Energy developer Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. has announced two grid-scale energy storage projects near Chicago.
Battery-based energy storage projects can offer benefits to the electricity grid by keeping the alternating current's frequency steady, and can do so at a lower cost than alternatives like ramping generators up and down. Thanks in part to new federal policies, battery projects capable of providing frequency regulation can now earn increased revenue for their owners.
This week RES Americas announced plans to pursue two energy storage projects in Illinois. The company describes itself as a specialist in third-party development and construction
services for the renewable energy, transmission, and energy storage
industries. It also builds renewable
energy and storage projects that it owns itself.
In an apparent tribute to the Blues Brothers, its two newly announced projects will be named Jake and Elwood. The Elwood
Energy Storage Center will be sited in West Chicago, while the Jake Energy Storage Center will be in Joliet. Beyond names and locations, the projects bear greater resemblance to each other than to the Blues Brothers. Both projects were acquired from Glidepath Power in September. Each will be interconnected to the Commonwealth Edison Co. electric grid, and will have an operational life expectancy of at least ten years. Each will use lithium iron phosphate batteries with a 19.8 megawatt capacity, capable of storing 7.8 megawatt-hours of energy.
RES Americas expects to begin construction on both
projects this winter, and to complete them by August 2015. When complete, the battery projects will be able to provide real-time frequency regulation service to the PJM Interconnection LLC ancillary services market. Thanks to recent federal orders including FERC Order No. 784, faster and more accurate regulation
resources -- like battery storage arrays -- should be compensated more highly. These policies both increase consumer
demand and reduce developers' barriers to entry
into battery-based energy storage projects.
Other battery projects are moving forward, based on values other than frequency regulation. Last month,
Southern California Edison Company brought its Tehachapi Wind Energy Storage Project online. That $50 million project, the largest currently operating in North America, is capable of storing 32 megawatt-hours,
deliverable as an 8 megawatt stream of energy for 4 hours. The Tehachapi system is designed to help even out the flow of power produced by wind farms, which is naturally variable and intermittent. Battery systems can also be designed to improve local reliability, support microgrids, or serve as non-transmission alternatives to building more utility wires.
For more information about battery energy storage projects, recent policies favoring energy storage and the opportunities they create, contact Todd Griset at Preti Flaherty at 207-791-3000.
Energy powers society; society's choices shape energy policy. A blog about our energy resources and the choices they present for society.
Showing posts with label Tehachapi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tehachapi. Show all posts
North America's largest battery energy storage online
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
A California public utility has brought the largest battery energy storage in North America online. Funded partially by federal stimulus funds, Southern California Edison's Tehachapi Wind Energy Storage Project is designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of large-scale battery storage systems.
Southern California Edison Company is the largest electricity supply company in Southern California. As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the utility won funding to develop a major battery energy storage system (or BESS). The Tehachapi Wind Energy Storage project consists of an array of lithium-ion batteries capable of storing 32 megawatt-hours, deliverable as an 8 megawatt stream of energy for 4 hours. The LG Chem batteries rely on the same lithium-ion cells installed in battery packs for General Motors’ Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle, and feature 608,832 individual battery cells arrayed in 10,872 battery modules and 604 battery racks. Along with two 4MW/4.5MVA smart inverters, the project will be housed in a 6,300 square foot facility sited at SCE's existing Monolith substation.
Of the project's $49,956,528 total budget, half will be paid for by SCE, while federal funds will cover $24,978,264. In return, the project will examine whether and how the battery energy storage system improves grid performance and helps integrate wind and other large-scale variable energy resourced generation. Project performance will be measured by 13 specific operational uses, most of which either shift other generation resources to meet peak load and other electricity system needs with stored electricity, or resolve grid stability and capacity concerns that result from the interconnection of variable energy resources. These uses include: providing voltage support and grid stabilization; decreasing transmission losses; diminishing congestion; increasing system reliability; deferring transmission investment; optimizing renewable-related transmission; providing system capacity and resources adequacy; integrating renewable energy (smoothing); shifting wind generation output; frequency regulation; spin/non-spin replacement reserves; ramp management; and energy price arbitrage. In addition, the project will demonstrate how lithium-ion battery storage can provide nearly instantaneous back-up capacity, minimizing the need for fossil fuel-powered back-up generation.
