Saft Supplying Li-ion Storage for ABB SVC Light Grid System
02 May 2010
Saft is providing the Li-ion (lithium-ion) battery technology for ABB’s new SVC (Static Var Compensator) Light with Energy Storage—its latest development within the FACTS (Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems) family. The technology can play an important role in integrating renewables into the grid.
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| Hierarchy of the battery solution. Source: ABB. Click to enlarge. |
The new technology combines SVC Light, with a highly scalable battery storage technology .The present rated power and capacity of storage is typically in the 20 MW range for periods of approximately 15 to 45 minutes, but this technology can be scaled up to 50 MW of power for 60 minutes and more.
SVC Light is a system that provides fast-acting reactive power compensation in high-voltage electricity networks. It compensates for fluctuations in the voltage and current of an electric grid, thereby allowing more power to flow through the network while maintaining safety margins and increasing stability.
| “This technology can play an important role when it comes to integrating renewables, especially in weak electrical networks. It can be a key enabler in the development of more reliable and smarter grids.” |
| —Claes Rytoft, head of technology for ABB’s Power Systems division |
ABB’s SVC Light with Energy Storage enables dynamic control of active as well as reactive power in a power system, independent of each other. Fast reactive power control means that grid voltage and stability can be controlled quickly.
Active power control is enabled with dynamic energy storage by levelling out power fluctuations from intermittent generation sources such as wind and solar energy. This technology also facilitates load support and ancillary grid services such as area frequency regulation.
SVC Light is a system connected to the grid at transmission as well as sub-transmission and distribution levels; advanced IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) are utilized as switching devices.
The SVC Light with Energy Storage will store power from renewable energy sources and surplus power from the grid in its Saft Li-ion battery system. At times when the level of renewable power available falls, such as when the wind drops or photovoltaic panels are obscured by cloud, or whenever a peak in power consumption occurs, the system will inject the power required to provide controlled ramping and to maintain a stable grid.
The Saft modular Li-ion battery technology offers excellent cycling capability—3,000 cycles at 80% depth of discharge or 1 million cycles at 3% depth of discharge–as well as a long calendar life and an intelligent, self-diagnostic design. It also offers high energy density, millisecond-level response time and high power capability, both in charge and discharge.
Saft’s Li-ion technology provides precise information on the battery’s state of charge (SOC). An array of battery modules provide the necessary rated DC voltage and storage capacity for each installation. Paralleling within the battery provides a high level of fault tolerance and ensures excellent system availability.
In addition to the development and supply of the battery system, Saft is collaborating with ABB in qualification and field testing of the SVC Light with Energy Storage system. The first trial installation is already underway in part of the UK distribution grid. When it is commissioned, later in 2010, it will demonstrate the concept’s capability under a variety of network conditions, including operation with nearby wind generation.
Resources
SVC Light with Energy Storage (ABB presentation)
Interesting e-buffer/UPS technology but not enough of a fix for the days when clouds cover sun for more than a hour, or wind is low. Intermittent power seems best dealt with by massive storage of non electrical energy in gravity flow reservoirs or compressed air wells. One hour at 50MW will not obviate spinning reserve requirements burning fossil fuels.
The intermittent nature and low throughput from wind especially is worrisome. New nuclear requires less ancillary systems to deliver a stable energy source - and more efficient long term(and waste seems less an issue.)
However it's good to see these large scale UPS-type systems coming online. They will be valuable in providing stability to a distributed energy grid servicing Residential Power Units. While RPUs eliminate large scale blackouts - they will fail independently. A grid buffered with a UPS like this could easily handle dozens of local RPU failures. Functioning RPUs would recharge the UPS during offpeak hours at night.
Posted by: sulleny | 02 May 2010 at 09:19 PM
Sodium sulphur batteries are very good at this task, but the demise of Firefly, unnoticed by me until now, shows that you must use lithium even if the per pound cost and per kilowatt and per kilowatt-hour cost is very high for lithium. No stationary battery needs to use lithium technology.
The lead bipolar battery from Sweden's EFFPOWER would also be very economical for this use. Perhaps they have gone out of business in the last few weeks.
Vanadium redox batteries are already being used for the same purpose. But VRB had to go broke too and sell out to China.
The ZEBRA battery would also be highly suited for this application since with their low production volume they are nearly as expensive as Lithium batteries. Mes-Dea was recently bought out by someone who wants to promote non automotive uses of the ZEBRA battery. Because of their Zero maintenance and low danger rating and long life, replaceable large ZEBRA cells should be installed in every new house and new building as a grid support system. The cells can be insulated with cheap foam glass and be easily replaceable. They should be required by law just as insulation is required by law. The power company can reduce rates for those that own them, but they can also save their owners money in other ways. Modern micro controllers and commmunications allow the battery system to work with the grid controllers.
In addition to standard tungsten bulbs, modern CFLs and fluorescent ballasts can be operated directly from the terminals of the battery if the voltage is in the range of the old Edison 110/220 volt direct current distribution system, so you can have light until the battery is dead, but the battery can be charged with simple fuel powered generators because the grid interconnect problems are already safely implemented. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 03 May 2010 at 01:31 AM