Energy Storage

Nations Vital Security & The Life Line For Renewable Energy Technologies
Dr. Najib Altawell n.altawell@dundee.ac.uk
CEPMLP University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK

20 October 2011

Agenda

Introduction Storage Technologies Ideas and New Approaches Conclusion

Electricity Storage

Electricity

Energy

Electricity

The Five Dimensions

When?

Energy Storage

The Sixth Dimension

The Sixth Dimension

Image source: http://zebu.uoregon.edu/2001/ph162/l10h.html

Source: Bulk Energy Storage (BESO)

http://www.saltcavernstorage.com/images/stories/1.pdf

Renewable Energy

Add Value

Security

Back-up More Options Cost Reduction

Summary

Not constant Excess can be stored High demand Reduce power system loads Efficiency and reliability Renewable energy

Bulk Energy Storage (BES)

Off-Peak electric large volume storage (Significant capacity in mwh) longer period of storage but with higher cost Examples: Pumped storage hydro (PSH) Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES)

Distributed energy storage

Usually small in size and smaller energy storage capacity, short period of storage with lower voltage when it comes to transmission and distribution with lower capital cost than BES

Examples: Batteries Flywheels Capacitors

Smart Grid
Using Real-Time Information
Heal itself Encourage consumers to participate in operations of the grid Resist attack Provide higher quality power that will save money wasted from outages Accommodate all generation and storage options Enable electricity markets to flourish Efficient Enable higher penetration of intermittent power generation sources

Source: United States Department of Energy

Smart Grid
Using Real-Time Information

Enhanced cyber-security Handling sources of electricity like wind and solar power Integrating electric vehicles onto the grid

Source: United States Department of Energy

Energy storage systems and typical applications

NAS = sodium sulfur; SMES = superconducting magnetic energy storage; UPS = uninterruptible power supply

Source: Gyuk 2002

Gyuk, I. (2002), Energy Storage: A Distributed Energy Resource, U.S. Department of Energy

Batteries
Expensive High maintenance cost Limited life-spans (Crystals forming during the charge and discharge cycles)

Grid Energy Storage

(Large-scale energy storage grid e.g. 8MW/32MWh)

Large transportable
(e.g. 2MW/500kWh units)

Community Energy Storage

(e.g. 25 to 50kW & 50 to 100kWh units)

Home Energy Storage Unit

(e.g. 4kW/10kWh)

Examples

Flow Battery

SodiumSulfur Battery
(Grid Energy Storage)

Flow Battery

Li-air batteries (Li-Ion)

Image Source: Argonne, USDE

REDOX (reduction-oxidation)
Image source: Metaefficient

SodiumSulfur Battery (NaS)

Image source: NGK Insulators Ltd.

Types
Alkaline dry cells Mercury cells Silver oxide primary cells Lead-acid battery Nickel-iron battery (Alkaline cell) Cadmium battery (Nickel-cadmium cell) Lithium-ion batteries (sometimes abbreviated Li-ion batteries) Nanowire lithium-ion battery Ultra capacitor Sodium-sulfur (NaS) battery

Largest rechargeable battery 1,300 tons

Power for 7 minutes to 12,000 homes

2
Electric Vehicles

Image Source: http://evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=1212

Mechanical Storage

3
Compressed Air

Image Source: Sandia National Laboratories

4
Flywheel
Mechanical Storage

Images Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Leonardo-Flywheel.ogg

Image Source: www.humboldt.edu/~serc

5
Hydrogen

Hydrogen Fuel Cycle

Source: http://zebu.uoregon.edu/2001/ph162/l10h.html

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumped-storage_hydroelectricity

6
Mechanical Storage

Pumped water

7
Hydroelectric dam up-rating

Image Source: http://www.itep.kit.edu/english/234.php

8
Superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES)

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_energy_storage

Ice or cool fluid used to reduce electricity demand

9
Thermal

10
Molten Salt
Image source/cited: http://www.greentechmedia.com/green-light/post/real-solar-thermal-at-intersolar-383/

10
Molten Salt

Source: United Technologies

Capacity
Source: www.storagealliance.org

New Approaches

Energy stored by bending/deforming The energy released when the material returns to its original shape

Nanotechnology Approach Nanotubes Springs

Carbon Nanotubes

compete with batteries for energy storage

Energy Stored within the internal space of matter

e.g. Papers, clothes

Earth Spin Generator

A. Possible Approach

Combining two (or more) of the established energy storage systems, i.e. creating a hybrid energy storage system

B. Possible Approach

Recycling energy output

Light Lifts Movement

C. Possible Approach

Forced arrangement of molecular structures

-within the same matter or from two different substances-

D. Possible Approach

Using the sea water movement resulted from the gravitational force of the moon

E. Possible Approach

Using falling rain water

F. Possible Approach

Designing efficient commercially viable photosynthesis machine

Storing Energy (molecular level)

1. Selecting a suitable substance 2. Creating identical copy of the internal structure via software simulation 3. Experimenting (molecular scale) using the above software 4. Replicating the same experiment on the actual sample (nano-scale)

Two Methodologies

Market & Finance

Is it the right time to invest in Energy Storage?

Conclusion
1. There is an urgent need for energy storage 2. Renewable energy 3. Forecasting for energy demand is unpredictable 4. Grid reliability 5. During low demand (e.g. at night) energy stored 6. Smart grid 7. Reduction in cost for power stations (reduction in annual peaking requirements)

Thank you for listening.