Energy storage: The past and future of renewable energy

OutBack Power TechnologiesSolar Washington

The past…

The future…?

OutBack Power Technologies

• Premier developer of off-grid and grid hybrid power conversion systems for renewable & energy systems

• Based in Arlington, Washington USA since founding in in 2001• International brand and product quality recognition

1970 eco-predictions

“Demographers agree almost unanimously on the following grim timetable: by 1975 widespread

famines will begin in India...by the year 2000 the entire world, with the exception of Western Europe, North America, and Australia, will be in famine.”

Peter Gunter, professor, North Texas State University

“By the year 2000, if present trends continue, we will be using up crude oil at such a rate…that there won’t be any more crude oil.

Kenneth Watt, Ecologist

“Civilization will end within 15 or 30 years unless immediate action is taken against problems facing mankind.”

George Wald, Harvard Biologist

1970 eco-predictions

“The world has been chilling sharply for about twenty years. If present trends continue, the world will be…eleven degrees colder in the year 2000. This is about twice what it would take to put us into an ice age.”

Kenneth Watt,

Ecologist

“Scientists have solid experimental and theoretical evidence to support…the following predictions: In a decade, urban dwellers will have to wear gas masks to survive air pollution…by 1985 air pollution will have reduced the amount of sunlight reaching earth by one half….”

Life Magazine, January 1970

“By…[1975] some experts feel that food shortages will have escalated the present level of world hunger and starvation into famines of unbelievable proportions. Other experts, more optimistic, think the ultimate food-population collision will not occur until the 1980s.”

Paul Ehrlich, Stanford University biologist

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PV with Storage Applications

• Navigation warning lights

• Horns on offshore gas and oil rigs

• Lighthouses

• Railroad crossings

• NASA Lewis research center: vaccine refrigeration to water pumping.

• Remote locations where grid connected utilities could not exist.

1970’s

Dr. Elliot Berman, sponsored by Exxon Corporation, reduces PV cost from $100 to $20 per Watt.

1977 total PV manufacturing reaches 500kW.

1970’s

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Energy Storage Applications Electric Energy Time-shift Electric Supply Capacity Load Following Area Regulation Electric Supply Reserve Capacity Voltage Support Transmission Support Transmission Congestion Relief T&D Upgrade Deferral Substation On-site Power Time-of-use Energy Cost Management

Demand Charge Management Electric Service Reliability Electric Service Power Quality Renewables Energy Time-shift Renewables Capacity Firming Wind Generation Grid Integration

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PV with Storage Applications

• Off-grid or On grid

• Back-up or Sell back

.

2011 – Grid Hybrid Systems

Hurricane Sandy’s tough solar lesson

“Here’s a $70,000 system sitting idle,” said Ed Antonio, who watched his 42 panels as well as those on several other houses in the area go unused since the power went out Oct. 29.

“That’s a lot of power sitting… just sitting.”

Solar panels didn't help Sandy-stricken

homeowners

What did Ed need?

Replace his grid-tie only “dumb” inverter…

…with a smarter hybrid inverter/charger and his own local energy storage system

• Germany gets 5% of its gross electricity production from solar…• …but depends on that source for an “astounding” 30% of peak-

delivery demand.• Grid architecture simulations show potential for instability and even

“system collapse” under certain conditions

The need for grid stability

The need for grid stability

• California is among the leading renewable energy countries (California is now 55% of the US solar market)

• California gets 15% of its electricity from renewables…• And California currently has 40% more renewable energy capacity

than it can handle• The more renewable energy added, the less stable the grid

Peak demand management 1.0

Primary generation plant

Supplemental peaker plant

Supplemental storage plant

The “Peaking Duck” syndrome

Peaker plants

Look great on paper…

Peaker plants……but in your backyard

Plan B: Energy StorageBig batteries = neighborhood plants

• Almost half of clean energy projects proposed in recent years have been delayed or abandoned due to local opposition

– According to a March report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

• The causes: environmental concerns, property values concerns, suspicion of outside developers, and many more…

• Almost half of clean energy projects proposed in recent years have been delayed or abandoned due to local opposition

– According to a March report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

• The causes: environmental concerns, property values concerns, suspicion of outside developers, and many more…

After NIMBYs come the:

1. Environmentalists

2. Environmental review process

3. Site review process

4. Design process

5. Permitting process

6. Local planning/zoning restrictions

7. Politics, politics, politics…

8. Etc.

Peak demand management 1.0

Primary generation plant

Supplemental peaker plant

Supplemental storage plant

Peak demand management 2.0

Primary generation plant

Supplemental Storage+ microplant(commercial sized)

Supplemental Storage+ microplant

Renewables Renewables

How do you get started?

1. Pick your chemistry/technology/design

2. Pick your renewable energy need1. Deep cycle

– Batteries will cycle frequently, on a weekly or even daily basis

– Mostly used in self-consumption/energy arbitrage situations where stored solar-generated electricity is used nightly and/or during peak times

– Also “grid-zero” type applications using the grid as a back-up or “reservoir” for meeting peak demand

2. “Float” use– Batteries mainly sit topped-off, and are used

infrequently– Mostly used in UPS (uninterrupted power supply)

applications in businesses, for maintaining operations, protecting data, keeping the lights on during emergencies and brown/black outs

– Also used in residential applications for powering critical loads during emergencies; generator offset/runtime reduction

3. Pick your energy storage location

Outdoor enclosures

Indoor enclosures

Scenario 1: small home back-up3.6 kW PV system with energy storage• Small residential home needs to provide backup storage to critical loads

– Fridge, some LED lighting, PC networking/communications

X12+

Complete grid-hybrid system with storage and modules

$16-20,000

Storage AC Coupled onto existing PV system

$10-13,000

Grid-tied only PV system (no storage)

$9-11,000

Scenario 2: average home4-6kW kW PV system with energy storage• Typical residence with both time-of-use and backup

– Fridge, LED lighting, PC networking/communications, furnace motor, TV, small appliances

X18+

Complete grid-hybrid system with storage and modules

$20-30,000

Storage AC Coupled onto existing PV system

$14-17,000

Grid-tied only PV system (no storage)

$14-18,000

Scenario 3: large home or small business

10+ kW kW PV system with energy storage• Larger home or small business

– Refrigeration, LED lighting, PC networking/communications, TV, appliances, pumps, some HVAC

X30+

Complete grid-hybrid system with storage and modules

$36-50,000

Storage AC Coupled onto existing PV system

$23-29,000

Grid-tied only PV system (no storage)

$20-28,000

What about this future?

Thank you