The Power Of Solar With A Large Battery
This post is based on this press release from Highview Power, which is entitled Highview Enlasa Developing 50MW/500MWh Liquid Air Energy Storage Facility In The Atacama Region Of Chile.
This is the first paragraph.
Highview Enlasa, the 50/50 joint venture between Highview Power, a global leader in long duration energy storage solutions, and Energía Latina S.A.-Enlasa, the largest backup power generation provider in Chile, is pleased to announce that it is developing the first liquid air long duration energy storage project in Chile. This 50MW/500MWh (10 hours) CRYOBattery™, which represents an estimated investment of USD $150 million, will be located in Diego de Almagro in the Atacama Region.
Ican deduce these points from this paragraph.
The power output of 50 MW appears to be standard for all of Highview Power’s CRYOBatteries, which is not surprising as the centre of each system appears to be a standard turbomachinery solution from MAN Energy Solutions, as I wrote about in MAN Energy Partners With Highview Power On Liquid-Air Energy-Storage Project.
But whereas the first system at Carrington, near Manchester, can only store 250 MWh, this plant in Chile is twice the size and can provide 50 MW of electricity for ten hours. The Chile plant will just have twice the number of storage tanks for liquid air.
I can no reason, why if Carrington needed to store more electricity, that more tanks couldn’t be added.
This Google Map shows the area around the city of Diego de Almagro.
Note.
- The city of Diego de Almagro is in the centre of the map.
- In the North-Western corner is the Planta Fotovoltaica ENEL Diego de Almagro, which even my rudimentary Spanish, identifies as a solar power plant.
- In the North-Eastern corner of the map, is appears that a second solar power plant is under construction.
The city is surrounded by the large Atacama Desert.
This second Google Map shows the location of Diego de Almagro, with respect to the Chilean Coast.
Note.
- The red arrow indicates the solar powerplant at Diego de Almagro.
- La Paz in Bolivia is in the North-East corner of the map.
- The sandy-beige colour indicates the Atacama Desert.
The area would appear not to lack sun.
This extract is from the press release.
With one of the highest solar irradiations in the world, the Atacama Region has the potential to generate all the country’s electricity. By pairing solar with cryogenic energy storage, Chile can benefit from 24/7, 100% renewable energy.
The Wiukipedia entry for Solar Power In Chile, is not as optimistic as the press release, but does show the rapid growth in the amount of solar power.
Conclusion
Solar power installed with large batteries, will transform the electricity supply in countries like Australia, Chile and India and those in Africa and other places, where there are large hot deserts.
In Europe, Spain is investing heavily in solar power and is a big innovator in solar technology.
Work Underway To Create ‘UK’s Biggest Electric Bus Charging Station’ In Glasgow
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on edie.
This is the first paragraph.
Public transport operator First Bus has begun work to retrofit its Caledonia depot in Glasgow to host 162 electric vehicle (EV) charging points, claiming the project will be the largest of its kind in the UK once complete.
These are other points from the article.
- The project is in two phases and both will be complete by the end of 2022.
- Phase One will handle the charging for twenty-two buses for COP26.
- The new chargers will be 150 kW and will be supplied by the Heliox Group.
- First Bus aim to have a zero-emission fleet in the UK by 2035.
This Google Map shows the Caledonia depot.
Note.
- It is a big site.
- There seems plenty of space in the area.
- The M74 Motorway in the South-West corner of the map.
- Further to the South-West is the main electrified railway into Glasgow Central station.
I have some thoughts.
Power Supply
Charging up 162 electric buses at a rate of 150 kW will need an electrical feed of 24.3 MW.
To illustrate the levels of renewable power available near Glasgow, Whitelee Wind Farm is a dozen miles to the South-West.
- It is the largest onshore wind farm in the UK and the second largest in Europe.
- It has a nameplate capacity of 539 MW.
All of a sudden 24.3 MW of preferably renewable energy doesn’t seem such a large amount.
The grid may need strengthening to bring electricity into the First Bus Caledonia depot, but I doubt that would be the most difficult of projects.
Energy Storage
I am an enthusiast for energy storage and have invested in two companies developing energy storage systems.
