Duke Energy has begun testing a battery technology at its Rankin Substation in Gaston County, North Carolina, the US.
The Hybrid ultracapacitor-battery Energy Storage System (HESS) will demonstrate multiple service applications, which include extended operational life, rapid response, real-time solar smoothing and load shifting.
Duke Energy technology development manager Thomas Golden said: “This approach will allow our energy storage systems to do a variety of tasks.”
“With so many solar installations in North Carolina, we must look for innovative ways to better incorporate renewable energy into our system – and still provide reliable service at a competitive price for our customers.”
A distribution line at the substation has a 1.2MW solar installation linked a mile away. With North Carolina fourth in the nation for installed solar power, managing and maintaining these grid-connected renewable installations is critical in the present as well as in the future, added Golden.
Energy Storage Association executive director Matt Roberts said: “Energy storage is changing the paradigm on how we generate, distribute and use energy. The demonstration of new technologies will help facilitate wider adoption across the nation.
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By GlobalData“Duke Energy is to be commended for its work on this project and partnership efforts in advancing energy storage solutions.”
For the present project, which went operational last month, Duke Energy partnered with several other companies.
Aquion Energy is providing battery technologies and associated engineering services. Maxwell Technologies is providing fast-response ultracapacitors (UCAPs) that can store and discharge energy quickly and effectively.
Win Inertia is providing the SHAD solution (Win Inertia’s HESS) integrating enhanced power electronics and patented energy management and control systems.
The HESS system will use UCAPs to help manage solar smoothing events in real-time – particularly when the solar power on the grid fluctuates due to cloud cover or other weather circumstances. UCAPs have been proven in other applications to cut down heat stress on the battery and minimize degradation. The batteries will be used to shift solar load to a more advantageous time for the utility.
Win Inertia’s hybrid energy storage system (SHAD) is based on a flexible hardware and software platform that enables the seamless operation of Aquion’s batteries and Maxwell’s UCAPs in the same energy solution. The hybrid energy storage integrates energy management algorithms. This helps integrate energy storage technology to offer simultaneous and cost effective grid services.
Maxwell UCAPs discharge and recharge power in the sub-second to minutes timeframe, with long operational life in a wide operating temperature window.
This is ideal for stabilising short-term PV power output fluctuation in large-scale deployments. This ensures reliable access to solar power on the grid.
The 100-kilowatt/ 300-Kwh battery makes use of Aqueous Hybrid Ion chemistry. This comprises a saltwater electrolyte and synthetic cotton separator. These materials should result in lower costs, while the water-based chemistry will offer a non-toxic and non-combustible product that is safe to handle and environmentally friendly.