Between technological advances and a series of recent policy decisions, battery energy storage could be poised for rapid growth. For example, in 2011 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued Order No. 755, requiring the grid operators in organized markets to compensate battery energy storage systems and other fast-ramping frequency regulation resources based on the actual service they provide. Last year's Order No. 784 required public utilities to take into account the speed and accuracy of regulation resources such as batteries. Meanwhile, batteries are hoped to help balance into the grid large amounts of energy from intermittent renewable resources such as solar and wind projects.
After two years, the Tehachapi Wind Energy Storage Project will have completed its initial demonstration run. Will the project lead to greater deployment of battery energy storage systems in the U.S.?
Southern California Edison Company is the largest electricity supply company in Southern California. As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the utility won funding to develop a major battery energy storage system (or BESS). The Tehachapi Wind Energy Storage project consists of an array of lithium-ion batteries capable of storing 32 megawatt-hours, deliverable as an 8 megawatt stream of energy for 4 hours. The LG Chem batteries rely on the same lithium-ion cells installed in battery packs for General Motors’ Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle, and feature 608,832 individual battery cells arrayed in 10,872 battery modules and 604 battery racks. Along with two 4MW/4.5MVA smart inverters, the project will be housed in a 6,300 square foot facility sited at SCE's existing Monolith substation.
Of the project's $49,956,528 total budget, half will be paid for by SCE, while federal funds will cover $24,978,264. In return, the project will examine whether and how the battery energy storage system improves grid performance and helps integrate wind and other large-scale variable energy resourced generation. Project performance will be measured by 13 specific operational uses, most of which either shift other generation resources to meet peak load and other electricity system needs with stored electricity, or resolve grid stability and capacity concerns that result from the interconnection of variable energy resources. These uses include: providing voltage support and grid stabilization; decreasing transmission losses; diminishing congestion; increasing system reliability; deferring transmission investment; optimizing renewable-related transmission; providing system capacity and resources adequacy; integrating renewable energy (smoothing); shifting wind generation output; frequency regulation; spin/non-spin replacement reserves; ramp management; and energy price arbitrage. In addition, the project will demonstrate how lithium-ion battery storage can provide nearly instantaneous back-up capacity, minimizing the need for fossil fuel-powered back-up generation.
Between technological advances and a series of recent policy decisions, battery energy storage could be poised for rapid growth. For example, in 2011 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued Order No. 755, requiring the grid operators in organized markets to compensate battery energy storage systems and other fast-ramping frequency regulation resources based on the actual service they provide. Last year's Order No. 784 required public utilities to take into account the speed and accuracy of regulation resources such as batteries. Meanwhile, batteries are hoped to help balance into the grid large amounts of energy from intermittent renewable resources such as solar and wind projects.
After two years, the Tehachapi Wind Energy Storage Project will have completed its initial demonstration run. Will the project lead to greater deployment of battery energy storage systems in the U.S.?
July 28, 2010 - Alta Wind Energy Center breaks ground; PACE financing
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Today's picture: Central Maine Power transmission lines off Route 201 in Topsham, Maine.
In California, the Alta Wind Energy Center — with plans for thousands of acres of turbines to generate electricity for 600,000 Southern California homes — officially broke ground yesterday. Here's the official project website, which is running a bit slowly today (likely due to all the interest in the project). Terra-Gen Power, LLC does have a slick website that is worth checking out. Some highlights include:
In enacting the smart grid bill, the Maine Legislature found that:
With this policy in place, the ball is now in the court of smart grid infrastructure developers. We now have a law that will support roll-out of smart grid projects in Maine. Who will be the first to propose one?
A bit of personal news, related to energy: an article I co-authored with a colleague and a client has been published in Paper360 Magazine. Click through to read about how a pulp and paper mill navigates the waters of compliance with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and other climate change regulation.
How about PACE financing? PACE-promoting provisions got stripped out of the current Senate energy bill. These tweaks are viewed as necessary to let PACE programs flourish, as government-backed lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have suggested that they won't play with PACE.