My modelling of water networks in the 1970s and what I’ve read since, indicate to me, that detailed modelling would show that to support a 24.3 MW electrical supply to the depot, some amount of energy storage will be needed.
Highview Power are building a system at Carrington near Manchester, that can supply 50 MW for up to five hours.
If I was First Bus, I would be seriously looking at energy storage to support the charging of the buses.
After all, there’s nothing as useless in the morning rush hour in a city like Glasgow, than a flat battery-electric bus!
Wind Turbines And Solar Panels
How about some on site power generation?
Conclusion
Given the renewable energy available locally and First Bus’s objective of being zero-carbon by 2035, I can see Caledonia depot being enlarged in the future.
A CRYOBattery For Chile
This article on pv Magazine is entitled Latin America’s First Liquid Air Storage Project.
This is the first paragraph.
The 50 MW Highview Enlasa project will be located in Diego de Almagro, in Chile’s Atacama Region.
It looks like it is a similar size to their other projects at Carrington in Manchester and in Vermont and Spain.
Diego de Almagro is a city in the North of Chile.
All You Want To Know About Highview Power
This article on Power is entitled Market Prospects Heating Up for Cryogenic Energy Storage.
It talks in detail about the technology, financing and market prospects for Highview Power and their CRYOBattery.
- Their batteries store energy by liquifying air and storing it in large tanks.
- To recover the energy, the air is encouraged to go to a gaseous phase and put through an air turbine.
- Their first commercial system is being built at Carrington near Manchester.
- The Carrington system will have an output of 50 MW and be able to store up to 250 MWh.
- Other systems are under development for Vermont and Spain.
- The systems are built like Leho from readily available components from the oil and gas industry.
One of my regrets in life, is that I missed the crowdfunding for this company!
Read the article as you might find one of Highview Power’s CRYOBatteries coming to a site near you.
Power’s article is the best yet on describing the technology.
Gravitricity Battery Generates First Power At Edinburgh Site
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the first paragraph.
A project to create electricity from gravity has generated its first power at a demonstrator site in Edinburgh.
The article gives a good explanation of the uses of the Gravitricity system and shows a video.
I suppose, I should declare an interest, in that I have invested money in Gravitricity through crowdfunding.
But then I like the concept and they are also using some of the best winch technology in the world from specialist company: Huisman.
How Siemens Gamesa Could Give Coal Plants a Second Life
This article on Greentech Media is a must-read as it makes you think. This is the sub-title.
The ETES thermal battery can offer coal plants a new life as heat and power storage hubs. The first customer for a full-size version could be on-board as early as next year.
It talks about the philosophy of reusing coal-fired power station sites and some of their equipment like turbines.
It is an idea much more applicable to countries like the US and Germany rather than the UK, as they still have lots of operational coal-fired power stations and and we only have a few.
I first came across this idea, when Highview Power were talking about their 50/MW/400 MWh installation in Vermont, which was to be built on the site of a demolished coal-fired power station. The utility company and Highview were in that case just reusing the grid connection.
But then I’ve heard of other energy storage systems using old power station sites.
And not to forget that Highview Power’s installation at Carrington is close to a gas-fired power station.
Bang Goes My Holiday!
There are various things I want to visit in Germany and I felt that the best thing to do would be go for a few days,
But the BBC are reporting these facts about travel to Germany.
- From Sunday, people travelling from the UK will not be allowed to enter Germany
- The decision is down to a rise in cases of the Indian variant in the UK
- German citizens and residents, plus people with an exceptional reason, can still enter – but face a two-week quarantine
So bang goes my holiday!
I particularly wanted to go to Hamburg to take a few pictures of the Siemens Gamesa ETES trial installation in the city.
However I’ve been able to locate the installation on Google Maps.
Note.
- The wind-turbine towards the South-West corner of the map.
- Siemens Gamesa ETES trial installation is the prominent odd shaped building towards the South-East corner of the map, just below the shadow of the turbine.
- The installation seems to have lots of pipes connected to it.
This second map shows the installation from an angle.
This document on the Siemens Gamesa web site describes the installation.
- The nominal power is 30 MW.
- The capacity is 130 MWh.
- 80 % of the technology is off the shelf.
The picture on the front says “Welcome To The New Stone Age”.
