#contributing to grid stability and minimizing curtailment.

[diatechin]

Pioneering the Sustainable Wave in Switchgear Systems

In the perpetually shifting landscape of technology, our unswerving dedication to adopting sustainability has yielded remarkable strides in engineering. One domain that epitomizes this unwavering commitment is that of switchgear systems. These wonders of contemporary engineering have embarked on substantial advances, embracing ecologically benevolent attributes, consequently establishing themselves as keystone elements in the quest for a more verdant and enduring future. In this exposition, we plunge into the depths of how switchgear systems integrate these environmentally considerate attributes.

The Ecological Evolution of Switchgear Systems

Curtailing Environmental Impact

Switchgear systems have traversed a considerable distance in mitigating their ecological footprint. In response to the burgeoning awareness of the imperative nature of ecological harmony, manufacturers have pivoted towards sustainability. Present-day switchgear testingare meticulously devised with the objective of minimizing their carbon footprint, employing materials and technologies that are more benevolent to our planet.

Apex of Energy Efficiency

An indispensable facet characterizing the eco-friendliness of switchgear systems is their superlative energy efficiency. These systems are meticulously designed to optimize the distribution of power, ensuring minimal wastage of energy. This not only conserves valuable resources but also translates into substantial fiscal savings for enterprises.

Utilizing Eco-conscientious Materials

In the contemporary landscape, switchgear systems have embraced the deployment of eco-conscientious materials in their construction. The assimilation of recyclable and biodegradable constituents contributes to the diminution of the environmental impact throughout the entire life cycle of these systems.

Embracing Renewable Energy

Seamless Assimilation

As we embark on the trajectory towards a world that is progressively reliant on renewable energy, switchgear systems have nimbly adapted to facilitate the seamless integration of renewable energy sources. They play a pivotal role in overseeing the flow of power emanating from solar, wind, and other sustainable sources. This assimilation engenders a more fluid and efficient transition towards an energy vista that is distinctly verdant.

Ensuring Grid Equilibrium

Switchgear systems are pivotal custodians of grid stabilization, an essential component in the harnessing of renewable energy. They efficiently administer the distribution of power while averting potential disruptions, thus ensuring an unwavering and reliable bestowal of energy, even in the face of intermittent reliance on renewable sources.

Proficient Monitoring and Control

Real-Time Data Scrutiny

Present-day iterations of switchgear systems bestow proficiency in monitoring and control. Through the real-time scrutiny of data, they can discern irregularities and optimize the dispersion of power, culminating in the reduction of energy wastage and an augmentation of system reliability.

Anticipatory Maintenance

Modern switchgear systems incorporate anticipatory maintenance technologies designed to forestall system breakdowns. By identifying latent issues before they reach a critical juncture, these systems enhance operational efficiency and prolong their life span, concomitantly diminishing the need for replacements and curtailing environmental repercussions.

Adherence to Rigorous Mandates

Compliance with Environmental Edicts

In consonance with the global endeavor to combat climate perturbations, switchgear testingadheres to rigorous environmental edicts. They are meticulously crafted to comply with, or surpass, regulations delineated by environmental authorities, thus ensuring their non-complicity in the degradation of our planet.

Epilogue

The eco-friendly attributes of switchgear systems underscore the pivotal role they play in our journey towards a more sustainable future. Their diminished environmental footprint, energy efficiency of the highest order, and harmonious incorporation of renewable energy founts render them indispensable in the battle against climatic vicissitudes. Furthermore, their commitment to adhering to stringent environmental standards underscores their stature as a conscientious and environmentally responsible choice.

In this fast-paced milieu, the significance of switchgear systems in environmental conservation cannot be overstated. As we persevere in our quest for a more verdant and sustainable future, these systems serve as luminous beacons of innovation and environmental stewardship.

[electronalytics]

Vanadium Flow Battery (VFB) Store Energy Market Demand Key Growth Opportunities, Development and Forecasts to 2017-2032

The global vanadium flow battery (VFB) energy storage market has witnessed significant growth in recent years, driven by the increasing demand for reliable and sustainable energy storage solutions.

VFBs are a type of rechargeable flow battery that utilize vanadium ions in different oxidation states to store and release electrical energy.

These batteries offer several advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries, such as longer lifespan, high energy efficiency, and the ability to discharge and recharge simultaneously.

The VFB market is experiencing growing adoption in various sectors, including renewable energy integration, grid-scale energy storage, and off-grid applications.

The market is characterized by the presence of several key players, technological advancements, and ongoing research and development efforts to enhance battery performance and reduce costs.

Key points:

Growing renewable energy integration: The increasing penetration of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, has led to a higher demand for energy storage solutions. VFBs are well-suited for storing excess renewable energy for later use, contributing to grid stability and minimizing curtailment.

Grid-scale energy storage applications: VFBs are deployed in large-scale energy storage projects to provide grid stability, peak shaving, load balancing, and backup power. These batteries can store and release energy over extended durations, making them ideal for utility-scale applications.

Off-grid and remote applications: VFBs are also used in off-grid and remote areas, where a reliable power supply is crucial. They can be employed in microgrids, island communities, and remote industrial sites to ensure uninterrupted power availability.

Long cycle life: VFBs have a longer cycle life compared to other battery technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries. They can sustain thousands of charge-discharge cycles without significant degradation, resulting in reduced maintenance costs and improved overall economics.

Scalability and modular design: VFB systems offer scalability, allowing capacity expansion by adding more electrolyte tanks and stacks. Their modular design facilitates easy customization based on specific energy storage requirements.

Demand points:

Growing need for renewable energy integration: With the increasing deployment of renewable energy sources worldwide, there is a rising demand for energy storage technologies like VFBs to efficiently store and utilize intermittent renewable energy.

Grid resilience and stability: The need for grid stability and resilience is driving the demand for energy storage systems, including VFBs. These batteries can help mitigate fluctuations in energy supply and demand, reducing the risk of blackouts and ensuring reliable power delivery.

Characteristics points:

High energy efficiency: VFBs offer high round-trip energy efficiency, typically above 80%. This means that a significant portion of the stored energy can be efficiently retrieved when needed.

Deep discharge capability: VFBs can be discharged to a very low state of charge without adversely affecting their performance or cycle life. This feature makes them suitable for applications where occasional deep discharges are required.

Chemical stability and safety: VFBs utilize non-flammable electrolytes, primarily based on vanadium, which enhances their chemical stability and safety compared to some other battery chemistries.

