Sunday, January 24, 2016: 1:30 PM-3:00 PM
Cutting-Edge Technologies
Chair:
Geoffrey C. Bares, P.E., CB&I
Technical Committee: 06.09 Thermal Storage
Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar continue to increase their share of the national electrical power supply. The variable nature of energy production from renewables has made electrical grid stability a critical issue, with energy storage identified as a key part of the solution. Find out how mature and reliable thermal energy storage technologies can facilitate the fast-evolving integration of renewables into our energy supply, to the benefit of both building owners and power suppliers.
1 Distributed Energy Storage: How It Increases the Value of Renewables
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Mark MacCracken, P.E., CALMAC Corp |
Renewables integration into the electric grid was relatively inconsequential when the percentage was small. With the penetration of solar PV and wind growing, the impacts of unpredictable availability are starting to show and the need for storage on both sides of the electric meter is becoming very apparent. A situational overview and a few case studies will be shared.
2 The Challenge of Intermittent Renewable Energy: Comparing Energy Storage Options and Exploring TES Solutions
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John S. Andrepont, The Cool Solutions Company |
This presentation provides an overview of the impact of intermittent renewable energy technologies (notably solar and, especially, wind power) on the electric power grid. Multi-hour energy storage (ES) technology options are described; and their technical and economical characteristics are compared. The use of cool thermal energy storage (TES), in both demand-side (electricity user) and supply-side (electric utility generator) applications, is examined, with performance and economic results highlighted. Examples illustrate the varied means by which TES can expand the use of renewable energy resources.
3 Impacts of Increasing Penetration of Renewable Energy Generation and Opportunity for Increased Use of TES
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Douglas Reindl, Ph.D., P.E., University of Wisconsin-Madison |
The demand for electricity in many locations is strongly driven by building air conditioning systems, which experience their peak in the afternoon period during hot humid days. It seems reasonable to assume that utilities would benefit from increased renewable energy deployment to meet electric loads from air conditioning because solar energy output is high when air conditioning demands are high. This presentation explores this thesis in more depth and describes why renewable energy technologies alone cannot cost-effectively meet utility loads. Thermal energy storage is shelf-ready technology that will be instrumental in shifting electric loads from air conditioning to periods of time when renewable energy is available.
4 Grid-Interactive Electric Thermal Storage: Linking Thermal Energy Storage to Real-Time Grid Needs
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Paul Steffes, P.E., Steffes |
Grid-interactive electric thermal storage (GETS) space and water heaters have an innovative communication and control system, when aggregated; provide ISO’s, utilities and aggregators the ability to precisely vary consumer energy usage to the real-time needs of the electric grid. With rapidly growing amounts of renewable energy, aggregated GETS systems with real time control are a low cost energy storage solution that provide precise visibility, measurement and controllability for these aggregated energy storage assets. This system of grid-edge storage provides electric grid managers the ability to integrate, manage and fully utilize renewable energy generation.