Cryogenic energy storage plant could provide valuable back-up

[Fledermaus]

The UK’s first cryogenic power storage plant, which uses liquid nitrogen to store and release energy, is scheduled to open next month.

Its operator, Highview Power Storage, said the system could provide a relatively cheap way of storing power, particularly from intermittent sources such as wind turbines, to better match the supply of electricity to demand.The pilot facility near Slough has been providing electricity to the National Grid since April last year by evaporating liquid nitrogen stored at -200ºC to drive turbine generators.........


The full system returns about 50 per cent of the energy put in, rising to 70 per cent efficiency if it uses waste heat from another source, such as a power station. This is similar to the efficiency of the much less energy-dense compressed-air storage plants and compares to 70 to 85 per cent for batteries and 65 to 75 per cent for pumped hydro.

Read more: http://www.theengineer.co.uk/sectors/energy-and-environment/news/cryogenic-energy-storage-plant-could-provide-valuable-back-up/1007539.article#ixzz1JpiqKFDO

[txlibdem]

1. Bookmarked to read later (n/t)

[DCKit]

2. That's a crappy return. nt

[FBaggins]

3. ‘If you want a green grid you need energy storage,’

Yep.

[kristopher]

4. The question isn't if storage will be used; but rather when and how much.

And those questions, like for all other components of all other grids, are ones that will be formed and answered during thousands of case by case instances where costs of all options are weighed against the benefits of each developing economic opportunity.

There will be far fewer of those economic opportunities than your typical nuclear fission promoter thinks. That's because they still hold the false belief in an obsolete model of "baseload" that developed around the economic profile of large scale centralized thermal.

A good discussion of this from the person most responsible for ensuring the reliability of the nation's energy supply is found in the two parts of this video interview with FERC Chairman Wellinghoff where he describes why the concept of baseload that you cling to is outdated.

http://greenmonk.net/smart-grid-heavy-hitters-jon-wellinghoff-chair-of-us-federal-energy-regulatory-commission-part-1

http://greenmonk.net/smart-grid-heavy-hitters-jon-wellinghoff-chair-of-us-federal-energy-regulatory-commission-part-2


It's in the second half of the interview (the second link).

"Why it is a good thing for utilities that customers consume less electricity – 0:36
How smart grids help increase the penetration of renewables on the grid – 2:12
How electric vehicle owners are being paid up to $3,600 per annum to provide regulation services for utilities while charging! – 2:54
How renewable energy sources can be used as baseload power (no coal or nuclear baseload need ever be built) – 4:34"

Read more: http://greenmonk.net/smart-grid-heavy-hitters-jon-wellinghoff-chair-of-us-federal-energy-regulatory-commission-part-2/#ixzz1Jngo06xQ

[FBaggins]

6. Yep... and the "when" and "how much"...

...related directly to attempts to move renewables past the surplus threshhold. Say... as more than 20% of generation.

As you've been told for well over a year now.

[kristopher]

7. What does Wellinghoff have to say on that?

Like I said, the promoters of the present coal/nuclear system like to tell tall tales. The primary functional characteristic of storage is that it is able to be dispatched. Note that the statement about 20% refers ONLY wind, not "renewables". Since all of the other "renewables" that we will be using in addition to wind are more able to be dispatched than wind, it is patently obvious that your claims are both without merit and designed to misinform.

"The question of whether wind needs storage ultimately comes down to economic costs and benefits. More than a dozen studies analyzing the costs of large-scale grid inte- gration of wind come to varying conclusions, but the most significant is that integration costs are moderate, even with up to 20% wind-energy penetration, and that no additional storage is necessary to integrate up to 20% wind energy in large balancing areas. Overall, these studies imply that the added cost of integrating wind over the next decade is far less than the cost of dedicated energy storage, and that the cost can potentially be reduced by the use of advanced wind-forecasting techniques."