Temperature resilience: VFBs can operate effectively over a wide range of temperatures, allowing them to be deployed in various climates and environments.

Eco-friendly and recyclable: VFBs are considered environmentally friendly as they use non-toxic and abundant vanadium electrolytes. Additionally, the majority of their components, including the electrolyte, can be recycled, reducing environmental impact and supporting a circular economy.

We recommend referring our Stringent datalytics firm, industry publications, and websites that specialize in providing market reports. These sources often offer comprehensive analysis, market trends, growth forecasts, competitive landscape, and other valuable insights into this market.

By visiting our website or contacting us directly, you can explore the availability of specific reports related to this market. These reports often require a purchase or subscription, but we provide comprehensive and in-depth information that can be valuable for businesses, investors, and individuals interested in this market.

“Remember to look for recent reports to ensure you have the most current and relevant information.”

Click Here, To Get Free Sample Report: https://stringentdatalytics.com/sample-request/vanadium-flow-battery-(vfb)-store-energy-market/5226/

Market Segmentations:

Global Vanadium Flow Battery (VFB) Store Energy Market: By Company • Rongke Power • VRB Energy • Shanghai Electric • State Grid Yingda • Invinity Energy Systems • CellCube • Australian Vanadium • StorEn Technologies • Stryten Energy • VFlowTech • Sumitomo Electric • Largo Global Vanadium Flow Battery (VFB) Store Energy Market: By Type • Full-fluorinion Ion Exchange Membrane • Non-fluorinion Ion Exchange Membrane Global Vanadium Flow Battery (VFB) Store Energy Market: By Application • Power Generation • Grid • Electricity Global Vanadium Flow Battery (VFB) Store Energy Market: Regional Analysis All the regional segmentation has been studied based on recent and future trends, and the market is forecasted throughout the prediction period. The countries covered in the regional analysis of the Global Vanadium Flow Battery (VFB) Store Energy market report are U.S., Canada, and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Rest of Europe in Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Argentina, Brazil, and Rest of South America as part of South America.

Visit Report Page for More Details: https://stringentdatalytics.com/reports/vanadium-flow-battery-(vfb)-store-energy-market/5226/ 

Reasons to Purchase Vanadium Flow Battery (VFB) Store Energy Market Report:

• To obtain insights into industry trends and dynamics, including market size, growth rates, and important factors and difficulties. This study offers insightful information on these topics.

• To identify important participants and rivals: This research studies can assist companies in identifying key participants and rivals in their sector, along with their market share, business plans, and strengths and weaknesses.

• To comprehend consumer behaviour: these research studies can offer insightful information about customer behaviour, including preferences, spending patterns, and demographics.

• To assess market opportunities: These research studies can aid companies in assessing market chances, such as prospective new goods or services, fresh markets, and new trends.

• To make well-informed business decisions: These research reports give companies data-driven insights that they may use to plan their strategy, develop new products, and devise marketing and advertising plans.

In general, market research studies offer companies and organisations useful data that can aid in making decisions and maintaining competitiveness in their industry. They can offer a strong basis for decision-making, strategy formulation, and company planning.

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[f4rmville]

Not all storage solutions are created equal

Contributed by Hans Maghon, Head of Energy Storage at Siemens Energy

Understanding the different methods of energy storage allows us to glimpse the shape of our future energy system.

As we head towards a decarbonized energy future, it’s becoming more and more clear that energy storage systems will form not just building blocks, but be part of the very foundation that future will rest on.

Batteries are making headway in power generation. For example, close to Antioch, California, a town not far from San Francisco, a 720MW gas-fired plant named Marsh Landing has so far relied on diesel engines to ensure it could perform a black start in case of a power outage. But soon, that’s going to be a thing of the past.

Currently, the plant is being equipped with a customized battery storage system by Siemens Energy. It supports up to three attempts to restart the power facility on an expedited basis, and it also reduces emissions over its traditional back-up systems.

Doing so doesn’t make Marsh Landing an exception: today, there are numerous plants around the world taking advantage of using batteries for carbon-free black-start capabilities.

This black-start capability is just one benefit among many. As the share of renewables keeps increasing, energy storage systems will be essential to balance fluctuating energy supply, grid stability, and 24/7 availability of renewable power.

Thermal energy storage improves a plant’s efficiency as well as its operational flexibility, And also increases the energy yield

However, not all energy storage solutions are created equal, as they will play different roles. For example, batteries serve a different purpose than rotating grid stabilizers, which in turn fulfill different functions than thermal energy storage or green hydrogen.

If we look at these different energy storage systems more closely, we don’t just get an impression of the variety of those systems: we gain insight into the shape of our future energy system.

Batteries

Let’s first focus on batteries. A rather mature technology, currently, they are not only well suited for black-start capabilities: they economically solve a variety of issues that arise when trying to decarbonize.

Batteries support carbon-free energy production, as they address the volatility of renewable energy sources by storing energy when it’s available in abundance and providing it when there’s a shortage.

They are also flexible, allowing fast supply of energy when needed; and they are plannable and reliable. Additionally, batteries help power producers avoid curtailment, a mostly involuntary reduction of energy output.

Likewise, they make energy arbitrage feasible – storing energy when it is cheap and selling it when prices are high. In combination with renewables such as wind farms, battery storage helps manage power depending on current needs.

And large offshore vessels and drilling platforms use it to minimize the use of diesel generators, as well as to reduce CO2 and NOx-emissions.

However, we have not yet unlocked the full potential of batteries. In the coming years, batteries will be able to help virtually expand grids (by providing and consuming electricity) and managing grid congestion.

That, in turn, allows companies to flexibly handle the increase in energy demand. For industrial assets, batteries will enable peak shaving by supplying electricity demand during peak hours.

That is not to say that there aren’t open questions. First, today’s batteries have limited capacity, meaning they can provide power for only a few hours, and, over time, they degrade.

Second, there is the continued usage of rare elements in the production of batteries, raising environmental issues as well as concerns over the dependency on countries supplying them.

But through continued research, rare elements should become less important. This goes along with the importance of finding ways to either reuse or recycle batteries – and developing new battery concepts such as metal-free flow batteries which may achieve longer discharge periods.

Overall, batteries are one option among many, and the potential shortcomings of one solution are easily matched by others, such as rotating grid stabilizers, thermal, or hydrogen storage.

