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Issue 2 | 2013
Business & market strategies for energy storage & smart grid technologies
ENERGY BANK
How US utilities SCE & Duke Energy are putting grid storage to the test WIND INSTRUMENT Power-to-gas technology for renewables examined
SECOND LIFE EV batteries deployed in stationary storage systems
BREAKING IT DOWN Applications for largecapacity electrical energy storage (EES) www.energystoragejournal.com
‘The article looks at how the frequency response market, facilitated by FERC’s “Pay for Performance” rule, is creating a demand for high performance, fast-ramping energy storage systems in the US.’
EDITOR’s message
STORAGE ON THE GRID EnergyStorageJournal Business and market strategies for energy storage and smart grid technologies EnergyStorageJournal is a quarterly publication www.energystoragejournal.com Views expressed in EnergyStorageJournal are the authors’ and not necessarily those of IPVEA Published by International PV Equipment Association (IPVEA) P.O. Box 1610, D-63406, Hanau, Germany Registration Number: Court Hanau VR 31714 Tel: +1 407 856 9100 www.ipvea.org Publisher Bryan Ekus Publisher and Managing Director International PV Equipment Association ekus@ipvea.com Editor Sara Ver-Bruggen sara@ipvea.com Advertising Tel: +1 631 673 0072 (office) Michael Mitchell (michael@ipvea.us) Cell: +1 516 593 3910 Charlotte Alexandra (charlotte@ipvea.us) Cell: +1 516 205 5197 Design Doubletake Design Ltd. (UK) darren@doubletakedesign.co.uk © 2013 International Photovoltaic Equipment Association (IPVEA) Every effort has been to ensure that all the information in this publication is correct, the publisher will accept no responsibility for any errors, or opinion expressed, or omissions, for any loss or damage, cosequential or otherwise, suffered as a result of any material published. Any warranty to the correctness and actuality can not be assumed. IPVEA reserves the right to make changes or additions to the information made available at any time without notice. © 2012 International Photovoltaic Equipment Association. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or part, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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n the inaugural issue of Energy Storage Journal we published a comprehensive overview of AB 2514, the legislation paving the way for energy storage adoption in the state of California, in the US.
In this issue, we follow up with an in-depth look at some of the larger on-grid energy storage projects that are being implemented across America. Utilities and energy storage integrators and systems providers discuss how storage can be used to overcome various challenges posed by integration of renewables into the grid. The article looks at how the frequency response market, facilitated by FERC’s ‘Pay for Performance’ rule, is creating a demand for high-performance, fast-ramping energy storage systems in the US. As many of you will be aware, integration of electricity into the grid that has been generated by large, multi-MW solar and wind farms typically requires energy storage, but this can entail different requirements from batteries and other storage devices. This issue includes a summary of a recent IEC whitepaper that clearly explains different storage categories in terms of energy versus power density, discharge timeframes and different roles of energy storage, whether it is grid-, demand- or generation-side. As well as providing a comprehensive news round-up with the main global energy storage headlines of recent weeks, ESJ will keep you up to speed in terms of latest energy storage R&D projects and initiatives. This issue you can read an in-depth analysis of one of the key news announcements in recent months – how power-to-gas (P2G) technology designed for renewable energy generation is moving from the lab and into the demonstration phase. Issue two also includes a feature that explores growing efforts to establish a market for out-of-warranty and used electric vehicle batteries for stationary storage. And for those of you looking for a comprehensive induction into energy storage technologies and markets, and their relevance to renewables such as solar PV, we have included an exclusive executive summary of a new report by EuPD Research.
Sara Ver-Bruggen Editor
March/ 13 | Issue 2 | ENERGYSTORAGEJOURNAL
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EnergyStorageJournal Energy Storage Journal (business and market strategies for energy storage and smart grid technologies) is a new quarterly B2B publication that covers global news, trends and developments in energy storage and smart grid markets. Worldwide growth in renewable energy generation capacity, electricity-powered transportation and fastgrowing cities in developing economies will drive exponential growth in energy storage and smart grid technologies, products and applications in the coming years. ESJ is a key source of information to enable your business or organisation to keep track of these dynamic industries and the multitude of new opportunities they present.
Target readership Renewables energy industry (executives from solar PV, CSP, wind, biomass etc.)
Energy utilities and grid owners Distributed network operators
Each issue includes Global news round-up Exclusive in depth features on new and
High performance and advanced battery manufacturers (lead acid, lithium, ion flow, ZEBRA etc)
Fuel cell and electrolyzer producers
promising energy storage applications and
Suppliers of flywheel, thermal and other storage
technologies
technologies and systems
Case studies of advances in energy storage production to bring high performance, costeffective energy storage products to market
Analysis and forecasts on different energy storage markets and technologies from leading consultants and experts in the field
Examination of policy around the world that is enabling investment and growth in energy storage and smart grid technologies
Updated events calendar
www.energystoragejournal.com
Suppliers of energy storage management and control systems
Automotive manufacturers Producers of equipment and materials used for energy storage production
Policy makers and shapers Universities and research institutes Consultants and analysts Venture capitalists and other investors Associations and alliances representing energy storage, renewables & conventional energy sectors
To discuss how your organisation can work with EnergyStorageJournal contact the Publisher and Managing Director Bryan Ekus by email: ekus@ipvea.com For advertising opportunities, contact: Michael Mitchell, Tel: +1 631 673 0072 / Cell: +1 516 593 3910 / michael@ipvea.us Charlotte Alexandra, Tel: +1 631 673 0072 / Cell: +1 516 205 5197 / charlotte@ipvea.us
inside 4 NEWS Latest deals, projects and announcements from the global energy storage and smart grid market
10 NEWS ANALYSIS Efforts to bring to market innovative power-to-gas (P2G) technology for renewables generation
14 ON THE RADAR
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Argonne ‘Nat Lab’ leads US energy storage R&D initiative and European consortium develops zinc-air battery technology for utility market
18 MARKET ANALYSIS Executive summary of EuPD Research’s new energy storage report, exclusive to ESJ
24 COVER STORY Advanced battery technologies for the utility-scale energy storage market in the US
32 FEATURE Exploring secondary applications and market opportunities for EV batteries in stationary storage applications
39 FEATURE Applications for large-capacity electrical energy storage (ESS) to support renewable energy integration
44 TECHNOLOGY FOCUS Advanced battery technologies for utility-scale energy storage applications
48 EVENTS Details of conferences, exhibitions and seminars in the energy storage and smart grid calendar
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energy storage news
Turin, Italy
ABB launches combined charging system (CCS) for EV market
ROUND-UP OF KEY DEALS, PROJECTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE GLOBAL ENERGY STORAGE MARKET
New combined charging system (CCS) fast chargers from ABB combine industry standardisation with fast charging convenience to support next generation of EVs. ABB, a leading power and automation technology group, today supports the new CCS standard for electrical vehicles (EV) with the expansion of its EV fast charging product portfolio to include additional functionality and multi-standard support. The new multi-standard functionality will be available in Europe in Q2 2013 and will include a special CCS version for car dealerships, followed by a targeted launch in the US in the second half of 2013. The expansion of the ABB fast charging
portfolio brings together European standardisation and fast charging technology reducing infrastructure complexity and dramatically improving charging compatibility across all EV brands. ‘ABB’s expanded portfolio enhanced with its cloud-based connectivity services is a natural solution for EV infrastructure providers to effortlessly incorporate any charging standard – be it CCS or CHAdeMO – into their charging network without absorbing the high costs of
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software integration and testing’, says Hans Streng, head of ABB’s product group EV charging infrastructure, a part of the company’s discrete automation and motion division. ABB was the first company to demonstrate a working prototype of the CCS standard at EV26 in Los Angeles and at eCarTec in Munich in 2012. ABB’s EV fast charging portfolio for the charge-and-go segment will continue to feature the Terra 51 CHAdeMO fast charging station, as well as a single port 50 kW CCS fast charging station and the 50 kW multi-standard CHAdeMO & CCS station, optionally equipped with fast alternating current (AC) outlet. A 20 kW variant will be launched in both single CCS and multistandard outlets later this year as a logical addition to the current CHAdeMO 20 kW station for offices and retail locations. CCS is a global open standard adopted by European and North American leading automotive manufacturers. The new CCS capable fast chargers are part of the wider interoperability testing programs for all next generation electric vehicles and are designed to significantly improve user experience by providing EV drivers with increased assurance surrounding charging availability and convenience. All chargers in the portfolio will continue to be supported by ABB’s cloud-based charging management platform enabling remote management and extensive interfacing with any available payment method charging service provider network or smart grid system.
The company is leasing space within a large existing facility in the East Huntingdon Township from the Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania. As part of a first phase manufacturing commitment at this site, Aquion aims to create over 400 high-tech manufacturing jobs by the end of 2015. Initially the firm is targeting microgrid and off-grid markets worldwide with its technology, including backup power applications. Later this year, Aquion plans to move into high-volume production in anticipation of supplying the utility energy storage market in 2014. In June 2012, Aquion completed testing and demonstration requirements for a Department of Energy (DoE) grant programme with its low cost, grid-scale, ambient energy storage device. The testing demonstrated a grid-connected, high voltage, 13.5 kWh system with a 4-hour discharge. Additionally, testing characterised the energy storage capacity of the units, the response to various signals, compliance with utility interconnection standards, battery and power conversion system efficiency, and effectiveness under various cycles typical of the applications being validated.
Aquion Energy’s battery, which can be stacked up Source: Aquion Energy
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Aquion was spun out of Carnegie Mellon University in 2009 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh. The battery is based on a propriety aqueous hybrid ion (AHI) chemistry, to provide superior life, safety, durability, and low system costs.
US start-up Aquion Energy recently began pilot manufacturing of its batteries on a line in Pennsylvania. The batteries will be sampled to Aquion’s partners and potential customers for demonstration projects and evaluations.
DoD awards Primus Power energy storage demonstration contract Primus Power, a developer of multi-MW energy storage technology, is to supply an energy storage system for a microgrid at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in Miramar, California. Raytheon’s Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) business awarded the contract to California-headquartered Primus Power in January 2013. Primus will work closely with Raytheon to supply the ‘zinc bromide flow battery installation for islanding and backup power’ project, funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESCTP). At MCAS Miramar a 250 kW, 1 MWh EnergyPod storage system, supplied by Primus Power, will be integrated with an existing 230 kW photovoltaic (PV) system. The EnergyPods incorporate Primus’ zinc-flow batteries. The combined microgrid system will demonstrate several capabilities including reducing peak electrical demand typically experienced in weekday afternoons and providing power to critical military systems when grid power is not available. MCAS Miramar is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Dependable power is essential to the unit’s operation.
www.abb.com
Aquion begins pilot production of advanced batteries
Hayward, California, US
www.aquionenergy.com
The project is part of wider DoD plans to install microgrids at stationary bases to sustain operations independent of what is happening on the larger utility grid. A microgrid is a self-contained electrical grid comprised of energy generation, distribution, storage and loads all managed by an automated control system on a remote or secure location. Energy storage systems can be used to integrate intermittent solar and wind energy into a small grid.
www.primuspower.com www.raytheon.com
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energy storage news Port Washington, New York, US
Watt Fuel Cell signs strategic licensing and supply agreement with Parker Hannifin In January 2013 Watt Fuel Cell, a developer of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems, signed a licensing and supply agreement with Parker Hannifin, a supplier of motion and control technologies. Under the agreement, Parker Hannifin’s energy systems business will produce a family of propane-driven SOFC-based products for several markets, including residential. Watt Fuel Cell, in New York state, was set up in 2011 to commercialise advanced SOFCs. The tubular structured cells have good thermal cycling properties making them suitable for providing backup power. Commercial market applications include portable power, such as emergency backup power for municipal and first aid. The company is also investigating residential and distributed grid (DG) applications, for example where fuel cell systems are integrated into new home builds with a micro-combined heat and power (CHP) unit. The SOFCs operate on the fuels already being supplied to the home, including natural gas, propane and kerosene. Watt Fuel Cell, which has access to an extensive patent portfolio, has spent the past two years developing a scalable production process. In December 2012 the New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded the firm a $100,000 (€75,000) six-month grant to assess the energy savings associated with the company’s automated production process for making the SOFCs. Watt Fuel Cell is scaling up a stack production process to prepare for initial rollouts and product sampling during 2013, having completed system testing on a 500 W propane-powered unit. Parker Hannifin will make the SOFC systems available to OEMs in order to gain feedback ahead of market launch and is also handling certification and UL
procedures, ready for meeting commercial order volumes in late 2013 and 2014. Watt Fuel Cell is also working with a partner on military applications, which should be announced shortly. Like batteries, SOFCs cover a broad technology base. Company president Dr Caine Finnerty explains: ‘Planar SOFC technologies are suitable for 100 kW type applications, as stacking the plates is a relatively easy way to scale up size. At the other end SOFC technology is proving suitable for really small chargertype applications. Ours ranges from about 250 W up to 2 kW, and potentially 3 kW; a power range that has great residential potential,’ says Finnerty. The company’s SOFC systems will be price compatible with existing storage technologies when they begin to hit the market in around 12 months from now, says Finnerty. With annual sales exceeding $13 billion in fiscal year 2012, Parker Hannifin is the world’s leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems.
