Smart Energy Storage Solutions

Energy Transition Solutions

Renewable Energy

100% Renewable by 2050
This week, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released a one-year progress report on their on-going investigation into Puerto Rico’s electrical infrastructure. The report suggests that the island should begin heavily investing in renewable energy, specifically in small-scale, distributed solar power.

Battery Energy Storage

The largest battery storage project in Brazil, a 30MW/60MWh system, was inaugurated last year and presents a significant milestone in the country's energy infrastructure. Here are the key details about this groundbreaking project:
1. Project Overview:
• Capacity and Inauguration: The system has a capacity of 30MW/60MWh and was inaugurated on the networks of transmission system operator (TSO) ISO CTEEP.
• Investment: The project required a total investment of US$27 million, with ISO CTEEP permitted by regulations to earn up to US$5 million in revenue from the asset each year.

2. Impact and Purpose:

• Increasing Hosting Capacity: The BESS will help increase hosting capacity to cope with an expected increase in demand on a congested network. This enables the TSO to defer investing in a more expensive traditional transmission line.
• Non-Wires Alternative: The project serves as a 'non-wires alternative' or storage-as-a-transmission asset, demonstrating innovative approaches to enhancing grid capacity and reliability.
• Reducing Fossil Fuel Reliance: It aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuel peaker plants, which are often polluting and expensive, despite their infrequent use.
3. Location:
• The plant is located at an ISO CTEEP substation in São Paulo.

 

CHP and Microgrid

CHP can be a key resource to use in a microgrid because it provides a reliable, continuous, and controllable baseload source of electricity and localized thermal energy. Until energy storage allows renewable energy sources to be cost-effectively and reliably available on a continuous basis, CHP will continue to be a valuable resource, allowing renewables to serve peak daytime loads and support utility grid operations.

A profitable partnership.

These mutually compatible technologies come together to be more efficient, more cost-effective, more profitable, and more useful than they are on their own. 

• A CHP system linked with a microgrid allows the customer to utilize electrical energy and the thermal energy (hot water, steam, or chilled water) produced by the microgrid's power generation system.
• Increases overall efficiency, especially in the consumption of fuel feeding the microgrid's power generator.
• Reduces net operating costs. CHP often forms the most economical anchor for a microgrid system.
• Energy provided by the CHP can help with load balancing or add to energy storage. Battery Storage can keep CHP running at the most efficient conditions

 

Harnessing the Power: A Comprehensive Look at the Energy Grid's Journey from Generation to Distribution

 

 

Introduction

The modern energy grid is a marvel of engineering, a vast network that spans continents to deliver electricity from power plants to our homes and businesses. It's a complex system that involves generation, storage, transmission, and distribution, ensuring that the energy produced at various sources reaches consumers efficiently and reliably. This article will journey through the intricacies of the energy grid, as depicted in the infographic provided.

Generation and Storage: The Starting Point of Electric Energy

Renewable Power Sources:

The energy grid begins with generation from various sources. Renewable energy sources, such as wind farms and solar panels, are increasingly significant due to their sustainability and lower environmental impact. These clean energy sources harness natural forces to generate electrical power without depleting natural resources.

Traditional Power Plants:

Alongside renewables, traditional power plants, often coal, natural gas, or nuclear, continue to provide a substantial portion of the world's electricity. These facilities are capable of generating large amounts of power, necessary for meeting the high demands of industrialized societies.

Energy Storage Equipment:

As the grid incorporates more renewable sources, the role of energy storage becomes vital. Energy storage systems, such as large-scale batteries, capture excess energy when production exceeds demand. This stored energy can be released when demand spikes or generation from intermittent sources like solar or wind decreases.

Transmission: The Energy Highway

Step-Up Substations:

Before electricity can travel long distances, it must be transformed to higher voltages at step-up substations. This process reduces energy loss over long-distance transmission lines.

Long-Distance Transmission:

High-voltage transmission lines carry electricity across vast distances, from remote power plants to populated urban centers. This stage is the energy highway, crucial for bridging the gap between generation and end-users.

Step-Down Substations:

Once near its destination, electricity arrives at step-down substations, where the voltage is reduced to safer levels for local distribution.

Distribution: Delivering Power to Consumers

The Final Leg:

The distribution network is the final leg of the journey, consisting of lower voltage power lines that deliver electricity directly to customers.

Industrial Customers:

Industrial facilities, with their massive energy needs, often receive power at higher voltages, which is necessary to run heavy machinery and maintain production processes.

Commercial and Residential Customers:

Commercial buildings and residential areas receive electricity at regulated voltages suitable for daily use, powering everything from high-rise elevators to household appliances.

Conclusion

The energy grid is the backbone of modern civilization, a testament to human ingenuity. As we move forward, the integration of renewable generation and advanced storage solutions continues to evolve the grid. Innovations like smart grid technologies aim to enhance efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. This ensures not only that our lights stay on today but also that future generations inherit a system that balances energy needs with the health of our planet. From the whirling turbines of wind farms to the power lines crisscrossing the landscape, each component of the energy grid plays a vital role in powering our world.

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