+ Concept- Local Load-Levelling Power Storage Station
Load Levelling
Our research led us to propose a sub-neighborhood sized power station to help communities shave their peak power usage, and get power backup protection as a side benefit. We'll call it the local load-levelling ("3L") station. Sized for something like 20-60 homes in a several block area, the 3L Station is basically a mid-sized storage battery (50-100 kw sized) combined with a small diesel or fuel cell generator module . During off-peak hours, the batteries are charged from the electrical grid, with assistance from the generator if needed. At peak hours, the battery supplies the extra electrical load needed by A/C or other modern electric demands.
The sub-neighborhood tied into this system becomes a kind of local energy cooperative group, combining to avoid raising demand for a new power plant. Current generation technology is a small diesel generator gen-set with clean technology, such as the AdBlue or catalytic converter systems used on some European cars and trucks. A small natural gas reformer/hydrogen fuel cell arrangement may be possible in the very near future. The generator can be small because it has 2/3 of the day to charge the battery, if the battery is fully utilized. Another possible attribute is that the heat generated during battery charge and discharge could be captured and supplied to adjacent residences. In some locations, the community group served by this station could collectively add wind and/or solar power to help further reduce their total demand on the grid.
We see the station integrated into the neighborhood as a visually appealing asset, not hidden away. And that may be one of it's best attributes, because AMI field testing suggests that keeping power issues visible can be a powerful motivation for conservation.
A promising direction to avoid building more power plants is Demand Side management, seeking to lower peak energy usage. Two related concepts are Advanced Metering ("AMI") and large scale energy storage. AMI gives the consumers information about their consumption to help encourage them to cut back, especially during peak demand (4 pm on a 100 deg. F day in the city). Energy storage concepts use power generated at off-peak hours to charge up batteries or store energy in other ways.
Our research led us to propose a sub-neighborhood sized power station to help communities shave their peak power usage, and get power backup protection as a side benefit. We'll call it the local load-levelling ("3L") station. Sized for something like 20-60 homes in a several block area, the 3L Station is basically a mid-sized storage battery (50-100 kw sized) combined with a small diesel or fuel cell generator module . During off-peak hours, the batteries are charged from the electrical grid, with assistance from the generator if needed. At peak hours, the battery supplies the extra electrical load needed by A/C or other modern electric demands.
The sub-neighborhood tied into this system becomes a kind of local energy cooperative group, combining to avoid raising demand for a new power plant. Current generation technology is a small diesel generator gen-set with clean technology, such as the AdBlue or catalytic converter systems used on some European cars and trucks. A small natural gas reformer/hydrogen fuel cell arrangement may be possible in the very near future. The generator can be small because it has 2/3 of the day to charge the battery, if the battery is fully utilized. Another possible attribute is that the heat generated during battery charge and discharge could be captured and supplied to adjacent residences. In some locations, the community group served by this station could collectively add wind and/or solar power to help further reduce their total demand on the grid.
We see the station integrated into the neighborhood as a visually appealing asset, not hidden away. And that may be one of it's best attributes, because AMI field testing suggests that keeping power issues visible can be a powerful motivation for conservation.
Labels: batteries, Concepts, electricity, Energy, energy storage
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posted by Brian on Thursday, February 28, 2008
