72 hours Solar Forecasting will stabilize the UK grid and save money
Sheffield Solar worked with the National Grid for two years to develop real-time generation estimates from solar photovoltaic systems in the UK. This new data driven system can now forecast up to 72 hours in advance.
The tool is very useful for electricity grid operators. It helps them to stabilize the grid (supply & demand). Energy generators and traders can use the forecast tool taken optimum advantages of the green energy generation. Read More
Smart Grid projects Europe including investments 2014
Investing in renewables is increasingly interesting. The rise of renewable energy seems unstoppable.
In 2015, 50% of all energy was already renewable energy. Worldwide! And figures are growing. investment dollars are starting to move to renewable energy.
Solar panels modules decrease by 20% at every doubling capacity. By 2025 solar panels will be the cheapest form of electricity in many parts of the world.
10 decisive energy trends and drastically changing energy realities. That’s what DNV GL reports in its Technology Outlook 2025.
Note: this is not a futuristic prediction. It’s a picture of the impact of trends that have already been deployed, trends that will provide a new energy reality. Read More
Aquion did come up with a breakthrough saltwater battery. It is environmentally friendly, cost effective and has a life cycle way beyond any other battery: up to 5,000 cycles.
The development of sustainable saltwater batteries enters the next level.
The American company Aquion Energy has received $ 33 million extra finance.
Previously, Bill Gates invested in Aquion Energy.
Saltwater conductor
Aquion developed batteries that can store solar and wind energy to serve as backup for times when there is no wind nor sun. Saltwater batteries are not new, but the batteries from Aquion are special because they are using salt water as a conductor, instead of acids or bases.
Aquion has come up with a clever twist on a 200 year old salt water battery technology using:
Activated carbon (anode)
Manganese oxide (cathode)
And basically a salt water electrolyte
They have come up with a breakthrough solution. It is environmentally friendly, cost effective and has a life cycle way beyond any other battery: up to 5,000 cycles
So what’s Aquion’s energy storage innovation?
The startup — which was backed by Bill Gates and VCs like Kleiner Perkins and Foundation Capital — is making a low cost, modular grid battery made from basic materials like sodium and water.
The battery pairs a carbon anode with a sodium-based cathode, and a water-based electrolyte shuttles ions between the two electrodes during charging and discharging.
The technology was developed out of Carnegie Mellon University by founder and chief technology officer Jay Whitacre.
By using basic materials, Aquion is hoping its product is inexpensive enough to disrupt the current grid battery market.
Aquion’s CEO Scott Pearson:
“When the battery has been manufactured at a commercial scale for awhile, the price point of the battery could be $300 per kilowatt hour. That’s about a third of the cost of some of the more expensive lithium ion battery grid products.”
Advantages
Saltwater batteries are tolerant to wide temperature ranges, partial state of charge cycling, and daily deep cycling with minimal degradation.
In addition to the safety and sustainability advantages of using water as electrolyte, another advantage is the thermal mass of the embodied water means that Aquion products neither heat nor cool rapidly. As such, the products can operate in a very wide operating temperature window because they simply take so long to heat and to cool.
The saltwater battery chemistry relies on charge/discharge mechanisms which are unaffected by partial state of charge – these batteries can sit indefinitely at partial, or even no state of charge, without irreversible capacity loss like lead acid batteries.
In June 2016, Aquion Energy has introduced the Aspen 24S, a 24-volt version of its award-winning Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI) battery.
The new product is designed for energy-intensive applications that use solar panels, such as off-grid solar-powered LED lighting, as well as small pumps and motors. It is also an ideal drop-in replacement for existing systems using 24-volt lead-acid batteries.
Hybrid Energy claims to offer a battery which is safer, more circular, more modular and cheaper than the PowerWall
How incredible would it be to use your own generated solar or wind power whenever you want. Or sell if you don’t use the energy. With only the touch of a button.
Due to the special Lead Crystal® batteries, you are now able to store solar, wind or grid energy fast and safely. You can use the storage energy day or night, to run all your electric devices like TV, coffee machine, dish washer, laptop and lighting in your house. You will become less grid dependent, saving significantly on energy costs, and contribute to a greener planet. Read More
the Power-to-Gas (P2G) approach can facilitate a transition from natural gas to a ‘green’ mixed gas by making use of both of the existing energy grids on a global scale
Power-to-Gas is the process of converting surplus renewable energy into hydrogen gas by rapid response electrolysis and its subsequent injection into the gas distribution network. One of the most promising energy storage systems to storage renewables into the existing EU gas infrastructure.
The hydrogen produced is injected into the natural gas system to displace natural gas, so reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance upon fuel imports.
If the power is derived mainly from renewable power sources, only low-carbon hydrogen will be produced. Thereby the Power-to-Gas (P2G) approach can facilitate a transition from natural gas to a ‘green’ mixed gas by making use of both of the existing energy grids on a global scale.
