7 minute read
POWER SYSTEMS
Anew contract to provide a 5MW Power Supply Unit for an electrolyzer testing system is a key example of one of the projects which confirm Nidec’s leadership in today’s hydrogen market - its technical contribution effectively making the process even greener, says the company. Nidec Industrial Solutions has received an important order from a leading global player in green hydrogen production, storage and distribution for a 5MW Power Supply Unit (PSU) to be installed as part of an electrolyzer testing system, which will be supplied on a 40’ skid with outdoor cabinets using 6 Nidec AD7000 power modules working in parallel to generate 5.6MW of energy. The PSU has several unique features such as a hermetically-sealed oil transformer that uses vegetable oil, which further reduces the environmental impact of the solution. The green hydrogen sector is establishing itself as strategic in future European energy scenario and its evolution will be also promoted thanks to the growing investments announced by the European Union. Nidec Industrial Solutions is not new to the hydrogen market, having provided power supply units for more than 10 green hydrogen PEM electrolyzer systems across Europe. This significant experience has lead to the design of a highly cost-effective, compact, modular unit with a high degree of reliability and efficiency, based on Nidec converters and power control systems. This is a solution which highlights the effectiveness of the products which Nidec Industrial Solutions currently offers to new energy sectors. “Cost, reliability and efficiency are the three key ingredients for a successful transition to green hydrogen,” says Dominique Llonch, President of Nidec Industrial Solutions. “Our commitment is to provide the safest, most economically viable solution to our customers and we are pleased to have been chosen for this important project. “We have been involved in some of the largest Green Hydrogen pilot projects in Europe, many of which were the first of their kind. It is exciting to see the market evolve into its commercial stage with leading players in green hydrogen market.” He concludes: “This is a further milestone that confirms Nidec’s key role in the future transformation of the energy industry.” The main characteristics of the Nidec AD7000 PSU are: •Input Voltage: 10kV •Output Power Supply: 5.625MW •DC output voltage range: 10141485V •DC output current range: 3133750A.
All about electrolyzers and green hydrogen
One of the most common ways of producing green hydrogen is through a process involving the electrolysis of water. Electrolysis is a promising option for hydrogen production from renewable resources. Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This reaction takes place in an electrolyzer. Electrolyzers can range in size from small to large-scale, and can be used for a variety of applications, such as for renewable energy storage and buffering or to generate hydrogen for industry feedstock. Electrolyzers can be scaled to meet a variety of input and output ranges, ranging in size from small industrial plants installed in shipping containers to large-scale centralised production facilities that can deliver the hydrogen by trucks or be connected to pipelines. Currently, the main electrolysis technologies are alkaline and PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane). The hydrogen produced from an electrolyzer is considered highly suitable for use with hydrogen fuel cells. Working much like a battery, fuel cells do not run down or need charging and produce electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied. Green hydrogen is hydrogen generated by renewable energy or from low-carbon power. Green hydrogen has significantly lower carbon emissions than grey hydrogen, which is produced by steam reforming of natural gas, which makes up the bulk of the hydrogen market. Produced by the electrolysis of water is less than 0.1% of total hydrogen production, green hydrogen may be used to decarbonize sectors which are hard to electrify, such as steel and cement production, and thus help to limit climate change. The high cost of H2 production is the main factor behind the low use of green hydrogen. Nonetheless, the hydrogen market is expected to grow, with some forecasts of the cost of hydrogen production falling from $6/kg in 2015 to around $2/kg by
Wind and solar power generation are attracting attention as renewable energy sources independent from fossil fuel . Fossil fuels are known to impose a heavy burden on the environment while also facing the risk of depletion in the future. The task of connecting these new energy sources to the existing power grid, however, does not come without challenges, says Nidec ASi. The power provided has to be in a constant fine balance with the demand of the system, and advanced control technology is deployed throughout the power grid to optimise this equilibrium of supply and demand. Furthermore, these advanced systems act to maintain high quality of the electricity inside the power grid by regulating voltage, phase and frequency etc. to avoid the risk of blackouts. These systems allow consumers to tap into the power grid and utilise electricity in their daily lives without having to worry about electrical fluctuations. Nidec ASI’s inverter and power quality solutions allow renewable energy sources to be connected to the existing power grid with very high levels of power quality. The company also offers power conversion and systems solutions for various applications including power generation systems optimised for guaranteeing availability of electricity off-grid such as on isolated islands or in other remote places in the world. One example of this is the Smart Microgrid project in Ollagüe, Chile. Ollagüe is a village nested in the Andes mountain range at an altitude of 3660m above sea level. This project started out with the goal of integrating photovoltaic- and wind power generation, a large scale power storage system used to compensate for the instability of these renewable energy forms, and an already existing diesel generator into a system capable of providing stable power. In order to engineer a cost efficient system of an optimal scale, the total power consumption of the village was calculated for various hours of the day based on the population and the facilities of the village while the yearly sunshine duration and the wind power of the location were estimated based on past data. Armed with this information, Nidec’s technical experts decided on an optimal composition and design for the system and set out to develop, produce and install the equipment.
“WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE LARGEST GREEN HYDROGEN PILOT PROJECTS IN EUROPE, MANY OF WHICH WERE THE FIRST OF THEIR KIND. IT IS EXCITING TO SEE THE MARKET EVOLVES INTO ITS COMMERCIAL STAGE WITH LEADING PLAYERS IN GREEN HYDROGEN MARKET. THIS IS A FURTHER MILESTONE THAT CONFIRMS NIDEC’S KEY ROLE IN THE FUTURE TRANSFORMATION OF THE ENERGY INDUSTRY.” - DOMINIQUE LLONCH, PRESIDENT OF NIDEC INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS
Accomplishing the goals of this project was made possible by Nidec ASI’s experience in designing and constructing grid-tied renewable energy systems used in various parts throughout the world. Through application of this experience along with Nidec’s advanced technology, the company’s technical experts were able to provide the inhabitants of Ollagüe with a means of reading books even when it is dark outside, and improving their quality of life in other ways by making it possible to use home appliances such as water heaters, cookets, TVs and refrigerators which are seeing a steady increase in use in the village.
About Nidec Industrial Solutions
Nidec Industrial Solutions (NIS), the commercial platform of the Nidec group, offers complete electrical systems and brings together the products and services of Nidec ASI, Avtron Industrial Automation, Nidec Industrial Automation and Motortecnica. Nidec offers customised solutions throughout the world for a wide range of industrial applications. Its reference markets are the petrochemical, traditional and renewable energy, steel, maritime and industrial automation markets. The multinational is specialised in heavy duty applications in which high power and high performance are key:. The company’s products include: electric motors and generators up to 65 MW of power (87,000 HP); power electronic converters and inverters; automation and software for industrial processes. The company is involved in the retrofitting of power plants and hydroelectric generators, providing integrated systems for the production of electrical energy from renewable sources and their integration in power grids. Following the acquisition of the Motors, Drives and Electric Power Generation divisions of Emerson Electric Co., Nidec ASI has also made further improvements to its industrial and commercial activities, integrating the medium and low power drives into the overall range offered by Nidec. Thanks to the acquisitions of Control Techniques and Leroy-Somer, part of Nidec Corporation Group since February 1st, 2017, the company has been able to offer technologies optimised for the control of motors and to develop automation solutions for specific applications, tailored to the needs of the client to provide a flexible response to each requirement.
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