In California, the Alta Wind Energy Center — with plans for thousands of acres of turbines to generate electricity for 600,000 Southern California homes — officially broke ground yesterday. Here's the official project website, which is running a bit slowly today (likely due to all the interest in the project). Terra-Gen Power, LLC does have a slick website that is worth checking out. Some highlights include:
- The Alta Wind Energy Center (AWEC), under developed by Terra-Gen Power, is composed of multiple projects. The first AWEC development is the Alta-Oak Creek Mojave Project.
- The Alta-Oak Creek Mojave Project will be composed of up to 320 wind turbine generators and supporting infrastructure.
- The Project will be developed primarily on privately-owned land adjacent to existing wind energy developments in the Tehachapi area of California.
- The Project is projected to add 50 full-time jobs to the Kern County economy.
In enacting the smart grid bill, the Maine Legislature found that:
- The cost of electricity to consumers in this State is high in comparison to costs in similar markets and impedes economic development;
- The State has recognized the consequences of climate change and has committed to policies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases;
- The State's electric grid and long-term infrastructure investment are vital to continued security and economic development, and smart grid functions will deliver electricity from suppliers to consumers using modern technology to increase reliability and reduce costs in a way that saves energy and to enable greater consumer choice;
- The State currently lacks a comprehensive smart grid policy but faces critical decisions regarding the implementation of smart grid functions and associated infrastructure, technology and applications, and the commission and the Legislature will play central roles in making those decisions; and
- It is vital that a smart grid policy be developed in order to ensure that all ratepayers and the State as a whole are afforded the benefits of smart grid functions and associated infrastructure, technology and applications.
With this policy in place, the ball is now in the court of smart grid infrastructure developers. We now have a law that will support roll-out of smart grid projects in Maine. Who will be the first to propose one?
A bit of personal news, related to energy: an article I co-authored with a colleague and a client has been published in Paper360 Magazine. Click through to read about how a pulp and paper mill navigates the waters of compliance with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and other climate change regulation.
How about PACE financing? PACE-promoting provisions got stripped out of the current Senate energy bill. These tweaks are viewed as necessary to let PACE programs flourish, as government-backed lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have suggested that they won't play with PACE.
July 23, 2010 - no Senate energy bill for now; wind gets boosts
Friday, July 23, 2010
A bit of New Meadows eye candy:
Sure enough, the Senate climate bill is dead. Instead, we'll get a weak energy bill addressing the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, promoting building energy efficiency through the HomeStar program, and promoting the use of natural gas as a fuel for large trucks.
In Maine, the Fort Halifax dam removal saga continues. Prior to removal of this dam on the Sebasticook River, the town of Winslow, Maine and residents had voiced concerns about erosion, and had appealed (without success) the Department of Environmental Protection's orders approving dam removal. After the dam was removed, portions of the former impoundment's banks suffered severe erosion. The town had to spend over $725,000 to demolish six homes on Dallaire Street that were threatened by the newly eroded banks. The affected areas also included the river bank below the historic (mid-1700s) Fort Hill Cemetery, eroding the bank back much closer to the cemetery fence and grave sites. Former dam owner FPL Energy Maine Hydro commissioned a study of why this erosion happened. FPLE's study concluded that the dam removal and drawdown "did not play a significant role"; instead, the study pointed to unstable soils, steep slopes, heavy rain, and an earthquake. Both the town and the state expressed doubts about this conclusion. Now the town has officially asked the DEP to perform its own study, and to enforce the conditions in its dam removal order that require FPLE to monitor and remediate erosion.
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved Susan Collins's request for $10 million in funding for the University of Maine's development, deployment and testing of deepwater and offshore wind turbines. The funding must now be approved by the full Senate, but the parallel House bill still lacks such an appropriation.
Wind is big in California too. It looks like Terra-Gen's Alta Wind Energy Center near Tehachapi is going forward, as it has placed an order with Vestas Wind Systems for 190 3 MW turbines. The Alta Wind project represents the largest financing of a North American wind-energy development to date. Part of the financial picture includes a 1,550 MW power purchase agreement with Southern California Edison for part of the project output. The project will have domestic economic benefits as well: Vestas will manufacture the blades in Windsor, Colorado, and most of the towers in Pueblo, CO.
A growing storm in the Gulf of Mexico has put BP's efforts at the oil well site on hold.