Rotating grid stabilizers

As the need for power from renewable sources increases, fluctuating power is not the only concern for power generation.

Another important challenge is that with less conventional synchronous power generation, grid frequency is getting more sensitive due to the reduced number of rotating machines.

Grid operators are already faced with the challenge of providing sufficient system inertia of synchronous generators with high rotating masses to avoid black-outs due to fast frequency and voltage drops.

Rotating grid stabilizers (RGSs) solve this challenge, as they provide additional system inertia and short circuit power to the grid – and they actually do so at critical grid locations worldwide today.

A typical RGS system consists of a synchronous condenser and a flywheel. The flywheel stores energy as rotational energy. As soon as the grid frequency drops, the flywheel responds, resulting in balanced and more stable grid frequency.

The task of the synchronous condenser is to connect the flywheel to the electric grid and thus help stabilize the grid.

This way, RGSs also enable the grid to handle fluctuating renewable infeed. As they release no emissions, they are as environmentally sound as the energy that feeds them. And they are cost-efficient, as their lifetime ranges from about 30 to 40 years.

Additionally, by replacing the system inertia that is currently being supplied by fossil power plants, RGSs enable a share of renewables of up to 100%. Another benefit they provide is the repurposing of conventional power plants which otherwise might be phased out, re-using their infrastructure, and offering a second life for these assets.

Thermal storage

Thermal energy storage supports decarbonization by handling another important building block to a future energy system: heat. It makes use of heat produced by renewable energy or captured from waste heat or exhaust gas, ranging in discharge duration from mid-term to long-term storage.

We have not yet unlocked the full potential of batteries

Thermal energy storage improves a plant’s efficiency as well as its operational flexibility, and also increases the energy yield.

A great variety of heat storage media are available, such as liquids like molten salt and pressurized water, or solids like stone, steel, concrete, or sand. Thermal energy storage also feeds thermal energy across sectors back into various processes and makes them more flexible, in heating as well as cooling applications for buildings or industrial processes.

Also, renewable electricity can be fed into thermal storage via resistive heating, helping to decarbonize heat production and to balance availability and demand for thermal energy.

So, the potential is undoubtedly great. Heating and cooling, for example, are Europe’s largest energy consumers, using more energy than mobility or electricity sectors.

Green hydrogen

Now let’s turn to green hydrogen – produced via the electrolysis of water with electrical energy from renewable sources, meaning it´s completely free of CO2 emissions.

Green hydrogen will enable long-term storage that, in combination with other storage solutions, allows the efficient coupling of all sectors of the economy. It’s an excellent solution for long-term energy storage, particularly in hydrogen pipeline and cavern storage networks.

Image credit: Siemens Energy

With the ongoing build-up of a pan- European pipeline network and with sufficient cavern storage to be built up by 2050, it will enable seasonal power-to-power storage on a large scale.

Re-electrification will be realized in H2capable gas turbines, engines, or fuel cells to provide security of electricity supply; in periods of low renewable energy supply, for example, when there is lack of wind.

Compared to the other storage solutions mentioned thus far, hydrogen also enables other applications. It can be used directly as fuel for mobility or as a feedstock for various industries. Via synthesis with carbon dioxide, it can be converted into synthetic, sustainable e-fuels such as e-methanol, e-methane, e-diesel, e-jet fuel, or other carbon-based chemicals.

That’s not to say there aren’t challenges. One is the present cost of producing hydrogen, another the current lack of infrastructure for producing, distributing, and storing hydrogen.

Electric Thermal Energy Storage uses electricity to heat volcanic stones to temperatures of 600°C and higher

But these aren’t permanent roadblocks. Transportation costs can be significantly reduced by using existing gas infrastructure. Also, production cost can be cut by upscaling industrial processes.

So, in short, the potential is great. Estimates are that sector coupling via hydrogen has the potential to reduce primary fossil energy consumption by 50% even while power demand grows by 25%.

Long-duration solutions

While the picture drawn above gives a rough idea of the essential role energy storage systems will play in our energy future, today the idea of energy storage is mainly associated with batteries, which store energy only for short periods of time.

That’s why next to green hydrogen, other long-duration energy storage systems should be mentioned.

There is pumped hydro, globally the most widely deployed bulk energy storage solution, which has been used for millennia. It produces energy when stored water flows downhill and is capable of supplying reactive power when there is an imbalance in the grid.

Compressed air energy storage is a mechanical storage solution that offers a reliable, cost-effective, and long-duration energy underground storage solution at grid scale. It’s especially attractive in areas where geography does not support pumped hydro, but large caverns are available.

And finally, ETES (Electric Thermal Energy Storage) by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy enables long-duration storage by using electricity to heat volcanic stones to temperatures of 600°C and higher.

The stored heat can be converted back into electricity using a steam turbine.

All in all, it is these long-term solutions that will make a decarbonized energy system robust and sustainable. Solutions for longer duration storage – with the exception of pumped hydro – still have to become known more widely and accepted by the market. But as the share of renewables increases, the need for storage systems will become not just a building block for sure, but part of the very foundation our energy future rests on.

from https://ift.tt/30x8APZ

[solarliving]

Not all storage solutions are created equal

Contributed by Hans Maghon, Head of Energy Storage at Siemens Energy

Understanding the different methods of energy storage allows us to glimpse the shape of our future energy system.

As we head towards a decarbonized energy future, it’s becoming more and more clear that energy storage systems will form not just building blocks, but be part of the very foundation that future will rest on.

Batteries are making headway in power generation. For example, close to Antioch, California, a town not far from San Francisco, a 720MW gas-fired plant named Marsh Landing has so far relied on diesel engines to ensure it could perform a black start in case of a power outage. But soon, that’s going to be a thing of the past.

Currently, the plant is being equipped with a customized battery storage system by Siemens Energy. It supports up to three attempts to restart the power facility on an expedited basis, and it also reduces emissions over its traditional back-up systems.

Doing so doesn’t make Marsh Landing an exception: today, there are numerous plants around the world taking advantage of using batteries for carbon-free black-start capabilities.

This black-start capability is just one benefit among many. As the share of renewables keeps increasing, energy storage systems will be essential to balance fluctuating energy supply, grid stability, and 24/7 availability of renewable power.

Thermal energy storage improves a plant’s efficiency as well as its operational flexibility, And also increases the energy yield

However, not all energy storage solutions are created equal, as they will play different roles. For example, batteries serve a different purpose than rotating grid stabilizers, which in turn fulfill different functions than thermal energy storage or green hydrogen.

