Eco-Power - November 10, 2011

Storage Steals Headlines

Energy storage performance modeling tool: New from KEMA, a leading utility industry consultant, the energy storage performance modeling tool is said, by SmartGridNews.com, to eliminate "uncertainty about total cost and value makes it hard to determine payback, adding to the confusion and uncertainty." More information is also available directly from KEMA, including sample screen shots (as seen below) from the tool.

Grid-tied solar energy storage is online now in New Mexico, thanks in part to S&C Electric. According to a news release, “The PNM Prosperity Energy Storage Project can produce 500 kilowatts of power and uses high-tech batteries to create firm and dispatchable energy derived from a renewable energy source.”

Market assessment—dynamic & immature: According to work by Pike Research, “Almost 600 energy storage projects have been announced or deployed worldwide, and such installations are gaining momentum.” The findings from Pike Research were posted on EnvironmentalLeader.com. See graphic below:

Micro-scale energy storage: In an analysis, posted to EnvironmentalLeader.com, from Christine Hertzog of Smart Grid Library said, “Current work is now focused on similar recommendations for energy storage on the customer side of the meter – micro-scale energy storage that can be coupled with rooftop solar generation. 

"This means that utilities are taking serious looks at moving from current

'always-on' forms of generation to time-shifted generation supported by energy storage, and considering that intermittent renewables like wind and solar can be coupled with energy storage technologies.”

Ready for prime time: Is energy storage ready? EnergyBiz.com’s tentative conclusion in a recent article is that it might be—if prices can be brought down.

Research into storage: Johnson Controls is working with the two largest campuses of the University of Wisconsin system on research to advance energy storage, the Milwaukee newspaper reported. 

Why large-scale storage is important: According to an item on a Frost & Sullivan study, the large-scale storage market is a growing field in Europe. The study finds, “The escalating demand for energy, paralleled by technological advancements such as smart grids, widespread electric vehicles use and the more widespread deployment of renewable energy, are underlining the importance of large scale energy storage technologies.”