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Explore the dynamics of energy storage in Alaska with a focus on product development, commercial viability, and the role of consumers. Learn about the need for accurate modeling and the diverse types of energy storage systems available in the market.
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Energy Storage—Current state of Charge Archie DeBunker & Dennis Witmer
Why do we need energy storage? • Grid environment— • Renewables Firming (Wind and PV) • Frequency Stabilization • Energy Arbitrage (buy low, sell high) • Transmission upgrade deferral (GVEA BESS) • Alaska • Save Diesel • Allow very high penetration of wind (much greater than 100% of peak demand) • Diesels off operation • Load shifting to save fuel after wind event • Alaska needs are different—but our market isn’t big enough to drive product development
Product Development Scale • Ends of the scale don’t require much investment risk—ideas are cheap, commercial products can produce profits to support incremental R&D • “Pre-Commercial” phase is especially dangerous for energy products—requires significant capital investment at high risk. • Different than software development • Real hardware needs to be developed—good engineering skills required—and you limited by chemistry and physics • Must compete with existing commercial products (electrical grids, diesel generators) • Inventors turn to capital markets for investment • Customers are important to convince investors that there is a real market, but customers are not the source of sufficient funding to drive product development.
Commercial Products • Commercial products have: • Fixed Price • Fixed delivery date • Fixed specifications • Warrantee • If product lacks any of the above, it is not a commercial product • Commercial products are cheap and they work • Most energy storage devices are not real commercial products yet • A brochure describing technical specs can be made in Adobe InDesign—it does not mean that a real product exists—specifications may be more aspirational than real • There is almost always a gap between the hype and the hardware in pre-commercial products
Playing the role of “First Customer” (Hard lessons from Fuel Cells) • If cheap, reliable energy storage is possible, Alaska needs it • Product developers need to understand our needs so their products will work here—but will be developing products for larger markets • Pre-commercial products are very likely not to work as well as advertised • Product failures must be expected— • Failure to deliver on purchase order • Failure to meet initial specifications • Rapid degradation or other failures in the field • This is research—the product we get is information about the energy storage systems • Funding should be intended for R&D—not from operations. • Recognize that suppliers are more interested in investors than in customers—we really aren’t that important to them now • Supplier independent thinking—it’s the job of the developer to provide us with a product that works, and if they can’t, we try another supplier—or another technology. • A number of large utilities in the lower 48 are following storage for grid applications—Duke, SMUD, EPRI—perhaps worth visiting.
Need for modeling • How much is energy storage worth? • How much diesel fuel can be saved? (modeling?) • How long will storage system last? (Need testing data) • Back of envelope calculations—show that many energy storage systems are too expensive for load shifting applications • More sophisticated modeling is needed to assess value for stabilization applications • Electrochemical systems often degrade more rapidly under high current density conditions • Modeling can be used as a screening tool to properly size systems, and screen out systems that are unlikely to be economical • Cannot answer basic questions about hardware—need to find other sources of information on systems.
State of the Energy Storage Market • Energy storage is becoming part of the US grid market • Recent changes to FERC rules that allow third parties to provide frequency stabilization services and bill for them. • Dozens of companies are developing products for this market • Many of the companies are small, and are chasing capital. • Money is flowing—about $600 M in investment across the industry, mostly in past few years
Types of Energy Storage • Pumped Hydro • Compressed Air • Underground • Above ground—SustainX Isothermal Storage • Flywheels • Beacon Power had failures, went bankrupt, is back under new management • Powercorp has flywheel system, but appears to be tentative about marketing unit • Batteries
Batteries • NGK Sodium Sulfur battery appears dead • Two fires, appear to be preparing to shut down and recall all batteries in the field • Lead Acid and Advanced Lead Acid • Xtreme Power • Appears to be using advanced lead acid battery technology developed for automotive applications • Ecoult Lead Carbon battery • Appears to have much better deep discharge and partial charge performance—but high quality graphite can be expensive
Li-Ion Batteries • Still appear to be quite expensive and may suffer from relatively rapid degradation • A123, Altairnano, and numerous other suppliers exist • Automotive applications are main driving force—but stationary applications might be able to use reconditioned automotive batteries • Use in peak shaving applications, not for load shifting
Flow Batteries • Prudent Energy • Vanadium has become quite expensive, but major cost of small systems (UAF sized) is in balance of plant • Larger system being demonstrated in California at onion processing plant • ZBB appears active but emphasized power electronics rather than battery technology • Redflow gave initial results from a community based demonstration, but gave no economics • Premium Power attended, but did not present • Numerous new companies are attempting to develop flow battery technologies
Other Batteries • Zinc Air • Nice presentation, but apparently unchanged from past three years • Aquion • Appears to be the darling of the VC crowd • Some slippage in schedules, but appears to be aiming for demonstration later this year • MIT liquid metal battery • Lots of interest, but still keeping fairly low profile.
Update on Premium Power • Recent change in ownership of company • New investors are putting $60M into company • Deal completed October 2011 • Previous management is gone • Battery shipped to Kotzebue is currently being described as a “mistake” • Transflow 2000 difficult to work on in field • Fittings that loosened during shipping are impossible to access • Lack of requested plastic shrink wrap around unit allowed salt water intrusion during shipping—may lead to electrical problems • Issues between old management and new management were brought to a head over discussions on how to support the unit
Update on Premium Power • Discussions with Premium Power reps at ESA meeting, and with KEA in May—PP wants the unit back. • Company is stepping back from product, focusing current work on basic understanding of technology • Have hired a flock of consultants to help with product development • Running stacks to failure, and conducting FMA • Discovering issues at deep discharge levels, high current densities • Admitted that promised storage levels on Transflow 2000 had never been verified (FAT showed about half of 2.8 MW-hr capacity) • Backing away from trailer mounted system to smaller 125 kW Conex based systems • Will not be shipping any product from factory before end of 2012 • Proposed shipping a 125 kW stack to Kotzebue in 2013, balance in 2014 • Promise that their units will meet specs, whatever they turn out to be