If we look at these different energy storage systems more closely, we don’t just get an impression of the variety of those systems: we gain insight into the shape of our future energy system.

Batteries

Let’s first focus on batteries. A rather mature technology, currently, they are not only well suited for black-start capabilities: they economically solve a variety of issues that arise when trying to decarbonize.

Batteries support carbon-free energy production, as they address the volatility of renewable energy sources by storing energy when it’s available in abundance and providing it when there’s a shortage.

They are also flexible, allowing fast supply of energy when needed; and they are plannable and reliable. Additionally, batteries help power producers avoid curtailment, a mostly involuntary reduction of energy output.

Likewise, they make energy arbitrage feasible – storing energy when it is cheap and selling it when prices are high. In combination with renewables such as wind farms, battery storage helps manage power depending on current needs.

And large offshore vessels and drilling platforms use it to minimize the use of diesel generators, as well as to reduce CO2 and NOx-emissions.

However, we have not yet unlocked the full potential of batteries. In the coming years, batteries will be able to help virtually expand grids (by providing and consuming electricity) and managing grid congestion.

That, in turn, allows companies to flexibly handle the increase in energy demand. For industrial assets, batteries will enable peak shaving by supplying electricity demand during peak hours.

That is not to say that there aren’t open questions. First, today’s batteries have limited capacity, meaning they can provide power for only a few hours, and, over time, they degrade.

Second, there is the continued usage of rare elements in the production of batteries, raising environmental issues as well as concerns over the dependency on countries supplying them.

But through continued research, rare elements should become less important. This goes along with the importance of finding ways to either reuse or recycle batteries – and developing new battery concepts such as metal-free flow batteries which may achieve longer discharge periods.

Overall, batteries are one option among many, and the potential shortcomings of one solution are easily matched by others, such as rotating grid stabilizers, thermal, or hydrogen storage.

Rotating grid stabilizers

As the need for power from renewable sources increases, fluctuating power is not the only concern for power generation.

Another important challenge is that with less conventional synchronous power generation, grid frequency is getting more sensitive due to the reduced number of rotating machines.

Grid operators are already faced with the challenge of providing sufficient system inertia of synchronous generators with high rotating masses to avoid black-outs due to fast frequency and voltage drops.

Rotating grid stabilizers (RGSs) solve this challenge, as they provide additional system inertia and short circuit power to the grid – and they actually do so at critical grid locations worldwide today.

A typical RGS system consists of a synchronous condenser and a flywheel. The flywheel stores energy as rotational energy. As soon as the grid frequency drops, the flywheel responds, resulting in balanced and more stable grid frequency.

The task of the synchronous condenser is to connect the flywheel to the electric grid and thus help stabilize the grid.

This way, RGSs also enable the grid to handle fluctuating renewable infeed. As they release no emissions, they are as environmentally sound as the energy that feeds them. And they are cost-efficient, as their lifetime ranges from about 30 to 40 years.

Additionally, by replacing the system inertia that is currently being supplied by fossil power plants, RGSs enable a share of renewables of up to 100%. Another benefit they provide is the repurposing of conventional power plants which otherwise might be phased out, re-using their infrastructure, and offering a second life for these assets.

Thermal storage

Thermal energy storage supports decarbonization by handling another important building block to a future energy system: heat. It makes use of heat produced by renewable energy or captured from waste heat or exhaust gas, ranging in discharge duration from mid-term to long-term storage.

We have not yet unlocked the full potential of batteries

Thermal energy storage improves a plant’s efficiency as well as its operational flexibility, and also increases the energy yield.

A great variety of heat storage media are available, such as liquids like molten salt and pressurized water, or solids like stone, steel, concrete, or sand. Thermal energy storage also feeds thermal energy across sectors back into various processes and makes them more flexible, in heating as well as cooling applications for buildings or industrial processes.

Also, renewable electricity can be fed into thermal storage via resistive heating, helping to decarbonize heat production and to balance availability and demand for thermal energy.

So, the potential is undoubtedly great. Heating and cooling, for example, are Europe’s largest energy consumers, using more energy than mobility or electricity sectors.

Green hydrogen

Now let’s turn to green hydrogen – produced via the electrolysis of water with electrical energy from renewable sources, meaning it´s completely free of CO2 emissions.

Green hydrogen will enable long-term storage that, in combination with other storage solutions, allows the efficient coupling of all sectors of the economy. It’s an excellent solution for long-term energy storage, particularly in hydrogen pipeline and cavern storage networks.

Image credit: Siemens Energy

With the ongoing build-up of a pan- European pipeline network and with sufficient cavern storage to be built up by 2050, it will enable seasonal power-to-power storage on a large scale.

Re-electrification will be realized in H2capable gas turbines, engines, or fuel cells to provide security of electricity supply; in periods of low renewable energy supply, for example, when there is lack of wind.

Compared to the other storage solutions mentioned thus far, hydrogen also enables other applications. It can be used directly as fuel for mobility or as a feedstock for various industries. Via synthesis with carbon dioxide, it can be converted into synthetic, sustainable e-fuels such as e-methanol, e-methane, e-diesel, e-jet fuel, or other carbon-based chemicals.

That’s not to say there aren’t challenges. One is the present cost of producing hydrogen, another the current lack of infrastructure for producing, distributing, and storing hydrogen.

Electric Thermal Energy Storage uses electricity to heat volcanic stones to temperatures of 600°C and higher

But these aren’t permanent roadblocks. Transportation costs can be significantly reduced by using existing gas infrastructure. Also, production cost can be cut by upscaling industrial processes.

So, in short, the potential is great. Estimates are that sector coupling via hydrogen has the potential to reduce primary fossil energy consumption by 50% even while power demand grows by 25%.

Long-duration solutions

While the picture drawn above gives a rough idea of the essential role energy storage systems will play in our energy future, today the idea of energy storage is mainly associated with batteries, which store energy only for short periods of time.

That’s why next to green hydrogen, other long-duration energy storage systems should be mentioned.

There is pumped hydro, globally the most widely deployed bulk energy storage solution, which has been used for millennia. It produces energy when stored water flows downhill and is capable of supplying reactive power when there is an imbalance in the grid.

Compressed air energy storage is a mechanical storage solution that offers a reliable, cost-effective, and long-duration energy underground storage solution at grid scale. It’s especially attractive in areas where geography does not support pumped hydro, but large caverns are available.

