The Anonymous Widower

BESS Projects Represent ‘Encouraging Progress’ in New York Efforts To Replace Dirty And Polluting Peakers

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Energy Storage News.

These are the first three paragraphs.

Battery storage is playing an active role in helping New York City retire its fleet of peaker power plants, with around 700MW of its most polluting power generation assets already fully retired.

According to a new report, 4,019MW – about two-thirds of a 6,093MW fleet – has either retired or put in place plans to replace turbines with cleaner technologies since New York adopted its climate goals and environment protection policies in 2019.

In addition to 700MW already retired, around the same amount again is actively being moved towards end of life.

Note.

1. Just over 6,000 MW seems a lot of extra peaker power, even for a city as large as New York.
2. But at least over 4 GW has been retired or the plans to replace it with cleaner technologies are in place.
3. The New Yorkers certainly seem to be getting on with the conversion, with about a GW/per year either retired or planned to do so.

The article says this about batteries.

Battery storage is one of a number of different technologies that can be used to replace peaking capacity. While lithium-ion batteries with 4-hour duration might be the most directly analogous in terms of technical capability to peakers, effectively retiring the power plants could be facilitated with a combination of other resources including rooftop solar, offshore wind and energy efficiency measures.

I find the 4-hour duration interesting, but I suspect the Yanks know what they’re doing.

So if you were going to replace the 240 MW Glanford Brigg power station, which Centrica describe as a peaker station, with energy storage, you’d use a 240 MW/960 MWh battery, if you were working to New York rules.

Batteries in the UK, that I’ve talked about lately include.

Amp Hunterston – 400 MW/800 MWh – 2 hours

Amp Kincardine – 400 MW/800 MWh – 2 hours

• Carlton Energy Park – 1040 MW/2080 MWh – 2 hours – Close to an 884 MW gas-fired power station.
• Coalburn – 500 MW/1000 MWh – 2 hours- Close to a 946 MW collection of wind farms.
• Gateway Energy Centre – 450 MW/900 MWh – 2 hours – Close to an 732 MW gas-fired power station.
• Normanton Energy Reserve – 500 MW/1000 MWh – 2 hours
• Richborough Energy Park – 100 MW/100 MWh – 1 hour
• Spalding Energy Centre – 550 MW/1100 MWh – 2 hours – Close to an 860 MW gas-fired power station.

Note.

1. The first field is Output/Storage Capacity.
2. The second field is the duration.
3. I have assumed Spalding Energy Centre is another two hour duration system, like Gateway Energy Centre, which is also being developed by Intergen.
4. Two hours seems to be the most common duration for a UK battery.

Adding the batteries up gives a virtual 3940MW/7780MWh battery.

It amazing how they add up to quite large values. But then every little helps!

And these are only the ones I’ve talked about.

January 23, 2024 - Posted by AnonW | Energy, Energy Storage | Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Centrica, Co-Located Wind/Battery Project, Intergen, New York, Peaker Power Station