Integrating renewable energy into the grid

Algoé, a management consultancy.

DNV GL, the global expert in energy and sustainability consultancy.

EDF, the world’s largest producer of electricity.

Elia, one of Europe’s leading electricity transmission system operators.

GE, the world’s Digital Industrial Company.

Imperial College, a provider of world-class education and research.

A consortium of energy-industry leaders and academic researchers

The eStorage ecosystem

Integrating intermittent renewable energy into the electrical grid is a delicate balancing act. Electricity producers will need better power regulation capabilities and energy storage to successfully adjust their power output to grid operators’ needs – and ensure that total production matches demand 24 hours a day.

Project objectives:

1. Demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of upgrading an existing pumped hydro storage power plant (PSP) to variable speed technology.

2. Enhance existing IT systems to develop grid management solutions in line with real-time market systems.

3. Quantify the benefits of an EU-wide rollout of variable speed PSPs under alternative scenarios.

4. Propose changes to the market and regulatory frameworks and support appropriate business models for flexible energy storage in the EU.

5. Develop and assess technology solutions allowing the upgrade of 75% of European PSPs to variable speed, which in turn will provide additional capacity for flexible load balancing.

Pumped hydro storage power plants are currently the only economically-feasible means of storing large amounts of excess energy, effectively enabling power plants to balance supply and demand.

However, power regulation – the key to optimal grid stability – is only available in turbine mode. Adding variable speed technology to pumped hydro storage

power plants increases plant efficiency and flexibility by allowing power regulation in both turbine and pumping mode. It also enables electric utilities to harness surplus power from intermittent sources like wind to fill pumped hydro storage plants’ upper reservoirs faster, storing the surplus energy for later use when demand is high or when no wind energy is available.

Coupled with improved IT systems, variable speed technology would facilitate grid management for better real-time balancing of supply and demand.

The eStorage project will demonstrate the feasibility of upgrading to variable speed technology, develop new IT systems for smarter grid management, put forward market and regulatory recommendations for energy storage, and develop scenarios for the rollout of energy storage across the EU.

Integrating renewable energy into the grid, a delicate balancing act

The eStorage consortium is developing solutions for the cost-effective integration of intermittent renewable energy generation into the electrical grid in the form of energy storage. Only GW-scale energy storage solutions can achieve an optimal balance between electricity supply and demand.

eStorage Developing energy storage solutions for the cost-effective integration of renewables into the grid through:

Rationale Variable speed pumped hydro storage power plants have the capability to increase plant efficiency and flexibility while ensuring optimal grid stability.

Wind power today

Today, wind power cannot be stored. When too much wind power is produced, the grid frequency becomes unstable and outage risk increases. Power production has to be reduced. As stopping a thermal plant is expensive, the only remaining option is to disconnect wind turbines from the grid, cutting off a source of carbon-free energy.

Cost-effective solutions for widespread deployment of flexible, reliable and large-scale energy storage.

Enhanced grid management systems to facilitate the integration of intermittent renewable energies.

The data, recommendations, and tools the energy industry needs to enhance the integration of intermittent renewable energy into the grid and meet sustainability targets.

For the latest eStorage news and reports and to start preparing your energy future, contact eStorage today!

Contact us at: www.estorage-project.eu

All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union or any individual member company of the consortium. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited. Photo credits: GE. A PDF version of this brochure is available at: www.estorage-project.eu

Printed on recycled paper.