And finally, ETES (Electric Thermal Energy Storage) by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy enables long-duration storage by using electricity to heat volcanic stones to temperatures of 600°C and higher.

The stored heat can be converted back into electricity using a steam turbine.

All in all, it is these long-term solutions that will make a decarbonized energy system robust and sustainable. Solutions for longer duration storage – with the exception of pumped hydro – still have to become known more widely and accepted by the market. But as the share of renewables increases, the need for storage systems will become not just a building block for sure, but part of the very foundation our energy future rests on.

from Renewable Energy World https://ift.tt/30x8APZ via Solar Energy Marketing Blog

[brewedsunlight]

Not all storage solutions are created equal

Contributed by Hans Maghon, Head of Energy Storage at Siemens Energy

Understanding the different methods of energy storage allows us to glimpse the shape of our future energy system.

As we head towards a decarbonized energy future, it’s becoming more and more clear that energy storage systems will form not just building blocks, but be part of the very foundation that future will rest on.

Batteries are making headway in power generation. For example, close to Antioch, California, a town not far from San Francisco, a 720MW gas-fired plant named Marsh Landing has so far relied on diesel engines to ensure it could perform a black start in case of a power outage. But soon, that’s going to be a thing of the past.

Currently, the plant is being equipped with a customized battery storage system by Siemens Energy. It supports up to three attempts to restart the power facility on an expedited basis, and it also reduces emissions over its traditional back-up systems.

Doing so doesn’t make Marsh Landing an exception: today, there are numerous plants around the world taking advantage of using batteries for carbon-free black-start capabilities.

This black-start capability is just one benefit among many. As the share of renewables keeps increasing, energy storage systems will be essential to balance fluctuating energy supply, grid stability, and 24/7 availability of renewable power.

Thermal energy storage improves a plant’s efficiency as well as its operational flexibility, And also increases the energy yield

However, not all energy storage solutions are created equal, as they will play different roles. For example, batteries serve a different purpose than rotating grid stabilizers, which in turn fulfill different functions than thermal energy storage or green hydrogen.

If we look at these different energy storage systems more closely, we don’t just get an impression of the variety of those systems: we gain insight into the shape of our future energy system.

Batteries

Let’s first focus on batteries. A rather mature technology, currently, they are not only well suited for black-start capabilities: they economically solve a variety of issues that arise when trying to decarbonize.

Batteries support carbon-free energy production, as they address the volatility of renewable energy sources by storing energy when it’s available in abundance and providing it when there’s a shortage.

They are also flexible, allowing fast supply of energy when needed; and they are plannable and reliable. Additionally, batteries help power producers avoid curtailment, a mostly involuntary reduction of energy output.

Likewise, they make energy arbitrage feasible – storing energy when it is cheap and selling it when prices are high. In combination with renewables such as wind farms, battery storage helps manage power depending on current needs.

And large offshore vessels and drilling platforms use it to minimize the use of diesel generators, as well as to reduce CO2 and NOx-emissions.

However, we have not yet unlocked the full potential of batteries. In the coming years, batteries will be able to help virtually expand grids (by providing and consuming electricity) and managing grid congestion.

That, in turn, allows companies to flexibly handle the increase in energy demand. For industrial assets, batteries will enable peak shaving by supplying electricity demand during peak hours.

That is not to say that there aren’t open questions. First, today’s batteries have limited capacity, meaning they can provide power for only a few hours, and, over time, they degrade.

Second, there is the continued usage of rare elements in the production of batteries, raising environmental issues as well as concerns over the dependency on countries supplying them.

But through continued research, rare elements should become less important. This goes along with the importance of finding ways to either reuse or recycle batteries – and developing new battery concepts such as metal-free flow batteries which may achieve longer discharge periods.

Overall, batteries are one option among many, and the potential shortcomings of one solution are easily matched by others, such as rotating grid stabilizers, thermal, or hydrogen storage.

Rotating grid stabilizers

As the need for power from renewable sources increases, fluctuating power is not the only concern for power generation.

Another important challenge is that with less conventional synchronous power generation, grid frequency is getting more sensitive due to the reduced number of rotating machines.

Grid operators are already faced with the challenge of providing sufficient system inertia of synchronous generators with high rotating masses to avoid black-outs due to fast frequency and voltage drops.

Rotating grid stabilizers (RGSs) solve this challenge, as they provide additional system inertia and short circuit power to the grid – and they actually do so at critical grid locations worldwide today.

A typical RGS system consists of a synchronous condenser and a flywheel. The flywheel stores energy as rotational energy. As soon as the grid frequency drops, the flywheel responds, resulting in balanced and more stable grid frequency.

The task of the synchronous condenser is to connect the flywheel to the electric grid and thus help stabilize the grid.

This way, RGSs also enable the grid to handle fluctuating renewable infeed. As they release no emissions, they are as environmentally sound as the energy that feeds them. And they are cost-efficient, as their lifetime ranges from about 30 to 40 years.

Additionally, by replacing the system inertia that is currently being supplied by fossil power plants, RGSs enable a share of renewables of up to 100%. Another benefit they provide is the repurposing of conventional power plants which otherwise might be phased out, re-using their infrastructure, and offering a second life for these assets.

Thermal storage

Thermal energy storage supports decarbonization by handling another important building block to a future energy system: heat. It makes use of heat produced by renewable energy or captured from waste heat or exhaust gas, ranging in discharge duration from mid-term to long-term storage.

We have not yet unlocked the full potential of batteries

Thermal energy storage improves a plant’s efficiency as well as its operational flexibility, and also increases the energy yield.

A great variety of heat storage media are available, such as liquids like molten salt and pressurized water, or solids like stone, steel, concrete, or sand. Thermal energy storage also feeds thermal energy across sectors back into various processes and makes them more flexible, in heating as well as cooling applications for buildings or industrial processes.

Also, renewable electricity can be fed into thermal storage via resistive heating, helping to decarbonize heat production and to balance availability and demand for thermal energy.

So, the potential is undoubtedly great. Heating and cooling, for example, are Europe’s largest energy consumers, using more energy than mobility or electricity sectors.

Green hydrogen

Now let’s turn to green hydrogen – produced via the electrolysis of water with electrical energy from renewable sources, meaning it´s completely free of CO2 emissions.

Green hydrogen will enable long-term storage that, in combination with other storage solutions, allows the efficient coupling of all sectors of the economy. It’s an excellent solution for long-term energy storage, particularly in hydrogen pipeline and cavern storage networks.

