joule bipolar technology enables an innovative class of advanced lead batteries with silicon at its core. It is a design-driven, low-cost, high-performance, patented energy storage solution that provides improved power density, cycle life, dynamic charge acceptance, and wider temperature range, with up to 40 percent lower weight, while retaining full lead-battery recyclability. Gridtential Energy offers non-exclusive licenses for Silicon Joule technology, enabling manufacturing partners to easily adapt their factories to provide high performing, higher voltage 24V and 48V batteries to their customers for the hybridautomotive, low-speed electric vehicles, energy storage system and home back-up markets – all without giga-scale capital investments.
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Lithium, cobalt production to soar as demand for clean energy increases: World Bank
The latest World Bank report states that production of minerals like graphite, lithium and cobalt could increase by nearly 500 per cent by 2050 to meet the growing demand for clean energy technologies.
An estimated three billion tonnes (3,306,933,932 tons) of minerals and metals will be needed to deploy wind, solar and geothermal power as well as energy storage required for achieving a below two degrees celsius future.
The report 'Minerals for Climate Action: The Mineral Intensity of the Clean Energy Transition' also finds that even though clean energy technologies will require more minerals, the carbon footprint of their production -- from extraction to end-use -- will account for only six per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by fossil fuel technologies.
The report underscores the important role that recycling, and reuse of minerals will play in meeting increased mineral demand. It also notes that even if we scale up recycling rates for minerals like copper and aluminum by 100 per cent, recycling and reuse will still not be enough to meet the demand for renewable energy technologies and energy storage.
In the current global context, COVID-19 is causing major disruptions in the mining industry across the world. In addition, developing countries that rely on minerals are missing out on essential fiscal revenues and, as their economies start to reopen, they will need to strengthen their commitment to climate-smart mining principles and mitigate any negative impacts.
The report states some minerals like copper and molybdenum will be used in a range of technologies while others like graphite and lithium may be needed for just one technology: battery storage. This means that any changes in clean energy technology deployments can have significant consequences on demand for certain minerals.
Leading French RE producer Neoen to construct Australia’s largest solar farm
Renewable Energy
Leading French renewable energy producer Neoen announced that it has signed 352 megawatts photovoltaic (MWp) capacity PPA with CleanCo Queensland in one of Australia’s “most substantial renewable energy agreement to date.”
As per the statement released by Neoen, the landmark contract will enable Neoen to build Australia's largest solar farm, the 460- to-480 MWp Western Downs Green Power Hub near Chinchilla in southeast Queensland, and bring in clean energy into Powerlink Queensland's transmission network.
CleanCo, is Queensland’s publicly owned clean energy company that works towards making electricity affordable, contributes towards achieving Queensland’s target of 50 percent renewable by 2030 and helps create new investment and jobs in Queensland.
With this agreement, Neoen confirms its status as Australia’s leading independent producer of renewable energy. Image for representation only The construction of the project is expected to begin by July 2020 and energy generation from the solar farm is scheduled to start by the first quarter of 2022.
Sterling & Wilson Solar commissions its first solar PV project in Oman
Sterling & Wilson Solar Limited (SWSL), one of the leading Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) provider announced the commission of operations of its first solar PV project in Oman on June 2.
With this project, Sterling & Wilson Solar has become the first Indian company to commission a solar PV project in this region.
According to the company, Sterling & Wilson Solar received the order from Amin Renewable Energy Company SAOC.
The Amin Solar PV project, with an installed capacity of 125 MW (DC), will be Oman’s first renewables-based Independent Power Project (IPP) and the biggest single-unit solar park in the world to use bifacial modules, which generate less heat and can withstand the desert’s temperature fluctuations.
Sterling and Wilson Solar has about 9.2 GWp projects commissioned around the world. This portfolio includes a 1,177 MWp solar project Image for representation only in Abu Dhabi, which is one of the world’s largest single-location solar PV plants. The company also manages a portfolio of 7.4 GWp of O&M projects globally.
