18-06-2012, 01:36 PM
Other Flywheel Applications
Other Flywheel Applications.doc (Size: 36 KB / Downloads: 34)
Cloud Mitigation for Solar PV
Power outputs from solar photovoltaic (PV) assets are subject to rapid fluctuations due to clouds. A passing cloud, for example, can easily decrease PV power output by 80 percent or more within seconds. Conversely, as the cloud passes, power output can increase just as rapidly. Most PV resources are interconnected at distribution voltages, and such power fluctuations can cause unacceptable voltage disturbance. Depending on local conditions, utilities may refuse to allow a PV resource to interconnect unless something is done to mitigate these fast ramps in power output. Beacon's flywheel technology has the ability to buffer these fluctuations and, where they are unacceptable to the local distribution utility, our energy storage can neatly solve the problem.
Ramp Mitigation for Wind
A safe, reliable and energy-efficient modern grid should be capable of integrating pollution-free renewable energy resources on a large scale without causing deterioration of generation, transmission or distribution operations. Renewable Portfolio Standards have been put in place at the state level to encourage greater market penetration of wind and solar power. However, the variable nature of these resources poses a challenge. For example, in one western state, wind developers filed plans to add new wind capacity that exceeds the current peak load of the region. Without a new and more effective approach for integrating variable wind resources, the deployment of wind power could be severely curtailed.
Wind/Diesel/Flywheel Hybrid
The number of wind/diesel power systems operating around the world continues to increase at a rapid pace. A wind turbine placed in parallel with a diesel generator works to reduce the fuel used by that generator by allowing it to be shut down when wind power exceeds load. However, when load approximately matches available wind power, the generator must be kept at idle for the occasional event when wind power drops for a few seconds or minutes below connected load. This mode of operation is not very efficient, since much of the diesel generator's time is spent either at idle or inefficient low power settings.
The introduction of energy storage can act to further reduce diesel fuel consumption by using the stored energy to provide both load following and supplying the occasional shortfall, while leaving the generator turned off. Beacon's flywheel energy storage should be ideal for this application thanks to its low maintenance, long design life, high cycling capability without any degradation in storage value, its ability to respond almost instantaneously (thus improving load following), and its ability to provide real and/or reactive power.