Image credit: Siemens Energy

With the ongoing build-up of a pan- European pipeline network and with sufficient cavern storage to be built up by 2050, it will enable seasonal power-to-power storage on a large scale.

Re-electrification will be realized in H2capable gas turbines, engines, or fuel cells to provide security of electricity supply; in periods of low renewable energy supply, for example, when there is lack of wind.

Compared to the other storage solutions mentioned thus far, hydrogen also enables other applications. It can be used directly as fuel for mobility or as a feedstock for various industries. Via synthesis with carbon dioxide, it can be converted into synthetic, sustainable e-fuels such as e-methanol, e-methane, e-diesel, e-jet fuel, or other carbon-based chemicals.

That’s not to say there aren’t challenges. One is the present cost of producing hydrogen, another the current lack of infrastructure for producing, distributing, and storing hydrogen.

Electric Thermal Energy Storage uses electricity to heat volcanic stones to temperatures of 600°C and higher

But these aren’t permanent roadblocks. Transportation costs can be significantly reduced by using existing gas infrastructure. Also, production cost can be cut by upscaling industrial processes.

So, in short, the potential is great. Estimates are that sector coupling via hydrogen has the potential to reduce primary fossil energy consumption by 50% even while power demand grows by 25%.

Long-duration solutions

While the picture drawn above gives a rough idea of the essential role energy storage systems will play in our energy future, today the idea of energy storage is mainly associated with batteries, which store energy only for short periods of time.

That’s why next to green hydrogen, other long-duration energy storage systems should be mentioned.

There is pumped hydro, globally the most widely deployed bulk energy storage solution, which has been used for millennia. It produces energy when stored water flows downhill and is capable of supplying reactive power when there is an imbalance in the grid.

Compressed air energy storage is a mechanical storage solution that offers a reliable, cost-effective, and long-duration energy underground storage solution at grid scale. It’s especially attractive in areas where geography does not support pumped hydro, but large caverns are available.

And finally, ETES (Electric Thermal Energy Storage) by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy enables long-duration storage by using electricity to heat volcanic stones to temperatures of 600°C and higher.

The stored heat can be converted back into electricity using a steam turbine.

All in all, it is these long-term solutions that will make a decarbonized energy system robust and sustainable. Solutions for longer duration storage – with the exception of pumped hydro – still have to become known more widely and accepted by the market. But as the share of renewables increases, the need for storage systems will become not just a building block for sure, but part of the very foundation our energy future rests on.

from Renewable Energy World https://ift.tt/30x8APZ

[the-breakfast-chub]

Not all storage solutions are created equal

Contributed by Hans Maghon, Head of Energy Storage at Siemens Energy

Understanding the different methods of energy storage allows us to glimpse the shape of our future energy system.

As we head towards a decarbonized energy future, it’s becoming more and more clear that energy storage systems will form not just building blocks, but be part of the very foundation that future will rest on.

Batteries are making headway in power generation. For example, close to Antioch, California, a town not far from San Francisco, a 720MW gas-fired plant named Marsh Landing has so far relied on diesel engines to ensure it could perform a black start in case of a power outage. But soon, that’s going to be a thing of the past.

Currently, the plant is being equipped with a customized battery storage system by Siemens Energy. It supports up to three attempts to restart the power facility on an expedited basis, and it also reduces emissions over its traditional back-up systems.

Doing so doesn’t make Marsh Landing an exception: today, there are numerous plants around the world taking advantage of using batteries for carbon-free black-start capabilities.

This black-start capability is just one benefit among many. As the share of renewables keeps increasing, energy storage systems will be essential to balance fluctuating energy supply, grid stability, and 24/7 availability of renewable power.

Thermal energy storage improves a plant’s efficiency as well as its operational flexibility, And also increases the energy yield

However, not all energy storage solutions are created equal, as they will play different roles. For example, batteries serve a different purpose than rotating grid stabilizers, which in turn fulfill different functions than thermal energy storage or green hydrogen.

If we look at these different energy storage systems more closely, we don’t just get an impression of the variety of those systems: we gain insight into the shape of our future energy system.

Batteries

Let’s first focus on batteries. A rather mature technology, currently, they are not only well suited for black-start capabilities: they economically solve a variety of issues that arise when trying to decarbonize.

Batteries support carbon-free energy production, as they address the volatility of renewable energy sources by storing energy when it’s available in abundance and providing it when there’s a shortage.

They are also flexible, allowing fast supply of energy when needed; and they are plannable and reliable. Additionally, batteries help power producers avoid curtailment, a mostly involuntary reduction of energy output.

Likewise, they make energy arbitrage feasible – storing energy when it is cheap and selling it when prices are high. In combination with renewables such as wind farms, battery storage helps manage power depending on current needs.

And large offshore vessels and drilling platforms use it to minimize the use of diesel generators, as well as to reduce CO2 and NOx-emissions.

However, we have not yet unlocked the full potential of batteries. In the coming years, batteries will be able to help virtually expand grids (by providing and consuming electricity) and managing grid congestion.

That, in turn, allows companies to flexibly handle the increase in energy demand. For industrial assets, batteries will enable peak shaving by supplying electricity demand during peak hours.

That is not to say that there aren’t open questions. First, today’s batteries have limited capacity, meaning they can provide power for only a few hours, and, over time, they degrade.

Second, there is the continued usage of rare elements in the production of batteries, raising environmental issues as well as concerns over the dependency on countries supplying them.

But through continued research, rare elements should become less important. This goes along with the importance of finding ways to either reuse or recycle batteries – and developing new battery concepts such as metal-free flow batteries which may achieve longer discharge periods.

Overall, batteries are one option among many, and the potential shortcomings of one solution are easily matched by others, such as rotating grid stabilizers, thermal, or hydrogen storage.

Rotating grid stabilizers

As the need for power from renewable sources increases, fluctuating power is not the only concern for power generation.

Another important challenge is that with less conventional synchronous power generation, grid frequency is getting more sensitive due to the reduced number of rotating machines.

Grid operators are already faced with the challenge of providing sufficient system inertia of synchronous generators with high rotating masses to avoid black-outs due to fast frequency and voltage drops.

Rotating grid stabilizers (RGSs) solve this challenge, as they provide additional system inertia and short circuit power to the grid – and they actually do so at critical grid locations worldwide today.