Sure enough, the Senate climate bill is dead. Instead, we'll get a weak energy bill addressing the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, promoting building energy efficiency through the HomeStar program, and promoting the use of natural gas as a fuel for large trucks.
In Maine, the Fort Halifax dam removal saga continues. Prior to removal of this dam on the Sebasticook River, the town of Winslow, Maine and residents had voiced concerns about erosion, and had appealed (without success) the Department of Environmental Protection's orders approving dam removal. After the dam was removed, portions of the former impoundment's banks suffered severe erosion. The town had to spend over $725,000 to demolish six homes on Dallaire Street that were threatened by the newly eroded banks. The affected areas also included the river bank below the historic (mid-1700s) Fort Hill Cemetery, eroding the bank back much closer to the cemetery fence and grave sites. Former dam owner FPL Energy Maine Hydro commissioned a study of why this erosion happened. FPLE's study concluded that the dam removal and drawdown "did not play a significant role"; instead, the study pointed to unstable soils, steep slopes, heavy rain, and an earthquake. Both the town and the state expressed doubts about this conclusion. Now the town has officially asked the DEP to perform its own study, and to enforce the conditions in its dam removal order that require FPLE to monitor and remediate erosion.
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved Susan Collins's request for $10 million in funding for the University of Maine's development, deployment and testing of deepwater and offshore wind turbines. The funding must now be approved by the full Senate, but the parallel House bill still lacks such an appropriation.
Wind is big in California too. It looks like Terra-Gen's Alta Wind Energy Center near Tehachapi is going forward, as it has placed an order with Vestas Wind Systems for 190 3 MW turbines. The Alta Wind project represents the largest financing of a North American wind-energy development to date. Part of the financial picture includes a 1,550 MW power purchase agreement with Southern California Edison for part of the project output. The project will have domestic economic benefits as well: Vestas will manufacture the blades in Windsor, Colorado, and most of the towers in Pueblo, CO.
A growing storm in the Gulf of Mexico has put BP's efforts at the oil well site on hold.
12/18/09: ME CA transmission lines approved, bumpy roads, no more Candu reactors
Friday, December 18, 2009
Maine:
The PUC (press release) has approved Bangor Hydro's 42-mile 115 kV electric transmission line between Ellsworth and Harrington, noting that the line will improve the reliability and increase grid capacity in Hancock and Washington Counties. BHE projects construction to run from 2011-2012. An order will follow soon.
California:
The Cal. PUC has approved construction of the last component of So. Cal. Edison's $1.8 billion Tehachapi project transmission lines required to interconnect new wind capacity with the grid. Construction will start in 2010, with the line expected to be energized in 2014.
USA:
The AP reports that counties and towns are letting paved roads revert to gravel to save money -- a good example of reevaluating just how good an infrastructure we're willing to buy.
Canada:
Ottawa announced that it will privatize the nuclear power unit of Atomic Energy of Canada -- the maker of the Candu reactors. Ontario was the primary market for Candus, but this summer the province declined to order more Candus due to cost -- even though Ontario is phasing out coal-fired electric power. Areva, Hitachi, and Westinghouse/Toshiba are potential buyers, all of whom are more likely interested in AEC's market, not the Candu design.
The PUC (press release) has approved Bangor Hydro's 42-mile 115 kV electric transmission line between Ellsworth and Harrington, noting that the line will improve the reliability and increase grid capacity in Hancock and Washington Counties. BHE projects construction to run from 2011-2012. An order will follow soon.
California:
The Cal. PUC has approved construction of the last component of So. Cal. Edison's $1.8 billion Tehachapi project transmission lines required to interconnect new wind capacity with the grid. Construction will start in 2010, with the line expected to be energized in 2014.
USA:
The AP reports that counties and towns are letting paved roads revert to gravel to save money -- a good example of reevaluating just how good an infrastructure we're willing to buy.
Canada:
Ottawa announced that it will privatize the nuclear power unit of Atomic Energy of Canada -- the maker of the Candu reactors. Ontario was the primary market for Candus, but this summer the province declined to order more Candus due to cost -- even though Ontario is phasing out coal-fired electric power. Areva, Hitachi, and Westinghouse/Toshiba are potential buyers, all of whom are more likely interested in AEC's market, not the Candu design.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