www.wattfuelcell.com www.parker.com
Turin, Italy Michigan, US
Electro Power Systems expands into US market with hydrogen storage system Italian energy storage developer and supplier Electro Power Systems (EPS) has entered the US market with its portable fuel cell storage system. The company will supply its technology through US distributor VP Energy. The companies signed an exclusive manufacturing, operations and distribution agreement in January 2013. The agreement builds on earlier sales. EPS has developed a robust, selfcontained, autonomous recharging fuel cell and management system, ElectroSelf, to provide clean and efficient energy
The ElectroSelf system produces its own fuel in the form of hydrogen, from water. It stores energy from the grid or renewables excess and releases energy when there is a power dip or outage. Source: ESP
storage. The system produces its own fuel in the form of hydrogen, from water, using alkaline cell technology. The deal with ESP will enable VP Energy, an automotive industry supplier, to expand its energy storage business. In Italy, ESP has the capacity to produce at least a thousand units annually. The ElectroSelf system will also be assembled in the US, under the agreement with VP Energy. ESP informed ESJ that it is ready to begin scaling production in 2013 depending on market demand. ElectroSelf stores energy from the grid or renewables excess and releases energy when there is a power dip or outage. This enables the system to minimise the mismatch in energy production and consumption. EPS, founded in 2005, is targeting back-up power applications in several markets with its storage systems, including telecommunications, utilities, businesses, institutions and governments as well as smart-grid and off-grid opportunities, including renewables extension and optimisation. Key markets EPS supplies include Europe and Scandinavia, North America, India, China and parts of Africa. The company is the only supplier in the world with a full product family of 1.5, 3, 6 and 12 kW fuel cell systems which are commercially available and CE-certified (EU), CSAcertified (USA) or CTTL-certified (China).
www.electropowersystems.com www.vpenergy.com
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Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, US Seoul, South Korea
ZBB Energy ships storage system to South Korea US supplier of energy storage systems ZBB Energy has shipped its energy storage system to a partner in Asia-Pacific. The ZBB EnerSystem, ordered by Lotte Chemical in South Korea, incorporates ZBB’s flow batteries and its power and control electronics. The Wisconsin-headquartered company is working with Lotte Chemical to distribute its products in Asia-Pacific markets. The unit shipped is a lab system that will allow Lotte Chemical to continue gaining knowledge at the system level and demonstrate the products to potential customers. ZBB Energy designs, develops, and manufactures energy storage, power electronic systems and engineered custom and semi-custom products targeted at the growing global demand for distributed renewable energy, energy efficiency, power quality, and grid modernisation. ZBB and its power electronics subsidiary, Tier Electronics, have developed a portfolio of integrated power management platforms that combine power and energy controls and energy storage to optimize renewable energy sources and conventional power inputs in on-grid and off-grid applications.
www.zbbenergy.com
Ecamion Inc is leading the project and has designed and integrated the storage system to include thermal management communications and control. Dow Kokam has developed the lithium-polymer nickel manganese cobalt cells and battery chemistry. The University of Toronto is managing the control, protection and power management technology, including algorithms to enable an intelligent system. Funding is provided by the consortium partners and Sustainable Development Technology Canada. Toronto’s infrastructure is aging, including the electrical assets that power the city. Much of this infrastructure was installed between the 1940s and 1960s. As the city continues to grow, the use of storage can improve power quality, keep voltage levels constant, facilitate integration of renewable generation assets, and electric vehicles and defer capital work or grid upgrades. In community energy storage (CES), batteries installed at the customer level offer more direct benefit in reliable electrical supply. The compact unit will provide 250 kWh of storage. Three of the battery cells can power a fridge for one hour. The cells are placed in Ecamion battery modules. The CES system at the Roding Arena and Community Centre is comprised of 48 battery modules. Fully charged the CES system could provide electricity to a typical community centre, a light industrial complex or small residential street. In future, the storage unit can be used to help alleviate stress on the grid during peak times and also provide power to
Toronto, Canada
Toronto Hydro launches community energy storage project A consortium in Canada has established a community energy storage project to enable utility partner Toronto Hydro to evaluate the benefits of energy storage for the electricity grid. The project, announced earlier this year, is located at the Roding Arena and Community Centre in North York.
At the control panel of the community energy storage unit, Leo Canale, technical director at eCamion, does some preliminary tests. With 48 battery modules, the unit is capable of powering a small street for one hour. Toronto Hydro plans to monitor this technology, and validate its benefits to Toronto’s electrical grid. Source: CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation
connected homes in the event of a power interruption from the station. The CES system is also equipped to monitor grid conditions and respond appropriately by taking in electricity during off-peak times, or releasing energy if needed. ‘An opportunity like this comes once every 40 years. Toronto Hydro’s distribution grid is facing a number of challenges and community energy storage can address some of these challenges instead of developing one solution per problem,’ says Ivano Labricciosa, vice president of asset management, Toronto Hydro.
www.torontohydro.com www.ecamion.com www.youtube.com/watch?v=66r9LrUFbow
Charlotte, North Carolina and Austin, Texas, US
Notrees energy storage project starts up An energy storage unit for a wind farm in western Texas came online in January. The system, supplied by Xtreme Power, is part of Duke Energy’s 153 MW Notrees wind power project. The integrated facility at Notrees provides both environmentally friendly and flexible capacity to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the electrical grid in Texas and manages 75% of the state’s deregulated market. The 36 MW battery storage system is capable of deploying fast-acting reserves to support ERCOT grid reliability and helping the independent system operator (ISO) maintain supply and demand balance with near-instantaneous feedback of frequency changes or other unexpected events. In addition to other energy management services, the storage unit supports wind farm performance as it can absorb power from the wind farm during times of low demand or high curtailment and release power when it is most beneficial to the market.
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energy storage news Xtreme Power’s innovative control system, XACT, will manage real-time performance and response of the system in response to site and grid conditions. In another recent deal Xtreme Power is supplying an energy storage system for a wind project in Illinois in the US. The energy storage installation, for Invenergy’s Grand Ridge wind project site, will supply clean renewable power to the new frequency response market administered by regional transmission group PJM. Efficient frequency regulation is vital for PJM’s grid reliability. Xtreme Power’s 1.5 MW Regulation Power Management system will use long-life lithium-titanate battery technology and an automatic gain control (AGC) signal to provide instantaneous energy delivery, enabling Invenergy to help balance supply and demand. Founded in November 2004, Xtreme Power designs, engineers, installs, and monitors integrated energy storage and power management systems for independent power producers (IPP), transmission and distribution (T&D) utilities and commercial and industrial end users. Xtreme Power has exclusive arrangements with large battery makers, using batteries suitable for different energy storage applications, which can be integrated with its energy storage management systems.
www.duke-energy.com www.xtremepower.com www.invenergyllc.com
Bielefeld, Germany
Gildemeister Energy Solutions receives storage and solar orders worth € 29.2 million Bielefeld-based Gildemeister received orders worth € 29.2 million for renewable energy production and storage projects in Europe in December 2012. In the field of energy storage technology, Gildemeister will supply a vanadium redox flow battery for the SmartRegion Pellworm
project of the energy supplier Eon. With a capacity of 1.6 MWh, the CellCube stores energy from wind power and solar installations. The renewable energy is fed, according to consumption, into the regional electricity grid and ensures a selfsufficient base load supply for the third largest island in the Schleswig Holstein Wattenmeer national park.
the District of Delaware for the sale of most of its assets to Wanxiang America Corporation, part of China’s Wanxiang Group, for $256.6 million (€192 million). Wanxiang, which is China’s largest automotive parts maker, is seeking to buy most of A123’s assets including its automotive, energy-grid and commercial businesses.
The solar projects include a 6.5 MW solar farm in Italy and an 8 MW solar park; Romania’s first. A second project will be set up west of the capital.
A123, in Massachusetts, listed assets of $459.8 million and debt of $376 million as of 31 August in court documents. The sale is subject certain closing conditions, including approval from the Committee for Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
http://ag.gildemeister.com
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US Waltham, Massachusetts, US Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China
Johnson Controls files appeal of A123 bankruptcy sale On 17 December 2012 Johnson Controls filed an appeal in bankruptcy court concerning the sale order approving Wanxiang’s purchase of A123 Systems on 11 December 2012. Johnson Controls is appealing the sale order to obtain a breakup fee and expense reimbursement to which it is entitled under that agreement and which were previously approved by the bankruptcy court. A123 was directed to place the breakup fee and expense reimbursement in escrow after A123’s creditors’ committee suggested to the court that Johnson Controls was lobbying against the sale of A123 to Wanxiang. Earlier in 2012 Wanxiang failed to acquire A123 earlier prior to bankruptcy. Johnson Controls has challenged the sale on the grounds that national security questions tied to the core technology used in all of A123’s businesses represent a risk to the sale which cannot be dismissed until resolved by the government review process. On 11 December A123 received approval from United States Bankruptcy Court for
Excluded from the asset purchase agreement with Wanxiang is A123’s Michigan-based government business, including all US military contracts, which would be acquired for $2.25 million by Navitas Systems through a separate asset purchase agreement. In January 2013 it was reported in the Financial Times that Wanxiang is working on a strategy to overcome attempts to block its acquisition. The company is looking to set up an independent trust to purchase the commercial business assets of A123 Systems. Wanxiang would then buy the assets from the holding trust. Such an arrangement would need the approval of CFIUS. A123 Systems develops and produces lithium-ion batteries and energy storage systems for transportation, electric grid and commercial applications. The company’s proprietary Nanophosphate technology uses nanoscale materials developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
www.wanxiang.com www.johnsoncontrols.com www.a123systems.com
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Detroit, Michigan and Raleigh, North Carolina, US
General Motors (GM) and ABB demonstrate Chevrolet Volt battery reuse for home energy storage GM and ABB have demonstrated a potential reuse application for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The uninterruptable power supply and grid power balancing system was demonstrated by repackaging five used Chevrolet Volt batteries into a modular unit capable of providing two hours of electricity for the equivalent of a small number of homes. The prototype unit provides 25 kW of power and 50 kWh of energy. This year Duke Energy will test the repackaged Chevrolet Volt batteries on a part of its grid to pilot the technology in a project with GM and ABB. ‘GM’s battery development extends throughout the entire life of the battery, including secondary use,’ says Pablo Valencia, GM senior manager of battery lifecycle management. ‘In many cases, when an EV battery has reached the end of its life in an automotive application, only 30% or less of its life has been used. This leaves a tremendous amount of life that can be applied to other applications like powering a structure before the battery is recycled.’ GM is exploring, with various partners, different applications for reusing advanced EV batteries and market requirements for used EV batteries in secondary applications. Back in 2011 GM and ABB demonstrated how a Chevrolet Volt battery pack could be used to collect energy and feed it back to the grid and deliver supplemental power to homes or businesses. During the November demonstration, the energy storage system was run in a remote power back-up mode where 100% of the power for the facility came from Volt batteries through ABB’s energy storage
inverter system. A similar application could one day be used to power a group of homes or small commercial buildings during a power outage, allow for storage of power during inexpensive periods for use during expensive peak demand, or help make up for gaps in solar, wind or other renewable power generation. These functions, along with frequency regulation on electric distribution systems, could potentially be used by utilities to reduce cost to customers and improve the quality of power delivery. These applications are referred to as community energy storage to distinguish them from substation-size energy storage projects. ABB’s research centre in Raleigh, North Carolina, conducted the R&D, and the company’s medium voltage business unit is managing the proof-of-concept testing, market research and product development. ABB recently teamed up with the US divisions of Nissan and Sumitomo Corporation and 4R Energy to evaluate the reuse of Nissan LEAF batteries. The team is developing a LEAF battery storage prototype with a capacity of at least 50 kWh, enough to supply 15 average homes with electricity for two hours. 4R Energy is a joint venture between Japan’s Nissan and Sumitomo that was set up in 2010 to conduct research and field tests on the second-life use of batteries that have been used previously in EVs.
www.gm.com www.abb.com www.duke-energy.com
Market for PV energy storage to reach $2 billion by 2018, according to Nanomarkets Consultancy firm Nanomarkets forecasts the market for energy storage to accompany solar photovoltaic (PV) generation will reach almost $2 billion (€1.5 billion) in revenues by 2018.
batteries, which it says will account for almost half of sales in 2018 at $950 million and will remain the most popular technology. But the report also predicts an in interest in the use of lithium ion batteries, sales of which are expected to reach $235 million by 2018. ‘Feed-in tariffs are declining in key geographies giving PV users an incentive to store the energy they produce. Battery suppliers are therefore expecting the market for batteries for residential PV users to explode and are designing specialised systems to meet the demand,’ states Nanomarkets. In California, utilities are facing regulatory requirements to include storage in new facilities and similar regulations may come into force in Germany, driving demand for stationary storage technologies in the coming years. The report covers other battery technologies, including lead-carbon, sodium sulfur, sodium-nickel-chloride and flow batteries, as well as ultra-batteries and supercapacitors. The report looks at applications for both residential and utilityscale PV plants. The report predicts that lead-carbon batteries will improve margins and will generate an additional $135 million by 2018. Lithium batteries are already being sold for residential and PV micro-grid applications in the US and Germany, and the report predicts that Chinese energy storage firms will likely focus on this technology as a result of the domestic lithium production industry. However, NanoMarkets warns that the future of lithium batteries will depend heavily on continued government research and development (R&D) subsidies, and states that without further development lithium batteries remain too expensive for many applications.
www.nanomarkets.com
The report, titled Solar Storage Markets – 2013, notes the low cost of lead-acid
MARCH/ 13 | Issue 2 | ENERGYSTORAGEJOURNAL
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NEWS ANALYSIS
WIND INSTRUMENT Power-to-gas technology for renewables generation emerges from the lab
In Germany two demonstration power-togas (P2G) plants designed to store excess electricity generated by renewable sources have begun operation. The amount of electricity generated each year by renewables is rising, but the intermittency of some of these sources, such as wind and solar, poses challenges for the grid. Banking excess electricity to feed into the grid at a future point, when it is needed, can be achieved using various storage technologies such as batteries. However, P2G plants open up the possibility of using this excess energy in different ways. In Germany, which has the largest installed capacity of wind and solar, several demonstration P2G plants are being evaluated for their smart grid potential.