A typical RGS system consists of a synchronous condenser and a flywheel. The flywheel stores energy as rotational energy. As soon as the grid frequency drops, the flywheel responds, resulting in balanced and more stable grid frequency.

The task of the synchronous condenser is to connect the flywheel to the electric grid and thus help stabilize the grid.

This way, RGSs also enable the grid to handle fluctuating renewable infeed. As they release no emissions, they are as environmentally sound as the energy that feeds them. And they are cost-efficient, as their lifetime ranges from about 30 to 40 years.

Additionally, by replacing the system inertia that is currently being supplied by fossil power plants, RGSs enable a share of renewables of up to 100%. Another benefit they provide is the repurposing of conventional power plants which otherwise might be phased out, re-using their infrastructure, and offering a second life for these assets.

Thermal storage

Thermal energy storage supports decarbonization by handling another important building block to a future energy system: heat. It makes use of heat produced by renewable energy or captured from waste heat or exhaust gas, ranging in discharge duration from mid-term to long-term storage.

We have not yet unlocked the full potential of batteries

Thermal energy storage improves a plant’s efficiency as well as its operational flexibility, and also increases the energy yield.

A great variety of heat storage media are available, such as liquids like molten salt and pressurized water, or solids like stone, steel, concrete, or sand. Thermal energy storage also feeds thermal energy across sectors back into various processes and makes them more flexible, in heating as well as cooling applications for buildings or industrial processes.

Also, renewable electricity can be fed into thermal storage via resistive heating, helping to decarbonize heat production and to balance availability and demand for thermal energy.

So, the potential is undoubtedly great. Heating and cooling, for example, are Europe’s largest energy consumers, using more energy than mobility or electricity sectors.

Green hydrogen

Now let’s turn to green hydrogen – produced via the electrolysis of water with electrical energy from renewable sources, meaning it´s completely free of CO2 emissions.

Green hydrogen will enable long-term storage that, in combination with other storage solutions, allows the efficient coupling of all sectors of the economy. It’s an excellent solution for long-term energy storage, particularly in hydrogen pipeline and cavern storage networks.

Image credit: Siemens Energy

With the ongoing build-up of a pan- European pipeline network and with sufficient cavern storage to be built up by 2050, it will enable seasonal power-to-power storage on a large scale.

Re-electrification will be realized in H2capable gas turbines, engines, or fuel cells to provide security of electricity supply; in periods of low renewable energy supply, for example, when there is lack of wind.

Compared to the other storage solutions mentioned thus far, hydrogen also enables other applications. It can be used directly as fuel for mobility or as a feedstock for various industries. Via synthesis with carbon dioxide, it can be converted into synthetic, sustainable e-fuels such as e-methanol, e-methane, e-diesel, e-jet fuel, or other carbon-based chemicals.

That’s not to say there aren’t challenges. One is the present cost of producing hydrogen, another the current lack of infrastructure for producing, distributing, and storing hydrogen.

Electric Thermal Energy Storage uses electricity to heat volcanic stones to temperatures of 600°C and higher

But these aren’t permanent roadblocks. Transportation costs can be significantly reduced by using existing gas infrastructure. Also, production cost can be cut by upscaling industrial processes.

So, in short, the potential is great. Estimates are that sector coupling via hydrogen has the potential to reduce primary fossil energy consumption by 50% even while power demand grows by 25%.

Long-duration solutions

While the picture drawn above gives a rough idea of the essential role energy storage systems will play in our energy future, today the idea of energy storage is mainly associated with batteries, which store energy only for short periods of time.

That’s why next to green hydrogen, other long-duration energy storage systems should be mentioned.

There is pumped hydro, globally the most widely deployed bulk energy storage solution, which has been used for millennia. It produces energy when stored water flows downhill and is capable of supplying reactive power when there is an imbalance in the grid.

Compressed air energy storage is a mechanical storage solution that offers a reliable, cost-effective, and long-duration energy underground storage solution at grid scale. It’s especially attractive in areas where geography does not support pumped hydro, but large caverns are available.

And finally, ETES (Electric Thermal Energy Storage) by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy enables long-duration storage by using electricity to heat volcanic stones to temperatures of 600°C and higher.

The stored heat can be converted back into electricity using a steam turbine.

All in all, it is these long-term solutions that will make a decarbonized energy system robust and sustainable. Solutions for longer duration storage – with the exception of pumped hydro – still have to become known more widely and accepted by the market. But as the share of renewables increases, the need for storage systems will become not just a building block for sure, but part of the very foundation our energy future rests on.

from https://ift.tt/30x8APZ

[yesterdaysdreams]

Not all storage solutions are created equal

Contributed by Hans Maghon, Head of Energy Storage at Siemens Energy

Understanding the different methods of energy storage allows us to glimpse the shape of our future energy system.

As we head towards a decarbonized energy future, it’s becoming more and more clear that energy storage systems will form not just building blocks, but be part of the very foundation that future will rest on.

Batteries are making headway in power generation. For example, close to Antioch, California, a town not far from San Francisco, a 720MW gas-fired plant named Marsh Landing has so far relied on diesel engines to ensure it could perform a black start in case of a power outage. But soon, that’s going to be a thing of the past.

Currently, the plant is being equipped with a customized battery storage system by Siemens Energy. It supports up to three attempts to restart the power facility on an expedited basis, and it also reduces emissions over its traditional back-up systems.

Doing so doesn’t make Marsh Landing an exception: today, there are numerous plants around the world taking advantage of using batteries for carbon-free black-start capabilities.

This black-start capability is just one benefit among many. As the share of renewables keeps increasing, energy storage systems will be essential to balance fluctuating energy supply, grid stability, and 24/7 availability of renewable power.

Thermal energy storage improves a plant’s efficiency as well as its operational flexibility, And also increases the energy yield

However, not all energy storage solutions are created equal, as they will play different roles. For example, batteries serve a different purpose than rotating grid stabilizers, which in turn fulfill different functions than thermal energy storage or green hydrogen.

If we look at these different energy storage systems more closely, we don’t just get an impression of the variety of those systems: we gain insight into the shape of our future energy system.

Batteries

Let’s first focus on batteries. A rather mature technology, currently, they are not only well suited for black-start capabilities: they economically solve a variety of issues that arise when trying to decarbonize.

Batteries support carbon-free energy production, as they address the volatility of renewable energy sources by storing energy when it’s available in abundance and providing it when there’s a shortage.