If anybody should find themselves in Hamburg with some time to waste, I’d be very grateful for a copyright-free image.
The installation appears to be just off the VollHöfner Weiden.
Gravitricity Adds Hydrogen To Energy Storage Mix
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release on the Gravitricity web site.
These are the first two paragraphs of the press release.
Energy storage specialists Gravitricity have revealed plans to add hydrogen and heat storage to their underground gravity energy system.
The Edinburgh innovators have submitted a global patent to turn purpose-built shafts into pressurised energy stores, capable of safely accumulating significant quantities of the gas.
These are my observations.
- I believe the original concept of storing energy will work, which is why I have invested.
- Other companies are proposing to store hydrogen under pressure below ground.
- Heat is being extracted from the London Underground and used for heating buildings.
- Using one hole for three purposes must be more cost-efficient.
These processes might be easier with a regular clean purpose-built shaft!
Highview Power Unveils $1bn Of Liquid-Air Energy Storage Projects In Spain
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Recharge Magazine.
The article is based on this press release from Highview Power, which is entitled Highview Power Developing 2 GWh of Liquid Air Long Duration Energy Storage Projects in Spain.
This is the introductory paragraph from the press release.
Highview Power, a global leader in long duration energy storage solutions, announced today it is developing up to 2 GWh of long duration, liquid air energy storage projects across Spain for an estimated investment of around $1 billion. These projects will enable several Spanish regions to move towards their net zero emissions target.
The press release also says this about location and size.
Highview Power is planning to develop up to seven CRYOBattery™ projects ranging from 50 MW/300 MWh in Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y Leon, and the Canary Islands.
Three of these areas are in Northern Spain and the other is a group of islands.
As Spain has at least two large pumped storage systems, perhaps geography rules this proven technology out in these areas.
System Modularity
According to the Wikipedia entry for Highview Power, the two current CRYOBatteries under development are sized as follows.
- Carrington, Manchester, UK – 50 MW/250 MWh – Under construction
- Vermont, USA – 50 MW/400 MWh – Under development
Do the figures indicate that several systems will share the same 50 MW core power system, with a number of liquid air tanks to give the appropriate capacity?
I have extensively modelled chemical plants in my past to see, how different sizes work and I am fairly certain, that Highview Power have developed a design, that is extremely flexible.
It looks like if initial calculations show that a system capable of supplying 50 MW for five hours is needed, but operation proves that a capacity of six hours would be better, that all Highview Power need to do is add another 50 MWh tank.
This is surely an operator’s dream, as if say a developer builds a thousand dwellings and/or a windfarm nearby and more energy storage is needed, an appropriate number of extra tanks can be added.
Sourcing The 50 MW Core Power System
I talked about how the first system at Carrington will use a system from MAN Energy Solutions in MAN Energy Partners With Highview Power On Liquid-Air Energy-Storage Project.
This surely is an approach that minimises risk.
Sourcing The Storage Tanks
I have been searching the Internet for manufacturers of cryogenic gas tanks and I’ve found them in countries like Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, South Africa, Spain, the UK and the US.
But then most hospitals have one for their liquid oxygen.
This image was from shutterstock.
They are not difficult to find.
Spain And Renewable Energy
Spain is a large producer of renewable energy and also a leader in wind and solar power technology.
See Renewable Energy in Spain on Wikipedia for more details.
Siemens Gamesa, which was created by a merger of a German and a Spanish company and is headquartered at Zamudio in Spain, have also developed the Siemens Gamesa ETES, which is a volcanic rock-based energy storage system about the same size of Highview Power’s CRYOBattery.
Conclusion
It looks to me, that Highview Power have closed a good sale.
USTDA Grants $1 Million To Support Battery Storage Project In Africa
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Running Africa.
This is the first two paragraphs.
The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), an independent body of the US government, has reportedly issued a grant of just under USD 1 million to support feasibility studies for large-scale battery storage schemes in Senegal and Mozambique.
Notably, these large-scale battery storage projects have been grouped with wind energy in Mozambique in Southeast Africa as well as Senegal in West Africa.
A Dutch company seems to be doing the development.
We need more aid projects like these, as with electricity and clean water life can be so much better!
The Anonymous Widower 