Close-up of the PEM stack, part of the electrolyser system that Siemens has supplied to RWE for evaluating in the CO2RRECT project. Source: Siemens
Niederraussem project P2G plants use electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using electrical energy. In January 2013 German utility RWE Power began testing a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser for the storage of renewable electricity in a facility at its coal innovation centre in Niederaussem, Germany. The electrolyser has a nominal capacity of 100 kW. But it also has a peak capacity of 300 kW for overloading, for limited periods of time,
NEWS ANALYSIS
to absorb the fluctuations of renewable energy plants that can go from producing very little or no electricity at all, to ramping acutely. Siemens product manager within the company’s hydrogen solutions business Andreas Reiner explains: ‘The PEM electrolyser manages to be both secure but also flexible, which is important when intermittent renewable energy sources are plugged into the system.’ The PEM separates the areas in which oxygen and hydrogen emerge. At the front and back of the membrane metal electrodes are connected to the positive and negative poles of the voltage source. The membrane is made from a polymer foil able to provide ionic conductivity while keeping the oxygen and hydrogen gases separate. Fast response times, in milliseconds, are achieved by combining the properties of the PEM electrolyser with Siemens’ industrial control technology. The system will be tested from January to October 2013. The PEM module will be evaluated for its ability to function as the amount of power is ramped up and at partial load, to see the effect of frequent load changes on the functioning of the electrolysis system and on the quality of the hydrogen obtained.
Reiner says: ‘The project has already carried out lab tests of the PEM system using a real wind profile. But, at RWE’s Niederaussem facility it will be demonstrated in a real operating environment. Over the next several months the whole system will also be tested to see how it performs in real working conditions.’ 250 kW demonstrator Compared with PEM systems, pressurised alkaline electrolysers represent a very mature technology that is the current standard for large-scale electrolysis. It is this technology that is the core of a P2G demonstration plant that launched in December 2012. The 250 kW plant has been developed by German Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) with partners Fraunhofer IWES and Solarfuel, which intends to commercialise the technology. It expands upon an earlier smaller 25 kW system. The plant is designed to respond to the fluctuating and intermittent load profiles of wind and solar using pressurised alkaline electrolysis, able to produce hydrogen up to 11bar. The advantage is that it uses a commercially available and proven technology. The plant’s performance will be evaluated during 2013.
‘The PEM electrolyser manages to be both secure but also flexible, which is important when intermittent renewable energy sources are plugged into the system.’
Applications for hydrogen In the next three to five years, P2G plants, based on ZSW’s technology, will be scaled up from the 2-20 MW range. Solarfuel is already constructing a 6 MW power-togas plant for automaker Audi in Werlte, Lower Saxony. The knowledge gained from ZSW’s 250 kW research plant will be incorporated into Audi’s facility, which should be operational later this year. Power from four 3.6 MW offshore wind turbines will be used to produce fuel for 1,500 turbo-compressed natural gas (TCNG) Audi A3 vehicles for a year. Audi plans to begin serial production in 2014. The gas grid could provide storage applications for solar and wind power. Once excess electricity generated by renewables is turned to hydrogen via electrolysis, it can then be converted into methane gas with carbon dioxide. This synthetic gas can be fed into the gas grid, whereas only a small amount of hydrogen – up to 3% – can be fed into the grid infrastructure due to gas regulations. The PEM demonstrator supplied by Siemens for RWE’s facility is part of the €18 million CO2RRECT (CO2-Reaction using Regenerative Energies and Catalytic Technologies) project, which is supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Flexible gas CO2RRECT is investigating different ways that hydrogen can be deployed. For instance, some of it can be used with carbon dioxide from coal plants flue gas to produce methane, in the adjacent catalyst facility. Hydrogen can also be stored in the form of natural gas and, when required, turned into electricity or made available to the heating market.
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NEWS ANALYSIS
Alternatively, hydrogen could be used for making further materials, such as methanol, for the production of chemicals. Together with carbon dioxide, hydrogen can be converted into chemical intermediates such as formic acid or carbon monoxide. From carbon monoxide it is possible to produce isocyanate, a building block in the production of polyurethane, a widely manufactured plastic. To establish how carbon dioxide, a waste greenhouse gas, could, in future, be converted into a raw material for chemicals production is part of wider R&D efforts by Bayer and its partners. The CO2RRECT project enables Siemens to demonstrate the potential of PEM electrolyser technology in a practical application. PEM v alkaline Despite it being a less mature technology, there are several benefits of PEM technology over classical alkaline electrolyser devices. These include the absence of corrosive electrolytes, good chemical and mechanical stability, high protonic conductivity and high gasimpermeability. PEM electrolysers achieve excellent gas separation for high quality hydrogen production, high current density at higher efficiency. The reduced number of moving parts in PEM electrolyser devices allows for easier maintenance. PEM systems can also achieve an excellent partial-load range and respond rapidly to fluctuating power inputs. Scaling up In countries that are banking on renewables, especially wind, for large-scale electricity generation P2G plants could be an important future storage asset. The technology also benefits Germany because it has extensive natural gas storage reservoirs. E.ON is among the first utilities to invest in a pilot-scale P2G plant for a renewables application. Last year the company chose Hydronics, a
global supplier of hydrogen generation equipment, to build a 2 MW facility in Falkenhagen, which will use its HyStat alkaline electrolyser. The plant will bank excess power that is generated by wind farms, producing about 360m³ of hydrogen an hour. The hydrogen will be fed into the natural gas pipeline at around 2% by volume, at a maximum operating pressure of 55bar, effectively storing and transporting surplus renewable energy.
‘The project has already carried out lab tests of the PEM system using a real wind profile. But, at RWE’s Niederaussem facility it will be demonstrated in a real operating environment.’ The pilot includes the engineering, construction, commissioning and start-up of a containerised 2 MW electrolyser and compression plant. In addition the project will provide a power substation, metering station, hydrogen pipeline and natural gas grid access station. AEG Power Solutions is supplying rectifiers for the plant. German independent power producer (IPP) Enertrag is also a P2G pioneer, having partnered with Swedish utility Vattenfall, Total and Deutsche Bahn on a 6 MW hybrid power station in Prenzlau, Germany. After converting excess wind energy to hydrogen, the plant uses the hydrogen and biogas to generate heat and power. An alkaline electrolyser is used in the plant, which has been operational since 2011.
Future By the latter part of this decade P2G could start to establish itself as a flexible storage technology in power grids as more electricity is produced from renewable sources. Collaborative efforts by partners within the CO2RRECT project and those undertaken by ZSW, Fraunhofer IWES and Solarfuel are taking this promising technology and adapting it for the demands of renewable generation. Between them, these initiatives are opening up new opportunities both for mature and new, advanced electrolyser technologies. However, there are still many technical and regulatory challenges involved in the setting up and operation of such storage plants that early adopters, like E.ON, are starting to address.
Advantages of PEM electrolyser technology include: - No corrosive electrolytes - Excellent gas separation for high-quality hydrogen production - High current density at higher efficiency - Fewer moving parts for easier maintenance
Links for further research www.rwe.com www.siemens.com www.bayer.com www.zsw-bw.de www.solar-fuel.net www.eon.com www.enertrag.com www.hydronics.com
EU PVSEC 2013 28th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition
© Thorsten Schmitt
Parc des Expositions Paris Nord Villepinte Paris, France Conference Exhibition
30 Sep – 04 Oct 2013 01 Oct – 03 Oct 2013
www.photovoltaic-conference.com www.photovoltaic-exhibition.com
BATTERY BONANZA US initiative secures $120 million to research next-gen storage technology Developing batteries five times more powerful, and significantly cheaper to make, is the focus of a public-private research initiative launched in the US. To make electric transportation and electricity generation from renewables truly competitive in the longer term, much more is needed from storage technologies compared with today’s batteries. An initiative in the US is harnessing the research resource of five national laboratories, five universities and industrial companies to develop batteries that have the potential to outperform current technologies. In short, the aim is to develop batteries that are five times more powerful, five times cheaper, within five years. The Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), launched in November 2012, is one of four energy innovation hubs launched by the Department of Energy (DoE) since 2010. Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), in Illinois, is leading the public-private partnership, which will be supported with an award of up to $120 million (€88 million) over five years. As several universities in the Illinois are partners on the programme, JCSER has earned speculation in local press reports that the state is laying the foundations of a ‘Silicon Valley of battery science’. DoE national laboratories and DoE-funded university research programmes have been responsible for advances in battery technology. For instance, work at Argonne helped make the Chevy Volt battery
possible. Pooling the research of the national labs and universities could push the US ahead in the global energy storage industry. ‘Advancing next generation battery and energy storage technologies for electric and hybrid cars and the electricity grid are critical to keeping America competitive in the global economy,’ Dr Linda Horton, director of the materials sciences and engineering division in the DOE’s Office of Science, told ESJ. ‘A goal of JCSER is to accelerate the development of energy storage solutions, improving grid storage to increase efficiency and to allow effective integration of intermittent renewable energy sources. At the same time, this hub will facilitate advances in battery technology that can move the transportation sector toward cleaner, more flexibly sourced, gridbased power.’
‘Advancing next generation battery and energy storage technologies for electric and hybrid cars and the electricity grid are critical to keeping America competitive in the global economy.’ Remit JCESR’s remit encompasses three R&D areas in electrochemical storage; multivalent intercalation, chemical
transformation and non-aqueous redox flow. Multivalent intercalation focuses on working ions, such as magnesium or yttrium, which carry twice or triple the charge of lithium and have the potential to store two or three times as much energy. Chemical transformation is based on using the chemical reaction of the working ion to store many times the energy of today’s lithium-ion batteries. Non-aqueous redox flow is based on reversibly changing the charge state of ions held in solution in large storage tanks; the very high capacity of this approach is well-suited to the needs of the grid. JCESR is not concerned with incremental improvements of existing technologies, whether commercial or lab-proven. The industrial partners chosen have the resources and market reach to swiftly commercialise new energy storage technologies that result from the initiative. By focusing on these areas next generation technologies have the potential of delivering five times the energy density at one-fifth of the cost needed to bring electric transportation and large-scale solar and wind generation to competitive levels. The scientific impact, while primarily aimed at batteries, could also influence technologies in other areas such as fuel cells. Within the three R&D areas JCESR will tackle specific research challenges. In multivalent intercalation these are mobility in host structures, mobility across interfaces as well as stable and selective interfaces. In chemical transformation these are phase transformation and juxtaposition, functional electrolytes and
ON THE RADAR – ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGY R&D
stable and selective interfaces. In nonaqueous redox flow these are novel redox species, ionic mobility, interfacial transport and stable and selective membranes. JCESR will use basic research techniques developed in the last decade to make new materials and characterise their performance at the atomic level for the three energy storage concepts. Virtual batteries will be computer-designed and analysed for projected performance and potential shortcomings. Cell design and prototyping will deliver at least two prototypes – one for grid and one for transportation – for scale-up and manufacturing. The underlying principles governing electricity storage are common for both transportation and stationary applications, hence the exploration of both within the programme. However, as prototypes for transportation and the grid must meet very different operational standards, they will be designed and prototyped separately, explains the DoE. Facilities and resources JCESR has begun research in existing facilities on ANL’s and partner institutions’ campuses. Funding for JCESR includes equipment support for a wide range of instrumentation to complement existing capabilities at the partner institutions. The state of Illinois will build a $35 million building, the Energy Innovation Center, on the Argonne campus to house JCESR. It is expected to be ready in 2014-2015. In addition to receiving up to $120 million over five years, other funding sources could come from partners, government and industry. JCESR’s commercial partners will bring value through their knowledge of R&D challenges to scale-up and manufacturing, which will be folded into the JCESR research plan. The partners’ investments in commercial facilities for R&D and manufacturing are worth upwards of $1 billion. JCESR will have access to the knowledge, information and manufacturing base its our commercial partners. Also, in projects within JCESR
that include direct involvement by industry, costs will be shared by that partner. There will be opportunities for other research partners, both commercial and non-commercial, to join. New partners will be added to address specific scientific or technological goals for which new expertise is needed. In addition to the commercial partners, the five national labs and five universities, JCESR has 35-plus affiliates including other universities, private research organisations and commercial companies.