They are also flexible, allowing fast supply of energy when needed; and they are plannable and reliable. Additionally, batteries help power producers avoid curtailment, a mostly involuntary reduction of energy output.

Likewise, they make energy arbitrage feasible – storing energy when it is cheap and selling it when prices are high. In combination with renewables such as wind farms, battery storage helps manage power depending on current needs.

And large offshore vessels and drilling platforms use it to minimize the use of diesel generators, as well as to reduce CO2 and NOx-emissions.

However, we have not yet unlocked the full potential of batteries. In the coming years, batteries will be able to help virtually expand grids (by providing and consuming electricity) and managing grid congestion.

That, in turn, allows companies to flexibly handle the increase in energy demand. For industrial assets, batteries will enable peak shaving by supplying electricity demand during peak hours.

That is not to say that there aren’t open questions. First, today’s batteries have limited capacity, meaning they can provide power for only a few hours, and, over time, they degrade.

Second, there is the continued usage of rare elements in the production of batteries, raising environmental issues as well as concerns over the dependency on countries supplying them.

But through continued research, rare elements should become less important. This goes along with the importance of finding ways to either reuse or recycle batteries – and developing new battery concepts such as metal-free flow batteries which may achieve longer discharge periods.

Overall, batteries are one option among many, and the potential shortcomings of one solution are easily matched by others, such as rotating grid stabilizers, thermal, or hydrogen storage.

Rotating grid stabilizers

As the need for power from renewable sources increases, fluctuating power is not the only concern for power generation.

Another important challenge is that with less conventional synchronous power generation, grid frequency is getting more sensitive due to the reduced number of rotating machines.

Grid operators are already faced with the challenge of providing sufficient system inertia of synchronous generators with high rotating masses to avoid black-outs due to fast frequency and voltage drops.

Rotating grid stabilizers (RGSs) solve this challenge, as they provide additional system inertia and short circuit power to the grid – and they actually do so at critical grid locations worldwide today.

A typical RGS system consists of a synchronous condenser and a flywheel. The flywheel stores energy as rotational energy. As soon as the grid frequency drops, the flywheel responds, resulting in balanced and more stable grid frequency.

The task of the synchronous condenser is to connect the flywheel to the electric grid and thus help stabilize the grid.

This way, RGSs also enable the grid to handle fluctuating renewable infeed. As they release no emissions, they are as environmentally sound as the energy that feeds them. And they are cost-efficient, as their lifetime ranges from about 30 to 40 years.

Additionally, by replacing the system inertia that is currently being supplied by fossil power plants, RGSs enable a share of renewables of up to 100%. Another benefit they provide is the repurposing of conventional power plants which otherwise might be phased out, re-using their infrastructure, and offering a second life for these assets.

Thermal storage

Thermal energy storage supports decarbonization by handling another important building block to a future energy system: heat. It makes use of heat produced by renewable energy or captured from waste heat or exhaust gas, ranging in discharge duration from mid-term to long-term storage.

We have not yet unlocked the full potential of batteries

Thermal energy storage improves a plant’s efficiency as well as its operational flexibility, and also increases the energy yield.

A great variety of heat storage media are available, such as liquids like molten salt and pressurized water, or solids like stone, steel, concrete, or sand. Thermal energy storage also feeds thermal energy across sectors back into various processes and makes them more flexible, in heating as well as cooling applications for buildings or industrial processes.

Also, renewable electricity can be fed into thermal storage via resistive heating, helping to decarbonize heat production and to balance availability and demand for thermal energy.

So, the potential is undoubtedly great. Heating and cooling, for example, are Europe’s largest energy consumers, using more energy than mobility or electricity sectors.

Green hydrogen

Now let’s turn to green hydrogen – produced via the electrolysis of water with electrical energy from renewable sources, meaning it´s completely free of CO2 emissions.

Green hydrogen will enable long-term storage that, in combination with other storage solutions, allows the efficient coupling of all sectors of the economy. It’s an excellent solution for long-term energy storage, particularly in hydrogen pipeline and cavern storage networks.

Image credit: Siemens Energy

With the ongoing build-up of a pan- European pipeline network and with sufficient cavern storage to be built up by 2050, it will enable seasonal power-to-power storage on a large scale.

Re-electrification will be realized in H2capable gas turbines, engines, or fuel cells to provide security of electricity supply; in periods of low renewable energy supply, for example, when there is lack of wind.

Compared to the other storage solutions mentioned thus far, hydrogen also enables other applications. It can be used directly as fuel for mobility or as a feedstock for various industries. Via synthesis with carbon dioxide, it can be converted into synthetic, sustainable e-fuels such as e-methanol, e-methane, e-diesel, e-jet fuel, or other carbon-based chemicals.

That’s not to say there aren’t challenges. One is the present cost of producing hydrogen, another the current lack of infrastructure for producing, distributing, and storing hydrogen.

Electric Thermal Energy Storage uses electricity to heat volcanic stones to temperatures of 600°C and higher

But these aren’t permanent roadblocks. Transportation costs can be significantly reduced by using existing gas infrastructure. Also, production cost can be cut by upscaling industrial processes.

So, in short, the potential is great. Estimates are that sector coupling via hydrogen has the potential to reduce primary fossil energy consumption by 50% even while power demand grows by 25%.

Long-duration solutions

While the picture drawn above gives a rough idea of the essential role energy storage systems will play in our energy future, today the idea of energy storage is mainly associated with batteries, which store energy only for short periods of time.

That’s why next to green hydrogen, other long-duration energy storage systems should be mentioned.

There is pumped hydro, globally the most widely deployed bulk energy storage solution, which has been used for millennia. It produces energy when stored water flows downhill and is capable of supplying reactive power when there is an imbalance in the grid.

Compressed air energy storage is a mechanical storage solution that offers a reliable, cost-effective, and long-duration energy underground storage solution at grid scale. It’s especially attractive in areas where geography does not support pumped hydro, but large caverns are available.

And finally, ETES (Electric Thermal Energy Storage) by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy enables long-duration storage by using electricity to heat volcanic stones to temperatures of 600°C and higher.

The stored heat can be converted back into electricity using a steam turbine.

All in all, it is these long-term solutions that will make a decarbonized energy system robust and sustainable. Solutions for longer duration storage – with the exception of pumped hydro – still have to become known more widely and accepted by the market. But as the share of renewables increases, the need for storage systems will become not just a building block for sure, but part of the very foundation our energy future rests on.

from https://ift.tt/30x8APZ