Wind Power Myths Debunked
november/december 2009 EEE Power and Energy Magazine Master Series

http://www.ieee-pes.org/images/pdf/open-access-milligan.pdf

[jpak]

8. if you want a brown grid, you need spent fuel storage

yup

[Nihil]

5. K & R for some good news ...

> The company estimates the captial cost of cryogenic energy storage will be
> less than $1,000 per kW when the technology is mature, one quarter of the
> costs of sodium-sulphur batteries and between half and quarter of that of
> pumping water uphill into reservoirs.
> ...
> ‘Pumped hydro is the gold standard but there aren’t many mountains close to London,’
> said Peters. ‘(Our technology is) modular and scalable and you can move it.

Sounds like an excellent plan - especially with careful siting to address the
"re-use of waste heat" aspect.


> Highview is now planning a commercial-scale 3.5MW power generator due to be
> operational by the end of next year, which will be 10 times larger than the
> pilot plant, with a fully integrated liquefaction system to follow.

Wonder where that will be?


> ‘If you want a green grid you need energy storage,’ said Peters.
> ‘It’s the whole issue of strategic policy for energy security and economics.
> It’s the time-shifting of energy to support not just intermittent sources
> but also must-run plants.’

And this is yet another step in the right direction!
:thumbsup:

[Fledermaus]

9. Most of the technology already exsits.....TKW Liquid Cryogenic Turbine-Generator Expander

These turbines are used when converting liquefied natural gas back into natural gas. Adding electrical cogeneration increases available revenue stream.

Available in configurations up to five stages and up to 2.5 MW, the TKW turbine expander provides increased process efficiency and improved mechanical performance over other designs. From its corrosion resistant stainless steel construction to its high efficiency induction generators, the TKW offers total life cycle value.
http://www.flowserve.com/Products/Pumps/Industries/Oil-and-Gas-Downstream/NGL-and-LPG/ci.TKW-Liquid-Cryogenic-TurbineGenerator-Expander,en_US.standard--------

[kristopher]

10. I think the 50% efficiency makes this one generally a non-starter.

To be competitive it has to be in the 70s for round trip efficiency.

[Fledermaus]

11. 70% with added heat. The heat from liqufication can be saved or use environmetal heat.

The heat from spent nuclear fuel will work. Bam! 70%

[kristopher]

12. Yes, that is why I said "generally"

That is a constraint on location and application.

[Fledermaus]

13. Water from thin air!

A plant located dessert would make water. A plants located on mountain tops with clouds would make much more water.

1 Water when the atmosphere is cooled.
2 Water condenses when liquid nitrogen is boiled using air.

Water for biomass. Roofspace for rainwater harvesting. More water.


Jojoba

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/jojoba.htmlIV. Environment Requirements:
A. Climate:
Jojoba is best suited to areas that are frost free and is not grown in the northern midwest. When temperatures drop below 20°F, flowers and terminal portions of young branches of most jojoba plants are damaged. During early seedling development, excessive cold may kill an entire plantation. Frost may not damage taller plants to the same degree, but it can reduce yield. Jojoba is very tolerant of high temperatures.

Natural stands of jojoba occur in areas that receive 3 to 18 in. of precipitation annually. Irrigation has produced more luxuriant vegetative growth, but it is not known whether this increased growth results in higher seed yield. Jojoba requires the most water during late winter and early spring.

B. Soil:
Most wild jojoba populations occur on coarse, light or medium textured soils with good drainage and good water infiltration. Planting on heavy soil results in later blooming, slower growth and more problems with fungal diseases.

C. Seed Preparation and Germination:
Jojoba can be planted by direct seeding or by transplanting seedlings to the field. In the southwestern U.S. many growers prefer direct seeding because it is less expensive, faster and requires less hand labor. Seed can be germinated in vermiculite or sand at about 80°F. Emergence occurs in 15 to 20 days, and the seedlings are ready for transplanting when they are 6 to 12 in. tall (8 to 10 weeks). Emergence from direct-seeded fields occurs in 15 to 20 days. Propagation from clones or from tissue culture is a more rapid method of varietal improvement.