Links for further research www.jcesr.org www.anl.gov Various videos about JCESR and cutting edge battery research: http://www.jcesr.org/?page_ id=2009
JCESR participants Argonne National Laboratory Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Sandia National Laboratories SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Northwestern University University of Chicago University of Illinois at Chicago University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign University of Michigan Clean Energy Trust Dow Chemical Applied Materials Johnson Controls
A LOT OF ZINC AIR EU project develops zinc-air batteries for the utility market A European project is developing a cheaper utility storage device using zinc-air battery technology. Zinc-air batteries, which provide electrical power through the electrochemical oxidation of zinc by oxygen are widely available as disposable button cells used to provide power for hearing aids. But for utility and grid-scale storage zinc-air flow batteries have the advantage of having higher power and energy density than vanadium redox flow devices, while being relatively potentially cheap to manufacture compared with various batteries. Commercial efforts The need for cost-effective grid storage bought about by increased use of renewables such as solar and growing electricity demand that cannot be met by existing grid infrastructure is driving efforts by companies around the world to commercialise zinc-air flow batteries. US firm Eos, for example, has developed a zinc energy storage system for the electric grid that can be sold for $160/kWh (about €120/kWh) and is rechargeable over 10,000 cycles, equivalent to 30 years. The company is scaling up battery prototypes in 2013 in preparation for manufacturing and delivery of MW-scale systems to customers in 2014. Others include Zinc Air Incorporated (ZAI), which is commercialising technology developed with Department of Energy (DoE) support over 10 years. Powair project In Europe, a group of companies and research partners are developing a zinc-air flow battery, under Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) funding. The Powair project, which began in November 2010 and will run until November 2014, is being
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ON THE RADAR – ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGY R&D
Zinc-air cell chemistry - A solution or solid source of Zn(II) is used as the energy storage medium for the negative electrode - Metallic zinc is plated and stripped during charge and discharge respectively at the negative electrode - The positive electrode is similar in operation to that in a fuel cell or water electrolyser - Oxygen, either from a storage tank or the atmosphere, is reduced during discharge whilst during charge oxygen is evolved
Source: Powair
led by UK energy research company C-Tech Innovation, which draws on over 40 years of experience in electrochemical processes development, design and building of industrial electrochemical systems for industrial customers. Other partners include CEST in Austria, which has laboratories with electrochemical equipment and has carried out extensive work into metal deposition and dissolution, Fuma-Tech in Germany, which produces ion exchange polymers and membranes for fuel cell and other electrochemical applications, as well as Green Power Technologies in Spain, DNVKEMA and E.On Engineering. University of Southampton and University of Seville are the research partners. The total project budget is €5.1 miilion, which includes a grant from the EU of €3.6 million. John Collins, project manager at C-Tech Innovations, says: ‘The Powair project came about because we were looking for a flow battery technology that would be more cost-effective to manufacture in-line with what electricity companies would be willing to pay. So while their efficiency may not quite match some other battery
technologies you are essentially playing off lower cost against overall efficiency.’ The efficiency of the batteries developed under Powair will be in the region of 5-10% lower than a typical flow battery. Goals Objectives of the project include developing zinc-air batteries with four times the energy density of existing flow batteries and significantly reduced cost, plus developing, designing a modular energy system capable of plug and play expansion via a novel modular distributed power converter. Both Green Power Technologies and the University of Seville have expertise in power conversion. Towards the end of the Powair project a 10 kW demonstrator will be developed for evaluation that could precede a commercial system with a target cost of €100-150/kWh with an estimated service life of around 10 years, though the majority of the system should operate for an additional 10 years or more, following maintenance and servicing. The demonstrator will be evaluated for operation and grid compatibility on a test grid by DNVKEMA, a global energy consultancy and certification business with extensive facilities for carrying out different simulated test conditions for the batteries and systems.
‘The Powair project came about because we were looking for a flow battery technology that would be more cost-effective to manufacture in-line with what electricity companies would be willing to pay.’
While it is too early a stage in the project to have a route to market finalised, the project team is considering potential options as the partners, between them, have the know-how and facilities, via Fumatech, to manufacture the air electrodes, which are the battery’s key component. ‘Scaling timeframes are dependent on module size you are aiming for. In the 5-10 kW module range, then we anticipate that it could take another year on top of a year of evaluating the prototype to commercialise an improve version of this.’ explains Collins. Batteries could be commercialised from late 2016. It is likely that initially the batteries will be used in pilot projects and small scale applications such as local grid reinforcement. This year and next the focus will turn to finding potential supply chain partners, including providers of production tools and equipment in order to commercialise the battery technology.
Links for further research www.powair.eu www.dnvkema.com www.cest.at www.ctechinnovation.com www.eon-uk.com www.fumatech.com www.greenpower.es http://www.us.es/ www.southampton.ac.uk/ www.eosenergystorage.com www.zincairinc.com
ON THE RADAR – ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGY R&D
UK BETS ON ENERGY STORAGE In other recent initiatives set to boost energy storage R&D, the UK is investing £50 million (€57.9 million) in energy storage designs, feasibility studies and dedicated R&D and testing facilities In January 2013 UK minister of state for universities and science David Willetts announced a funding boost for what have been dubbed the ‘eight great technologies’ which will propel the UK to future growth.
In a speech at Policy Exchange, David Willetts set out details of how the £600 million announced for science in the Autumn Statement will support eight fields, which include robotics and autonomous systems, synthetic biology, regenerative medicine, advanced materials and energy. The new investments, which total over £460 million, include £30 million to create dedicated R&D facilities to develop and test new grid scale storage technologies. This will help the UK capitalise on its considerable excess energy production, saving money and reducing the national carbon footprint. In a speech at the Policy Exchange the minister described the unique strengths of the UK’s research base, but said government now needs to capitalise on this by backing the right technologies and helping to take them through to market. This is an important element of the UK’s industrial strategy and is part of making the UK the best place in the world to do science. Willetts said: ‘Strong science and flexible markets is a good combination of policies. But it is not enough. It misses out crucial stuff in the middle – real
decisions on backing key technologies on their journey from the lab to the marketplace. It is the missing third pillar to any successful high tech strategy. It is R&D and technology and engineering as distinct from pure science. It is our historic failure to back this which lies behind the familiar problems of the so-called “valley of death” between scientific discoveries and commercial applications.’
‘The new investments, which total over £460 million, include £30 million to create dedicated R&D facilities to develop and test new grid scale storage technologies. This will help the UK capitalise on its considerable excess energy production, saving money and reducing the national carbon footprint.’
Efficient energy storage technologies could allow the UK to capitalise on its considerable excess energy production. While UK consumption peaks at 60 GW, the UK has generation capacity of 80 GW but storage capacity of only 3 GW, primarily from the single water system in Wales. Greater energy storage capacity can save money and reduce the national carbon footprint at the same time. The announcement by Willetts supports ongoing initiatives in energy storage R&D in the UK. In October 2012 two energy storage competitions, totalling £20 million, were announced by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Of the £20 million, £17 million has been made available through an energy storage technology demonstration competition. In the first stage companies can secure up to £40,000 for energy storage project designs. In the competition’s second phase successful projects can apply for up to £12 million to test and demonstrate energy storage designs. The same companies can also apply for the £3 million remaining of the overall £20 million, as part of a separate competition. The funding, available in two rounds, is for energy storage systems component research and feasibility studies to investigate how energy storage systems work and can be used within the UK grid. A report published by Imperial College London the second half of 2012 suggests energy storage could generate savings of up to £10 billion a year in the UK, as part of DECC’s 2050 high renewables scenario.
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MARKET ANALYSIS
Renewable Energies & Electricity Storage – Technologies & Markets International Solar
MARKET ANALYSIS
Renewable energy has seen explosive growth across Europe in the last decade and the trend is expected to continue over the coming years as Europe makes a transition away from being dependent on imported energy.
The following article is based on the executive summary of a new report from consultancy EuPD Research in partnership with IPVEA. Renewable Energies and Electricity Storage – Technologies and Markets is a comprehensive survey of current developments in national energy markets in Europe.
Introduction of electricity storage technologies The scope of electricity storage is diverse ranging from electric through electrochemical to mechanical storage for different applications. But regardless of the technology all storage solutions have one thing in common – there is a need to further develop technology and expand production in order to make them economically viable. The study provides: -
Overview of storage solutions according to power costs and maturity stages
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Exposition of storage applications in renewable energies
Analysis of market potentials in Europe The open market for PV storage solutions brings many opportunities which reveal the strength of manufacturing companies in the PV industry. The report helps better understand the potentials of this new market. The report includes: -
Exposition of framework conditions in national energy markets in Europe
-
Scenario creation and model calculation for the market potential of PV storage solutions
Executive summary of the report Renewable energy has seen explosive growth across Europe in the last decade and the trend is expected to continue over the coming years as Europe makes a transition away from being dependent on imported energy. Energy 2020, a strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy that was adopted in 2010 by the European Commission, states a more competitive strategy to reach the goals for 2020 adopted by the European Council in 2007 (specifically, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, to increase the share of renewable energy to 20% and to make 20% improvement in energy efficiency). Today, the EU is on track to achieve these targets by putting in place a series of policies including the development of National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAP).
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MARKET ANALYSIS
The growing share of renewables in the electricity generation mix, especially from fluctuating energy sources such as wind and photovoltaics (PV), brings about new challenges in electricity generation and demand dynamics. Due to such developments, it is envisaged that the electricity market across the continent will undergo a fundamental transition in the future. In order to facilitate this change, storage solutions will be required. The field of storage technologies is broad and fragmented. Energy storage system applications are classified according to power, energy capacity, usage time and other factors. Applications include MW-scale power storage for frequency regulation, large capacity energy storage (MWh scale) for peak time demand response, and commercial/residential energy storage with medium-small capacities (kWh scale). With the exponential growth of the PV markets globally during the last few years Europe is now set to enter into another growth cycle. Henceforth, complete solutions – including PV or other renewable energy sources combined with storage and energy management technology – both at the grid and consumer level will be required to achieve EU’s outlined 2020 goal and beyond. In light of these future developments, the study provides insights on various aspects of storage requirements and the potential across various market segments. Furthermore, the study provides a technological overview, current manufacturing landscape of storage battery solutions and key drivers which will drive the storage battery market in the future.
Table of contents Introduction 1. Renewable energy and the need for storage solutions 1.1 Development of renewable energy in Europe 1.2 National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAP) 1.3 Challenges of the electricity generation and demand 1.4 Integration of renewable energy via storage solutions 2.
Storage technologies
2.1 Technology overview 2.2 Market maturity and scope 3.
Photovoltaics and storage
3.1 PV market development in Europe 3.2 Support framework 3.3 Storage market potential in Europe 3.4 Integration of storage battery solutions with photovoltaics 3.4.1 Economic feasibility 3.4.2 Market segments 3.4.3 Country Market-Segment-Technology attractiveness matrix 4.
Manufacturers‘ landscape
5.
Storage Battery Solutions – Other applications
6.
Conclusion
The study provides insights on various aspects of storage equirements and the potential across various market segments.
MARKET ANALYSIS
Energy 2020 Energy 2020 – a strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy – was adopted on 10 November 2010 by the European Commission. The communication states a more competitive strategy to reach the goals for 2020 adopted by the European Council in 2007 (specifically, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, to increase the share of renewable energy to 20% and to make 20% improvement in energy efficiency). The strategy focuses on the following five priorities: - - - - -
Achieving an energy efficient Europe Building a truly pan-European integrated energy market Empowering consumers and achieving the highest level of safety and security Extending Europe‘s leadership in energy technology and innovation Strengthening the external dimension of the EU energy market
EU electricity market: an introduction Since 1997, the use of nuclear and coal fired power plants have seen a decline as an overall percentage of the electricity production mix. In 2008, nuclear and coal fired power plants constituted 27.78% and 16.09% respectively of the total electricity production. On the other hand, renewable sources of energy have witnessed growth over the last few years. In 2008, wind constituted 3.52% of the total electricity production in the EU-27 countries, compared with 0.26% in 1997.
Envisioned renewable energy electricity mix as per NREAP As per the NREAP published in 2010, Germany intends to meet its electricity production targets substantially through the addition of PV and wind capacities until 2020. On the other hand Spain, France and the UK have envisioned investments in wind capacity in order to fulfil their electricity production goals for 2020.
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MARKET ANALYSIS
Background: renewable energy – Germany Over the last decade, the share of renewables in the three sectors of energy consumption namely electricity, heating and transport has increased significantly in Germany. In particular, the share of renewable energy in the electricity sector has sharply increased from little over 5%+ in 2001 to over 20% in 2011. According to German renewable energy law, known as the EEG 2012, the German government plans to extend the share of renewable energies to 35%. By 2030 every second kWh electricity should be generated by renewable energies. The fluctuating renewable energies wind and PV showed a strong growth path reaching 7.6% (wind) and 3.1% (PV) of gross electricity generation in Germany 2011. On a typical summer day in 2012 the installed PV capacity in Germany generated a maximum of 16GWh. To cover 10% of the daily generated PV electricity a net storage capacity of nearly 13 GWh is needed. Charging and discharging losses of 20% are expected. Storing 10% of total PV electricity will lead to a stabilised electricity supply, even at night, of 1 GWh.
MARKET ANALYSIS
Economic feasibility: storage battery plus PV system In the case of a retrofit system: 5 kWp PV system installed in January 2010 with a 5 kWh lithium ion storage system installed in 2012. IRR level of up to 4.3% can be attained based on outlined parameters compared to 14%+ without storage system.
Further information about Renewable Energies and Electricity Storage – Technologies and Markets Release Date
Information Sources
Q1/ 2013 - In-depth analysis of in-house PV and storage databases - Use of economic models - Systematic desk research (media analysis, reports, industry portals) - Keep track of technologies and current developments in the market of electricity storage solutions
Benefits for your Company
- Gain comprehensive understanding of changing energy markets in Europe
Delivery
PDF version of the report (app. 60 pages)
- Understand the need for the integration of renewable energies via storage solutions as well as the possibilities to enter the flourishing market of storage solutions in Europe
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1,950 EUR 2,950 EUR 75 EUR per copy
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COVER STORY
COVER STORY
ENERGY BANK
In the US, policy, changes to electricity market rules and government support have paved the way for demonstrations of large-scale energy storage for the utility market.
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cover story
ENERGY BANK By Sara Ver-Bruggen
‘But at the end of the day SCE is not just looking for a battery, it is looking for a system that can be integrated.’
Previous page. The energy storage facility installed by Xtreme Power at Duke Energy’s Notrees wind farm in Texas Source: Xtreme Power
Energy storage has always been used in the electricity network, such as providing backup power for smaller grids, spinning reserves and pumped hydro facilities are used all over the world. But the growing use of intermittent, sources of renewable energy generation, coupled with advances in batteries in materials, device design, production processes, and also control electronics and software, have yielded energy storage products able to accommodate the needs of the electricity grid while managing wind or solar farm’s fluctuating, sporadic energy production.
are reticent – somewhat understandably – when
Across the US utilities are working with systems integrators to tentatively ease storage into corners of the transmission and distribution (T&D) network to assess potential applications, benefits and see how these technologies behave on the grid. These projects, many subsidised by the Department of Energy (DoE) with funds made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, add up to over $80 million (€62 million) in investment, mainly for demonstration of battery-based energy storage and management systems.
value propositions and technical needs.
In broad terms the benefits of storage integrated into the T&D network are well publicised. Energy storage supports further integration of intermittent sources of wind and solar energy into the grid, storing excess electricity in offpeak periods, minimising peak electricity use and providing savings for electricity consumers. Energy storage can optimise and improve the grid, reducing or delaying capital investment in the network, benefiting taxpayers. Yet, despite the announcements of storage projects, utilities
it comes to discussing and viewing this new asset at their disposal. One US utility, however, which has publicised its efforts to study and evaluate potential applications for energy storage is Southern California Edison (SCE). With government grants to offset some of the cost of investing in expensive, new technology, the utility is one of the several preparing to test storage systems in the field. The next three years will be a turning point for the energy storage industry, which requires the feedback of its end user market on Investor owned utility SCE started investigating stationary storage over three years ago, expanding upon its extensive research into electric and hybrid vehicles and their potential impact on the grid. The Tehachapi wind energy storage project is one of several demonstration projects in development in the US. ‘SCE responded to the resulting Department of Energy (DoE) solicitation in 2009. We saw that storage was a potential solution to distributed generation issues and challenges,’ says Mark Irwin director, technology development at SCE. The solicitation stipulated that the project size had to be at least 8 MW, that the area for the demonstration had to be heavy in renewables generation and the battery technology must be lithium-ion based. The Tehachapi mountains, dotted with thousands of turbines, are rich in wind resource but the electricity generated from this site, over the decades, has presented SCE with transmission system integration issues
cover story
and various operational constraints. The siting of the project will also allow the utility to study the impact of storage on a 66 kV portion of its system in the area. Over 12 separate operational issues will be studied by SCE in the project to clearly show the functionality of energy storage in the grid. The benefits of grid-connected energy storage are often espoused, especially in the context of renewables, implying that the arrival of costeffective, advanced energy storage technology will remove one of the biggest barriers to widespread uptake of wind and solar. The utility perspective on storage presents a more nuanced picture. According to SCE energy storage is a complex term which refers to varied and disparate technologies and potential uses across the electric grid. Storage may provide the means to solve particular challenges but is not an end in itself, identifying where and how storage is used on the electric system
(applications) is a logical and ideal starting point for discussions about storage, but storage as a unified concept is impractical and misleading.
The interior of a 36 MW energy storage and management system supplied by Xtreme Power for Duke Energy’s Notrees wind farm in Texas Source: Xtreme Power
Demonstration projects Irwin states: ‘Tehachapi is designed to resolve a type of problem. We decided upon the likely applications for demonstrating storage devices, but these are not at the stage where the device is reliably proven to resolve an issue, as this is not yet a proven solution.’ By late 2013, or early 2014, SCE and its partners aim to have the Tehachapi system installed and up and running. As A123, the original battery company that SCE had been working with, is now insolvent a new provider of lithium batteries is being sought. The demonstration project will run for 24 months. ‘As it progresses over time we will have to make a recommendation about how
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cover story energy pilots, including offshore wind and pilots for storage.
Inside the energy storage facility at Notrees wind farm in Texas
Discussions about storage rarely occur without discussions about cost. In the meantime, in these next few years as energy storage prices come down, more cost-benefit analysis emerges and demand for grid storage becomes more acute, SCE is making sure it is in a place to fully appreciate performance of energy storage in various applications to be able to deploy it when required.
Source: Xtreme Power
to continue once the demonstration has been completed. A question will be the cost-benefit,’ says Irwin.
‘We may have an overload that we have to solve. This could mean putting a storage device in for smoothing and reducing that overload.’ At the Smart Grid Observer online conference in November 2012 Irwin talked of the critical value of storage for SCE, not so much about shifting energy from off-peak to the on-peak but as a means of deferring or avoiding capital on the distribution portion of the grid. As an example this could be avoiding upgrading a distribution system from 4 kV to 12 kV. ‘We may have an overload that we have to solve. This could mean putting a storage device in for smoothing and reducing that overload.’ In addition to the demonstrations SCE is also planning a pilot project, which it is finalising. This will be operational in 2014 and it will be 500 kW to 1 MW in size with 2-4 hours of storage. ‘The storage solution will be designed to address an issue. There are other solutions that exist to address the issue and using storage may not be the most economic option,’ says Irwin. However the pilot is important because it could lead to a further scale-up of storage capacity by SCE in future. SCE has done its homework. Irwin admires the approach to storage by Jeju island, off the coast of South Korea. ‘It is a test-bed of different demonstration and pilot projects and investment is being made in the proving process that these device technologies require.’ The island’s semiautonomous government has initiated renewable
Batteries and energy storage management systems When investigating battery technology SCE will typically take the approach of looking at test results on paper and talk to the industry. It will then carry out its own lab tests of device and gain third party, independent results, followed by demonstration projects, then pilots. ‘But at the end of the day the company is not just looking for a battery, it is looking for a system that can be integrated,’ says Irwin. Audrey Fogarty, VP of commercial operations and application development at Xtreme Power, concurs: ‘The battery is just one part of the system. Xtreme Power can be seen as essentially a systems integrator – we take the battery and integrate it with our storage management technology and systems. We have exclusive agreements with a lot of large battery producers and will use batteries that are most suitable and reliable for each application. However, we evaluate batteries by putting them through a lot of tests before we use them.’ Xtreme Power is able to configure ratings for power (MW), which refers to the amount of electricity a storage system can absorb or supply at any given instant, and energy storage (MWh), which is the total storage capacity of a system, or the length of time a storage device can provide a set amount of power, to ensure individual projects are fully optimised.
Frequency regulation The company’s largest project to date is with Duke Energy, providing storage for the utility’s 153 MW Notrees wind power project, in Texas. The integrated facility at Notrees provides flexible
cover story
The Pay for Performance rule means generators are rewarded for faster ramping rates, total energy provided – or mileage – and greater accuracy, which faster-ramping resources are able to achieve in responding rapidly to dispatch signals from ISOs. capacity for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the state’s electrical grid and manages the majority of the deregulated market in Texas. The 36 MW energy storage system, which uses advanced lead acid batteries, is able to deploy fast-acting reserves to support ERCOT grid reliability and helps maintain supply and demand balance with nearinstantaneous feedback of frequency changes or other unexpected events. ‘We expect to see continued growth in renewables integration and frequency regulation driving demand for energy storage in the near term, such as our project with Invenergy,’ says Fogarty. Invenergy is a Chicago-based renewable energy developer. Xtreme Power has installed its 1.5 MW Regulation Power Management (RPM) system close to Invenergy’s Grand Ridge Wind project site in La Salle County. The wind farm will supply renewable power to the new frequency response market administered by regional transmission group PJM. The emergent frequency response market has been facilitated by a ‘Pay for Performance’ rule introduced by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in late 2012. Regional transmission organisations (RTOs) and independent system operators (ISOs) have to pay for an ancillary service known as frequency regulation. Typically compensation is based on how much capacity generators set aside for such a service. The Pay for Performance rule means generators are rewarded for faster ramping rates, total energy provided – or mileage – and greater accuracy, which fasterramping resources are able to achieve in responding rapidly to dispatch signals from
system operators. It is advanced storage technologies, including battery and flywheel based systems, which are able to achieve these and, in the process, help to facilitate further uptake of intermittent renewables like wind and solar and better balance supply and demand. Xtreme Power’s RPM system, which uses lithium-titanate battery technology, is able to provide a responses time in the frequency regulation market up to 50 times faster than conventional generation resources. Xtreme Power, which has provided storage systems in Hawaii and Alaska, is also poised for the island grid applications as opportunities open up in places such as the Caribbean islands and Puerto Rico. Hawaii has installed wind farms and solar farms so it can be less reliant on importing energy, and storage is a critical component as the grid infrastructure cannot handle high amounts of renewables and also reduces reliance on diesel backup generation.
Flexible technology The Modesto Irrigation Distribution project represents another large-scale energy storage project on the grid, supported with DoE funding. Located in California’s Central Valley, Modesto Irrigation District is a municipal utility, a notfor-profit organisation represented by a locally elected board, which manages the area’s water and electricity supply. The storage system, supplied by Primus Power, will provide the district with the ability to shift on-peak energy use to off-peak periods. The company was set up in California about three and half years ago to develop a low-cost battery, based on safe and proven zinc-flow battery technology. Primus Power’s battery does not use a separator and the battery design has been simplified. Primus has worked closely with Bosch to develop battery management electronics. Primus Power has a prototyping facility in California but is looking to work with a contract manufacturer that will produce the batteries on its behalf, starting later this year. Primus is also working on several other projects. One of these is a contract with Raytheon’s Integrated Defense
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cover story and reduce upfront capital costs,’ explains Tom Stepien, CEO of Primus Power.
The exterior of a 36 MW energy storage and management system supplied by Xtreme Power for Duke Energy’s Notrees wind farm in Texas
It is estimated that Modesto will save 30% by using Primus Power’s EnergyPod storage technology instead of thermal generators. Primus Power will deliver its EnergyPod storage system starting 2014. Each one is 250 kW/1 MWh. Eight of them can be held in one container.
Source: Xtreme Power
Systems business to deliver and support an electrical energy storage system for a microgrid at the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California.
‘These upgrades cannot be put off indefinitely, more like two years, and this provides the utility with the ability to plan ahead and reduce upfront capital costs.’
Modesto gets its energy from several sources, including fossil fuel plants, hydropower and renewables. The utility imports about half of its energy requirements, including electricity produced by a wind farm in the neighbouring state of Oregon, but it has to pay a premium to receive firmed wind electricity. Rather than pay this premium energy storage could enable Modesto to store the wind generated energy. In mid-2012 the municipal increased its renewable energy generation with the completion of a 25 MW solar farm. The renewable sources are integrated with thermal generators because they are intermittent, to ensure the district’s electricity needs are met. The storage system Primus Power is supplying for the project is 25 MW/75 MWh and will replace a planned $78 million 50 MW fossil fuel thermal generation plant, for less. Storage provides value more immediately, whereas thermal generation plants require capital spending four years before they come online, the average time it takes for installation and commissioning. Modesto will use the energy storage system to balance renewable energy, reduce load peaks and balance frequency. In addition to providing utilities with immediate value, Modesto can also use the storage to defer upgrades of substations. ‘These upgrades cannot be put off indefinitely, more like two years, and this provides the utility with the ability to plan ahead
Electricity grids are built to accommodate thermal generation plants fuelled by fossil or nuclear fuel to provide a steady, predictable supply of energy. To compensate for the erratic levels and patterns of energy generation by wind and solar utilities end up building more gas turbines. Advanced energy storage technologies that companies such as Primus and Xtreme are supplying eliminate this variability issue. But there are also a host of other applications for energy storage that are just beginning to be demonstrated and evaluated. In the long term energy storage systems; technologies that are equipped to store, absorb and release electricity in an intelligent manner are potentially disruptive enough to change how utilities manage the distribution of electricity. In the meantime utilities are making a start on putting energy storage through its paces on the grid. ‘The timeframe of our involvement, including all of these various stages of lab tests, demonstrations and pilots is consistent with the timeframe in which the network will require reinforcing,’ says Irwin.
Links for further research www.sce.com www.xtremepower.com www.primuspower.com www.duke-energy.com
cover story US utility-led energy storage projects Notrees wind energy storage project Location Texas Rated power 36 MW Duration at rated power 15 minutes Application/benefit Renewables capacity firming, electric energy time shift frequency regulation ISO/RTO ERCOT Utility Duke Energy Grid interconnection Transmission Paired grid resource Wind Energy storage technology provider Xtreme Power Battery technology Advanced lead acid Power electronics provider Xtreme Power Integrator Xtreme Power Systems CAPEX $43.6 million DoE subsidy $21.8 million Operational End of 2012 Primus Power Modesto wind firming EnergyFarm Location Modesto, California Rated power 25 MW Duration at rated power 3 hours Application/benefit Renewables capacity firming, electric supply capacity Utility Modesto Irrigation District Grid interconnection Transmission Paired grid resource Grid Energy storage technology provider Primus Power Battery technology zinc chlorine redox flow DoE subsidy $14 million Operational 2014 Tehachapi energy storage project Location Tehachapi, California Rated power 8 MW Duration at rated power 4 hours Application/benefit Voltage support, electric supply capacity, renewables capacity firming ISO/RTO CAISO Utility Southern California Edison Grid interconnection Transmission Paired grid resource Wind Energy storage technology provider Not known (was A123) Battery technology Lithium ion Power electronics provider DynaPower Integrator Not known (was A123) CAPEX $5.4 million Operational 2014 PGE Salem Smart Power Centre (Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration) Location Salem, Oregon Rated power 5 MW Duration at rate power 15 minutes Application/benefit Electric supply capacity, electric energy time shift, renewables capacity firming, renewables energy time shift Utility Portland General Electric (PGE) Energy storage technology provider EnerDel Battery technology Lithium ion Power electronics provider Eaton Corporation Integrator Enerdel, PGE, GE CAPEX $22.2 million DoE subsidy $10.3 million Operational 2012
Full details of these and other projects can be found at www.energystorageexchange.org
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FEATURE
Second life Conservation of resources, along with energy, is becoming more important than ever, so the idea of taking used high performance batteries originally designed for electric cars to meet demand for lower intensity stationary storage is gaining credence. But how easy is it to establish in practice?
FEATURE
By Sara Ver-Bruggen
IDC Energy Insights forecasts that by 2020 there will be some 400 MW-hoursworth of batteries ready to start coming out of cars and the number will continue to rise.
What do car makers Nissan, GM and Mitsubishi have in common? All have their own respective partnerships with OEMs to develop secondary use applications for batteries originally designed for, and used in, automotive applications. Electric vehicle (EV) batteries have up to 70% capacity remaining after 10 years of use in an EV, a longevity that allows them to be used beyond the lifetime of the vehicle for some stationary storage applications. In its report Repurposing Electric Vehicle Batteries for Stationary Storage IDC Energy Insights forecasts that by 2020 there will be some 400 MW-hours-worth of batteries ready to start coming out of cars and the number will continue to rise. Of course, many of these will be destined for recycling as they will be too degraded, others will be reconditioned for continued use in cars. The majority, however, will be too degraded for their original application but have sufficient capacity for energy storage applications.
Drivers and applications According to global consultancy and engineering services provider P3, the drivers of secondary application batteries are reduced ownership costs for automotive buyers due to the increased resale value of batteries and lower battery prices for secondary applications. In addition a secondary market for EV batteries helps to conserve critical and expensive raw materials, such as lithium, without going through intensive recycling processes.
Efficiency House Plus Source: BMVBS Š Werner Sobek,Stuttgart WernerSobek.com
The current generation of secondary application batteries will fulfil requirements for most stationary applications, though mobile applications are more demanding. However, though several potential applications exist
for secondary use price potential needs to be balanced with the cost and feasibility of modification. P3 lists uninterruptible power supply, for example for hospitals, cell phone towers and data processing centres, as a potential applications where batteries could be reused to provide a cleaner solution compared with diesel generation with low maintenance costs. For larger scale applications such as integration of intermittent renewables into the grid, peak shifting/load balance – community energy storage – use of batteries is still very limited and expensive. An option could be secondary batteries to enhance reliability of renewable sources, mitigate need for additional power generation and provide high charge/discharge rates more cost-effectively.
Commercial activity GM has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ABB for joint study and research into a community-level grid-connected energy storage unit able to provide power for up to 50 homes, reusing batteries. The research partnership encompasses inverters and controls software and a grid integration study will be carried out with three utilities. Recently the two companies demonstrated a Chevrolet Volt battery reuse. The system is based on the repackaging of five used Chevrolet Volt batteries into a modular 25 kW, 50 kWh unit capable of providing two hours of electricity for 3-5 homes. Duke Energy plans to test the prototype on its grid. In Japan Nissan and Sumitomo have had a joint venture, 4R Energy, since 2010 to conduct research and field tests on the second-life use of lithium-ion batteries that have been used previously in electric vehicles (EV). Earlier this year 4R Energy partnered with ABB and the US
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FEATURE What makes the system unique is that it uses and optimises various types of batteries for grid storage, including five different lead-acid battery packs, all comprised of used batteries that would otherwise have been destined for crushing.
destined for crushing. To do this Indy Power Systems has developed a screening process that can sort out batteries with at least 75% of their original energy rating at approximately 33% of the cost of new batteries. The tool consists of a router and controller designed to manage the flow of energy between any number of sources and loads, in either direction, regardless of voltage. Indy Power Systems founder Steve Tolen explains: ‘There is no one perfect battery, each
Transportation batteries being reused in a stationary storage application Source: Indy Power Systems
divisions of its parent companies to evaluate the reuse of lithium-ion battery packs that power the all-electric Nissan LEAF. Applications targeted are residential and commercial stationary energy storage systems. The companies are developing a LEAF battery storage prototype with a capacity of at least 50 kWh, enough to supply 15 average homes with electricity for two hours.
technology compromises on performance
Earlier this year, US start-up Indy Power Systems, based in Indianapolis, installed a 50kW, 15kWh energy storage system to reduce peaks in utility grid demand for its customer Melink Corporation, a supplier of heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) products and service. What makes the system unique is that it uses and optimises various types of batteries for grid storage, including five different lead-acid battery packs, all comprised of used batteries that would otherwise have been
operates on a daily basis providing electrical
somewhere, they tend to wear out. We can optimise batteries to work in concert with others.’ He cites the batteries used in truck fleets where, as part of preventative maintenance, batteries will be rotated for new ones even when they contain 75% of original capacity. The system that Indy has supplied to Melink energy to the grid when Melink’s heat pumps kick in and energy use peaks. This effectively lowers utility grid usage by approximately 15 kW for an hour each business day and means the company does not get stung by high demand peak charges. The system recharges either during the day when solar energy production exceeds energy usage, or at night when energy use is low. The system allows for more storage to be added as desired.
FEATURE
The application with Melink may be small but Indy Power Systems is targeting transportation, grid integration of renewables and military microgrids with its system. In a typical grid storage application, lots of batteries are sorted, with the ones that do not meet requirements returned to the recycling stream, while the sorted batteries are group by capacity and placed into packs of ‘like’ capacity. Each pack is controlled individually with different voltages and different charge and discharge rates, to make a modular and scalable system. Indy Power Systems, which was set up in 2007, has begun working with utilities and aims to have some projects starting in 2013. In the next 2-3 years Tolen expects to roll the technology out to domestic users as well as small commercial users also. He sees a big future in energy storage not only for refurbished or reconditioned batteries, but also technologies that can get more out of batteries, which have reached the limits of their original application but are by no means redundant. The 50 kWh unit designed to demonstrate Chevrolet Volt battery reuse is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of GM’s exploration of secondary battery applications. The company has been researching the field for about two years. ‘We are looking at very small scale to very large applications with various partners,’ explains Pablo Valencia, GM senior manager of battery lifecycle management. The project with ABB and Duke Energy is just one. One potential commercial application that GM is very interested in is the repackaging of EV batteries for fast-charging ports, where electrified cars
‘We are getting smarter and smarter about how we are deploying the battery in its primary application, which helps to establish its predictability for the secondary application.’
can be recharged in several minutes, instead of hours. But these require a lot of power and locating them in dense urban areas in cities, where they are most needed, would stress the grid. Using stationary storage is seen as a viable solution. ‘It’s a very compelling application, and it is not too far off from being developed,’ says Valencia. He agrees the big challenge is tackling the logistics of establishing the secondary battery market. GM is able to assess the capability of EV batteries, which is critical when it comes to establishing their secondary application and share results with partners such as ABB. ‘We are getting smarter and smarter about how we are deploying the battery in its primary application, which helps to establish its predictability for the secondary application,’ says Valencia.
Supply chain In the coming years, particularly as the electric and hybrid vehicle market grows there will be a substantial market of used batteries for a secondary use market with adequate performance for various potential applications. The challenge is establishing the supply chains that can take redundant high performance batteries from the automotive and transportation markets and extract maximum value for secondary market applications, from collection, testing and qualification, to modification, refurbishment and reselling of batteries, according to P3. In addition to large global industrial firms such as Siemens and ABB, other specialist companies are well placed to help establish a second life battery market. One of these is ATC Drivetrain, an independent drivetrain remanufacturer in the US. The company provides leading automotive OEMs, including Honda, with remanufacturing and logistics products and services based on salvaging core components, refurbishing, reconditioning and repairs. Through its division ATC New Technologies the company partners with OEMs to support warranty and aftermarkets for battery packs – including li-ion and nickel metal hydride (NiHM) battery packs for pure electric and hybrid vehicles, inverters and electric motors. The
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FEATURE company has identified a market opportunity for batteries for second life applications, where capacity does not have to be as high as for the aftermarket, but is still acceptable. ATC Drivetrain is looking to use its existing experience that includes refurbishing and repairing battery systems and modules, as well as cell grading analysis and balancing of cells for remanufacturing, to develop products. The company has in test production a product called the Watt Box, which is a self-contained storage system designed for use with NiHM or li-ion batteries up to 50 kWh for peak shaving/load shifting applications. In Germany, a project called Efficiency House Plus is investigating the potential for lithiumion battery modules, which have been used in EVs, for a second-life application as affordable stationary energy storage as part of domestic solar panel systems. The project, which started in 2011, is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development. In the project a stationary storage pack consisting of seventy 8V modules with 8V each, with a battery management system to monitor and control the battery cells, is being operated and monitored for two years to collect data about the performance of the system in various operational and seasonal conditions. The system has a nominal storage capacity of 43 KWh and a maximum power output of 7.2 KW.
Future It is going to take a few years for significant amounts of redundant EV batteries to come out of service and into the hands of companies dedicated to producing energy management and storage systems that exploit repurposed devices. According to P3, the global EV/ hybrid EV original battery market will rise from 6.4 million kWh in 2012 to 19.5 million kWh in 2017, worth about $15 billion by 2017. However, the secondary use market lags this primary market by approximately 7-10 years. But a market based on different battery grades and capacities could find ample buyers and sellers in future. Power storage assets are not cheap to make and a more cost-effective and resource-conservative approach that repurposes and refurbishes batteries for second life applications could have an important role to play in establishing sufficient storage capacity in the years to come, as well as provide new business opportunities for companies.
Links for further research www.melinkcorp.com
Projected global volumes of OEM electrified vehicles (primary batteries) Annual volume (MWHr) Source: P3
www.indypowersystems.com www.p3-group.com www.sae.org www.abb.com www.4r-energy.com www.atcdrivetrain.com German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development www.bmvbs.de Link to the Efficiency House Plus project www.bmvbs.de/SharedDocs/EN/ Artikel/B/energy-plus-house-my-housemy-filling-station.html www.WernerSobek.com
ENERGY STORAGE International Summit for the Storage of Renewable Energies
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EVENT PREVIEW
Talking from experience PV industry production equipment companies show how to drive down production costs in battery manufacturing at the Energy Storage Production Technology Forum. Leading innovators and suppliers of PV production equipment are providing cutting-edge solutions for battery manufacturing for the energy storage industry. Manz and Jonas & Redmann will be taking part in a panel discussion – How to get Costs Down, How to speed up manufacturing, Critical Issues and Best Practices – at the Energy Storage Production Technology Forum workshop at this year’s ENERGY STORAGE – International Summit for the Storage of Renewable Energies, taking place in Düsseldorf on 18 March 2013. In the inaugural issue of Energy Storage Journal Manz and Jonas & Redmann, along with other suppliers of PV production tools and systems, discussed their involvement in the emerging stationary energy storage sector. The full programme for the Energy Storage Production Technology Forum is designed to provide the current state of energy storage manufacturing technologies and enable attendees to gain firsthand knowledge from current users, recognised experts and industry pioneers.
Energy Storage Production Technology Forum programme: 1:20 pm Arrival of participants and joint networking lunch
4:00 pm Cost Analysis / Markets / Analyst Research
2:50 pm Session I
Dr. Franz J. Kruger Senior Advisor, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants GmbH
Introduction and Market Overview by Markus A. W. Höhner CEO, EUPD Research 2:55 pm Current Status / Market Overview Markus A. W. Hoehner CEO, EUPD Research 3:10 pm Current Status / Overview of Technology / Research Dr. Andreas Würsig Head of Integrated Power Systems, Fraunhofer ISIT 3:30 pm Partnering – A Viable Battery Production Technology Option Golo Wahl Director Business Development, Flextronics Energy
4:15 pm Q & A / Discussion 4:30 pm Coffee Break 5:00 pm Session 2 Discussion Panel- How to get Costs Down, How to speed up manufacturing, Critical Issues and Best Practices Participants: Marco Stehr Sales Director Li-ion Batteries, Manz Tübingen GmbH * Lutz Redmann Founder and CEO of Jonas & Redmann Group GmbH *
3:45 pm Quality Control / Measurement Technology
Dr. Werner Schreiber Managing Director Volkswagen Varta Microbattery Forschungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
Andreas Krispin Sales Manager, IN CORE Systèmes
Dr. Gerold Neumann CTO, Dispatch Energy Dr. Norbert Schall Vice President Research & Development Battery Materials, Süd-Chemie AG a Clariant Group Company
Dr. Franz J. Kruger Senior Advisor, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants GmbH Dr. Andreas Würsig Head of Integrated Power Systems, Fraunhofer ISIT 6:25 pm Closing Remarks 6:30 pm End of the Production Technology Forum Shuttle bus transfer to networking dinner The entrance for the workshop and the dinner is included to all registered conference badge holders. The forum, with lunch and evening dinner, can be booked for €395 or €350, for members of association partners, including IPVEA. The Energy Storage Production Technology Forum Committee includes: Dr. Binder, BTC Technologies Mr. Bryan Ekus, MD of IPVEA Dr. Jens Tübke, Fraunhofer ICT and Chairman of the Fraunhofer Battery Alliance Dr. Vetter, Fraunhofer ISE
*
member
FEATURE
Breaking it down Exploring the various applications for largecapacity electrical energy storage (EES) to support renewable energy integration
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FEATURE Energy storage, due to its tremendous range of uses and configurations, may assist renewable energy (RE) integration in any number of ways. These uses include, inter alia, matching generation to loads through time-shifting; balancing the grid through ancillary services, load-following, and load-levelling; managing uncertainty in RE generation through reserves; and smoothing output from individual RE plants. Promising large-capacity electrical energy storage (EES) technologies The universe of energy storage applications maps closely to the challenges of integrating RE into the grid. In the same way that RE integration creates needs at a variety of temporal scales, different types of energy storage are suited to different discharge times, from seconds to seasons. The suitability of an energy storage resource for a particular discharge timeframe is determined by its power density and energy density. Power density refers to the energy storage technology’s ability to provide instantaneous power. A higher power density indicates that the technology can discharge large amounts of power on demand. Energy density refers to the ability of the technology to provide continuous energy over a period of time. A high energy density indicates that the technology can discharge energy for long periods. Generally, energy storage technologies with the highest power densities tend to have the lower energy densities; they can discharge enormous amounts of power, but only for a short time. Likewise, technologies with the highest energy densities tend to have lower power densities; they can discharge energy for a long time, but cannot provide massive amounts of power immediately. This quality gives rise to a division of energy storage technologies into categories based on discharge times. While the categories are general and nearly always admit of exceptions, they are useful in conceptualising how many roles storage can play with respect to renewables integration. Short discharge time resources discharge for seconds or minutes, and have an energy-to-power ratio (kWh/kW) of less than 1. Examples include double layer capacitors (DLCs), superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), and flywheels (FES). These resources can provide instantaneous frequency regulation services to the grid that mitigate the impact of RE’s uncontrollable variability.
Medium discharge time resources discharge for minutes to hours, and have an energy-to-power ratio of between 1 and 10. This category is dominated by batteries, namely lead acid (LA), lithium ion (Li-ion), and sodium sulphur (NaS), though flywheels may also be used. Medium discharge time resources are useful for power quality and reliability, power balancing and load-following, reserves, consumer-side time-shifting, and generation-side output smoothing. Moreover, specific batteries may be designed so as to optimize for power density or energy density. As such, they are relevant to both the uncontrollable variability and partial unpredictability that RE generation brings to the grid. Medium-to-long discharge time resources discharge for hours to days, and have energy-topower ratios of between 5 and 30. They include pumped hydro storage (PHS), compressed air energy storage (CAES), and redox flow batteries (RFBs). RFBs are particularly flexible in their design, as designers may independently scale the battery’s power density and energy density by adjusting the size of the cell stacks or the volume of electrolytes, respectively. Technologies in this category are useful primarily for load-following and time-shifting, and can assist RE integration by hedging against weather uncertainties and solving diurnal mismatch of wind generation and peak loads. Long discharge time resources may discharge for days to months, and have energy-to-power ratios of over 10. They include hydrogen and synthetic natural gas (SNG). Technologies in this category are thought to be useful for seasonal time-shifting, and due to their expense and inefficiency will likely see deployment only when RE penetrations are very large. For example, large amounts of solar power on the grid will produce large amounts of energy in the summer months, but significantly less in the winter. Storing excess generation in the summer as hydrogen or SNG and converting it back to electricity in the winter would allow a time-shift of generation from one season to the next. Such technologies can assist RE integration in the long term by deferring the need for transmission expansion and interconnection that arises due to the locational dependency of renewable resources.
The suitability of an energy storage resource for a particular discharge timeframe is determined by its power density and energy density.
FEATURE
Roles of electrical energy storage (EES) in renewable energy integration Grid-side roles of EES The widest range of uses for EES lies in services to the grid operator in providing generation flexibility. These services also represent – from the grid operator’s perspective – the optimal use of storage as a tool to mitigate variability and uncertainty for an entire grid, rather than for specific loads or generation assets. The optimality arises from the fact that integration of large amounts of wind and solar energy over large geographic areas results in lower net variability and output uncertainty than the integration of a single RE plant, and so the need for services overall is reduced. Nevertheless, it is simplistic to expect that this will be the only use of energy storage for RE integration that emerges in future grids. Indeed, the grid operator’s is not the only perspective that is important or relevant. Individual RE generators or plants facing specific incentive policies or isolated grids may find it in their best interests to co-locate generation and storage to level output prior to grid integration. On the demand side, expanded use of electric vehicles (EV) may provide substantial aggregate energy storage to the grid even if the storage resource itself appears suboptimal to the grid operator. We avoid making any specific judgments or predictions about exactly what the distribution of uses will or ought to be for EES in assisting RE integration, and instead simply present all of the potential uses from a variety of perspectives. The actual use of EES in various countries in the future will vary significantly depending on government policies, utility strategies, social and cultural factors, and the peculiarities of each particular grid.
Individual RE generators or plants facing specific incentive policies or isolated grids may find it in their best interests to co-locate generation and storage to level output prior to grid integration.
Grid-side EES case study: The national wind power, solar power, energy storage and transmission demonstration project in Zhangbei, China The national wind power, solar power, energy storage and transmission demonstration project, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Energy Bureau and SGCC, is located in North Zhangjiakou. The wind and solar resources are rich, but the local load is small and the installation is far away from the BeijingTianjin-Tangshan load centre so the energy must be transmitted to the load centre by a high-voltage and long-distance transmission network. This project exemplifies the basic characteristics of RE development in China, and is a typical project for studying the problem of accommodating large-scale renewable power. The planned capacity of the project is 500 MW wind power, 100 MW PV power and 110 MW energy storage. Phase I of the project, which was completed in 2011, consists of 100 MW wind power, 40 MW PV power and 20 MW energy storage. In order to test the performance of different types of battery storage, three types of battery storage are used in the 20 MW energy storage station: 14 MW of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) batteries, 4 MW of NaS batteries and 2 MW of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). Through a panoramic intelligent optimal control system, panoramic monitoring, intelligent optimisation, comprehensive control and smooth mode-switching between wind, solar and storage, the project has met targets of output smoothing, schedule following, load levelling and frequency regulation. The storage system has contributed to making the wind farm and PV station more grid-friendly.
Generation-side roles of EES Operators of RE generation plants may use energy storage technologies to assist in the integration of a particular plant, or of several plants that feed into the same substation. EES used in this fashion serves to improve the grid-friendliness of RE generation itself. It is important to understand that generation-side use of energy storage is not simply a shift in ownership of the storage resource, but an entirely different role
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FEATURE for storage from that envisioned by grid-side use of EES. Rather than using EES as a tool to balance an entire power grid, an RE generation plant may use EES to provide integration applications prior to grid integration, either at the plant or substation level. While the technical requirements of generation-side EES applications are similar to those of grid-side EES, greater flexibility is required of generation side EES facilities, because a single RE plant exhibits greater variability and uncertainty than many RE plants aggregated on the same grid. This means that dedicating EES facilities to specific RE generation results in proportionately higher costs than using EES to balance net variability and uncertainty on the grid. For isolated and geographically-constrained grids, however, colocation of RE generation and EES may be an attractive option, as balancing such grids through interregional trading, conventional backup capacity or demand-side management is more challenging than for larger and more interconnected grids. Essentially, generation-side use of EES aims to transform an uncontrollably variable and partially unpredictable resource into a controlled and predictable one – it turns RE generation into something that looks very much like conventional energy generation. Such an RE generation resource is said to be dispatchable. It may also play a role in effectively utilising limited transmission capacity, particularly where the RE generation is located on an isolated or weak grid. Generation-side uses of EES include: Time shifting: The dedicated energy storage facility stores energy whenever its generator produces it, and stands ready to dispatch energy to the grid when needed. This can make RE output both predictable to grid operators and co-temporal to demand. Time shifting functions require EES facilities to store large quantities of energy for significant periods of time, from hours to days. NaS batteries exemplify the qualities needed for this function: they may store relatively large amounts of energy efficiently for hours at a time as well as ramp quickly. Storage efficiency is very important for economical operation of time shifting.
Output smoothing/flattening: Even when RE generation is producing energy at a time when it is needed, the EES resource may be used to smooth out fluctuations in frequency and voltage that result from the inherently variable nature of RE generation. Smoothing functions require ramping capability – the ability to rapidly change power output or uptake in order to regulate the output of the RE plant. When RE output spikes, the EES technology must be capable of storing the excess energy quickly. Conversely, when output suddenly drops, the storage system must be able to release energy quickly to provide extra power, keeping the plant output stable. The necessary function of storage facilities varies according to the requirements. In some cases just smoothing output is satisfactory, but in other cases output is required to be kept at the fixed values. Output smoothing at the plant level reduces the need for power quality and ancillary services on the grid itself. Transmission utilisation efficiency: Because RE generation is location-dependent, sufficient transmission may not be available to move energy to loads. It is often the case that transmission may be available, but it may be heavily congested. Generation-side EES resources may allow for more efficient use of transmission capacity by allowing an RE generation facility to wait to use the transmission line until congestion has cleared. SECOND BOX
Generation-side case study of EES support of RE plant integration in Japan In 2008, Japan Wind Development Company (JWD) began operating the first commercial ‘Wind and NAS Battery Hybrid System’. The plant consists of 51 MW (1 500 kW × 34 units) of wind turbines and 34 MW (2 000 kW × 17 units) of NAS batteries. The NAS battery application regulates the output of the plant to produce more electricity during high demand (price) periods, and less during low demand (price) periods. Output can also be reduced when system conditions require. JWD has operated its wind and EES technologies in combination according to plan for three years.
FEATURE
Demand-side roles of EES Energy storage has a number of applications for energy consumers; time-shifting to reduce consumption of grid electricity at peak times, firm power for off-grid, renewably-powered homes or critical industrial applications, and emergency power supply are a few examples. These applications, however, are related more to the needs of the consumer than to solving particular challenges related to the integration of large-capacity RE. In seeking demand-side EES technologies that directly relate to large capacity RE integration, only one critical type emerges: electric vehicles. EVs are significant to RE integration because of the potential for aggregation. While a single EV can store a relatively small amount of energy, many EVs all plugged into the grid at the same time may someday be operated as a single large energy-storage device, or virtual power plant (VPP). As such an electric vehicle virtual power plant (EVPP) may provide both time-shifting and other energy applications to store RE at times of low demand and release it to meet peak demand, as well as operating reserves such as frequency regulation service, increasing quantities of which are needed as more variable RE generation is added to a system. Such functions are referred to as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems. EVPPs providing V2G services must satisfy the requirements of both vehicle owners and grid operators. By aggregating individual vehicles into a single controllable EES resource, an EVPP can potentially achieve this balancing act, bidding and providing ancillary services at all times without locking a vehicle owner into a charging station from which she or he cannot depart at will. EVPPs are still conceptual in nature, and involve significant complexities that are beyond the scope of this report. A number of modelling efforts are presently examining EVPP feasibility and architecture. One of the more robust and RE-integration relevant modelling efforts is located on the Danish island of Bornholm, which relies heavily on wind turbines with 30 MW of wind capacity that services 22% of the island’s load.
Essentially, generation-side use of EES aims to transform an uncontrollably variable and partially unpredictable resource into a controlled and predictable one – it turns RE generation into something that looks very much like conventional energy generation.
Summary EES may serve as a source of flexibility for the integration of RE in a wide variety of ways, from improving the grid-friendliness of RE generation itself through increasing generation flexibility to providing demand response from electric vehicles. These represent the near-term uses of energy storage as one means among many of providing system flexibility. In the medium term, energy storage may allow, through both balancing and time-shifting functions, for more effective and full utilization of transmission lines and thus assist in transmission expansion and siting to RE resource areas. In the longer term, energy storage may influence energy system planning in unique and profound ways. Large-scale, long-term energy storage such as hydrogen and synthetic natural gas may provide a means of storing seasonally-produced RE for months or years and thus serve the need for dispatchable and controllable generation that is currently met through fossil fuels. The cost of such storage is currently considered prohibitively expensive and the energy penalties too high by many system operators and governments. Advances in technology and shifts in the politics of energy may be necessary before such a future becomes likely.
Credit This article is summarised from Section 5 of ‘Grid integration of large-capacity Renewable Energy sources and use of large-capacity Electrical Energy Storage’, a white paper produced by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and published in October 2012. The white paper is the third in a series whose purpose is to ensure that the IEC can continue to contribute with its standards and conformity assessment services to the solution of global challenges in electrotechnology. ‘Grid integration of large-capacity Renewable Energy sources and use of large-capacity Electrical Energy Storage’ was written by a project team under the IEC’s market strategy board, in particular the experts of the State Grid Corporation of China and RASEI the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI) in the University of Colorado at Boulder and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the US. www.iec.ch
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TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
WITH BATTERIES
Grid storage opportunities for batteries
Source: Aquion
technology FOCUS
BY STAFF
‘We need to think about the problem differently. We need to think big and we need to think cheap … let’s invent to the price point of the electricity market.’
Batteries, which cover a range of technologies, are suitable for stationary grid storage applications both at the utility-scale and for community and other distributed storage applications near the consumer end of the distribution network. Unlike the electric vehicle market, which is suffering from overcapacity in battery production, in the coming years growth opportunities for grid connected stationary energy storage will drive demand for batteries, attracting new companies that are developing batteries for the specific demands of grid storage. The utility-scale market will take time to establish itself as utilities are conservative and risk averse. According to Pike Research (part of Navigant Consulting) reduced costs, regulatory support and business model clarification is required for utility-scale storage to become established. Pike Research values the global market at $1.5 billion by 2015 and this is a relatively conservative forecast. Lux Research, for instance, predicts the global grid-scale storage market to be worth $114 billion by 2017 and Boston Consulting Group forecasts a $400 billion market by 2020, though precise breakdowns of grid-scale markets by different analysts could be reason for the varying forecast values. Few markets have demonstration projects for utility-scale battery based energy storage. They include China and the US. Though they require much fewer batteries than utility-scale storage applications, distributed storage demonstration projects are increasing in number worldwide, in markets such as the US state of California, Japan, South Korea and the UK, where the government is providing support to some projects that will piloting battery storage to alleviate pressure on the low voltage (LV) network that the predicted increase in PV
systems, heat pumps, electric vehicles and other low carbon technologies will add. According to a report published in 2012 produced for the UK government the value in the majority of future storage installations lies in distributed storage on the semi-urban network. Instances of partnerships between solar suppliers and companies supplying energy storage systems and technologies are increasing in order to develop opportunities that are emerging. Today the most popular primary applications for advanced battery in stationary storage applications is for load levelling/peak shifting, where typically sodium-sulfur (NaS) batteries are used. Other primary applications for batteries include integration of renewables, where NaS as well as flow and lead acid batteries are used. For frequency regulation as the primary application lithium ion (l-ion) batteries tend to be used. Nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries tend to be favoured where spinning reserves is the main application. In Q2 2012, nearly 250 MW of installed capacity of NaS batteries were used for load levelling/peak shifting, according to Pike Research, with around 25 MW of installed lithium-ion battery capacity for frequency regulation applications.
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Technology Focus
Pike Research values the global market for utility-scale energy storage to reach at $1.5 billion by 2015 New battery products developed for grid storage However, as various regions, such as Europe, increase renewables capacity to meet carbon reduction targets many companies are bringing to market new cost-effective, scalable and safe battery technologies. US zinc-air battery developer Eos is scaling up battery prototypes (5 kW/30 kWh units) for initial manufacturing in 2013 and delivery of MW-scale systems to first customers in 2014. The company’s Aurora grid product is a 1 MW/6 MWh energy storage system for the electric grid with 1 MW optimal power for six hours with surge capability. The price of the battery for major orders is $1000/ kW. Aquion Energy was spun out of Carnegie Mellon University in 2009 to develop a low cost battery, initially for off-grid and microgrid applications. The battery is suitable for grid services such as deep-energy-daily-cycling (four or more hours), load shifting, diesel optimisation, renewables integration and transmission and distribution (T&D) referral. The company is headquartered in Pittsburgh. The Aquion battery is based on a propriety aqueous hybrid ion (AHI) chemistry, to provide superior life, safety, durability, and low system costs. The anode consists of activated carbon, the cathode of manganese oxide and the electrolyte from water based sodium sulphate and the separator from cotton. The battery is sealed in a polypropylene casing, the cells are self-balancing and the architecture is modular and scalable, with no thermal management required, no maintenance and limited balance of system requirements.
Aquion will produce its batteries from its plant in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. The firm is targeting different global markets by various applications, for example rural electrification in Africa, weak grids in India, grid arbitrage in the US and Europe as well as renewables integration globally. Towards the end of 2012 Aquion entered pilot manufacturing of its batteries to meet demand for the various demonstration projects where it is sampling its batteries with potential customers. This year the company’s main focus is on microgrid and off-grid opportunities for its batteries, where energy storage integrated with solar can be used instead of diesel power generation backup. The market is potentially global. VP of business development Ted Wiley cites south-east Asia, Australia, India as well as the US, where micro-grid markets are driven by the military and mission critical facilities, or even as back-up power support during the hurricane season that often causes power outages. Potential partners the company is aiming to work with include systems integrators. Though it has some projects lined up it is actively seeking potential partners that it can sample its batteries to, for lab assessments on performance and where partners can support Aquion in finalising specifications and ultimately to bring its batteries to market as part of off-grid and microgrid energy storage systems. In late 2013 Aquion will then move into highvolume production in anticipation of supplying utility-scale projects and demand in early 2014. The utility market will require batteries in much higher quantities while the microgrid and off-grid markets will provide manageable demand ahead of the company scaling production. Ambri (formerly Liquid Metal Battery Technology) is targeting grid-scale opportunities for energy storage provided by the increased use of intermittent renewables such as solar and wind. Ambri, which was spun out from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2010, is backed by investors that include Bill Gates, Total and Khosla Ventures. The company is bringing to
Technology Focus
Potential partners AQUION is aiming to work with include systems integrators. Though it has some projects lined up it is actively seeking potential partners that it can sample its batteries to.
market an all-liquid battery – a process known as reversible ambipolar electrolysis. The design avoids cycle-to-cycle capacity fade. This is because the electrodes are reconstituted with each charge through an alloying/de-alloying process, enabling the battery to exceed 70% round-trip efficiency without degradation. Low cost battery for grid-scale storage Ambri’s cells consist of a molten salt electrolyte that sits between a high density metal on the bottom and a low density metal on top, when heated to the melting point. In a charged state a thermodynamic driving force between the top metal layer and the bottom metal layer creates a cell voltage. The movement of the electrons through the cell generate enough heat to keep the battery at temperature. An additional advantage is that no thermal management or control is required, ensuring the battery’s simplicity. All components are based on abundant elements. Each cell is a 16-inch square unit containing about 1200 Wh. The cells are then placed into 25 kW (100 kWh) refrigerator-sized modules. To produce commercial grid-scale storage battery banks Ambri will pack the modules into a 40-ft shipping container, rated at 500 kW and 2 MWh storage capacity.
battery design that can be fabricated in existing factories using contract manufacturing. The recent fate of A123, which filed for bankruptcy in 2012, suggests that developing new, potentially game-changing battery technologies is no less risky any other high-tech field. However, by exploiting abundant materials for their respective battery technologies, nascent players such as Ambi and Aquion are keeping cost at the forefront, because for intermittent renewables to become a mainstream form of energy generation, low-cost high performance storage technologies are going to be absolutely critical in the coming years. Speaking at a TED conference earlier this year, professor Don Sadoway, the inventor of Ambri’s liquid metal battery, said: ‘The need for grid level storage is compelling, but the fact is today there is simply know battery technology capable of meeting the demanding performance requirements of the grid, namely uncommonly high power, long service lifetime and super-low-cost. We need to think about the problem differently. We need to think big and we need to think cheap ... let’s invent to the price point of the electricity market.’
Aquion has developied an advanced battery for a variety of stationary applications and is working with partners such as systems integrators to bring the technology to market Source: Aquion
Ambri’s strategy to commercialise its technology initially targets applications where large amounts of energy need to be stored and the battery can respond in milliseconds. This will potentially open up markets where Ambri can charge premium prices for storing and delivering electricity to the grid to make up for fluctuations in supply and demand, which will become more acute as more wind and solar power is installed. To reduce capital costs in future Ambri has created a
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energy storage & solar events 18-19 MARCH 2013
Energy Storage Congress Center Düsseldorf (CCD), Messe Düsseldorf, Germany At the inaugural Energy Storage summit and exhibition, held in March 2012, 20 exhibitors presented their products and services in the field of storage technology and 350 participants from 29 countries took part in the two-day conference with accompanying exhibition. The show also includes the Energy Storage Production Technology Forum. www.energy-storage-online.com
16-20 April
Solar 2013 Baltimore, Maryland, US SOLAR 2013, taking place at the Baltimore Convention Center, in Maryland, is managed by staff and volunteers under the supervision of ASES and its local chapter, the Mid Atlantic Solar Energy Society (MASES). SOLAR 2013, ASES’ 42nd Annual National Solar Conference, gathers the nation’s top solar energy experts in all topical areas and for the first time ever, the National Solar Conference encourages Young Professionals to present their papers alongside those of industry experts. SOLAR 2013 highlighted technical sessions include: - Trends in Distributed Renewable Energy Generation & Storage - Financing Distributed Generation Projects - The Facts about Community Solar
- Developments in Micro-grids and Distributed Storage Technologies For more information, visit www.ases.org/ solar2013/about-solar-2013/
23-25 APRIL 2013
6th Energy Storage Forum Berlin, Germany Past Energy Storage Forums in Asia (Beijing, Tokyo) and in Europe (Barcelona, Paris, Rome) have altogether attracted over 500 professionals from 20 countries. Some of the past speakers have included utilities such as EDF and ENEL. The Forum, to be held at the Hotel Kempinski Bristol, in Berlin, aims to get deeper into the business case according to different applications by comparing different technologies including: flywheel, li-ion, CAES, flow battery, hydrogen, supercapacitors, power electronics, hydropower and new alternative technologies. The forum is broadening its expanding its remit to further explore the role of wind, solar and power electronics in energy storage. The event is supported by the Electricity Storage Association (ESA), which is based in Washington DC. More information about the event can be found at www.energystorageforum.com
8-9 May 2013
Global Solar Summit Milan, Italy The global solar industry is facing a tumultuous phase as market consolidation has profoundly impacted the sector with
weaker players being pushed out of business. In the upcoming months many challenges will need to be addressed by the solar community at worldwide scale. The first edition of the Global Solar Summit, which will be held in Milan on 8-9 May in conjunction with Solarexpo, will strive to answer those challenges by bringing together Industry leaders and decision makers with the purpose of helping drive the solar energy sector forward. Highlights of the event include: Solar energy & the energy markets Status and prospects of PV and CSP Comparative value of solar power in the context of the global energy markets High grid penetration Discussion forum between the solar industry and the utilities Ancillary services, grid storage and other enabling technologies New and emerging markets How sustainably and how quickly can they fill the sales gap? Growth drivers, volatility, business models, prospects For more information, visit www.globalsolar-summit.com/eng/highlights/
14-16 May 2013
7th SNEC International Photovoltaic Power Generation Conference Shanghai, China SNEC (2013) International Photovoltaic Power Generation Conference & Exhibition [SNEC PV POWER EXPO] will be held in
events
Shanghai, China, 14-16 May. The conference will cover all the aspects of photovoltaic technology and manufacturing, including equipment/ devices, materials, processes, manufacturing, integration, as well as emerging PV technologies and applications. For more information, visit http://www. snec.org.cn/Default.aspx?lang=en.
17-21 June 2013
Intersolar Europe Munich, Germany From June 19–21, 2013, the international solar industry’s largest manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and service providers are convening to showcase the latest market developments and technical innovations at Intersolar Europe, in Messe München, Germany. Intersolar Europe has enjoyed rapid growth over the past few years, clearly underscoring the exhibition’s status as a global industry hub for solar technology. This year, 1500 exhibitors and 60,000 visitors are expected at the show. As well as providing an extensive conference programme on solar markets and technologies, business models, encompassing silicon and thin film PV, and solar thermal Intersolar Europe’s conference programme includes energy storage topics, from policy and market prospects to technologies. The exhibition runs from 19-21 June and the conference runs from 17-20 June. For more information, visit www.intersolar. de/en/intersolar-europe.html.
8-11 July 2013
Intersolar North America San Francisco, USA Intersolar North America 2013 will run from 8-11 July. This year’s show has been expanded to include an energy storage exhibition segment.
Visitor registration for Intersolar North America 2013 will be available from 18 March. For more information about the show, visit www.intersolar.us.
10-12 September 2013
Energy Storage North America California, US San Jose Convention Center With the first staging of Energy Storage North America (ESNA) from 10-12 September 2013 at the San Jose Convention Center in California, Messe Düsseldorf will bring its successful concept from Germany to the US. Jointly organised by Messe Düsseldorf North America and Strategen Consulting, ESNA 2013 will be the first energy storage conference and expo in the US to focus exclusively on applications, customers and deal making. ESNA 2013 is strategically timed to coincide with potential new energy storage procurement targets for California load serving entities pursuant to AB 2514. Exhibitor applications and information as well as conference registration are available online at www.ESNAexpo.com.
17-19 September 2013
The Battery Show Novi, Michigan, USA Taking place 17-19 September, Novi, Detroit, Michigan, The Battery Show 2013 is the premier showcase of the latest advanced battery technology. The exhibition hall offers a platform to launch new products, make new contacts and maintain existing relationships. With more qualified buyers and decision makers than any other event in North America, The Battery Show 2013 is the key to unlocking your organisation’s future business opportunities.
concerned with advanced energy storage and will host the very latest advanced battery solutions for electric & hybrid vehicles, utility & renewable energy support, portable electronics, medical technology, military and telecommunications. For more information, visit www. thebatteryshow.com.
30 September - 4 October 2013
28th EU PVSEC Paris, France The 28th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (28th EU PVSEC) will take place from 30 September to 04 October 2013 at Parc des Expositions Paris Nord Villepinte in Paris, France. The five-day Conference is complemented by the three-day Exhibition, held from 1-3 October 2013. The event is being held in a period when France is increasing its PV activities, including the launch of a new set of incentive measures and a doubling of the country’s 2013 PV installation targets. Paris represents one of the world’s leading business centres. The city hosts the headquarters of international organisations such as UNESCO, ESA – European Space Agency, OECD – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, IEA – International Energy Agency, ICC – International Chamber of Commerce, REN21 – Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century and many more. In addition to the conference programme, EU PVSEC 2013 includes several parallel events including PV Production Forum 2013, which has been expanded to include energy storage subjects. For more information about the 28th EU PVSEC, visit www.photovoltaicconference.com
The Battery Show is attended by technical leaders, scientists, engineers, project leaders, buyers and senior executives
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