Long-term promise and potential for renewable energy
sources remains vast. But the reality of current renewable technologies
and the plain fact that today’s utilities and their users demand
constant availability means that fossil fuels are here to stay for a
while longer as a base generation source.
However,
that does not mean that renewables have to take a back seat in the
evolving power-generation market. There are strategies for renewable
integration that utilities and power-generators should consider
implementing that expand the value and functionality of renewables. The
advancements in hybrid configurations leverage renewable sources so they
can make increased energy contributions far exceeding previously
envisioned limits. The intelligent, strategic use of hybrid systems
(fossil fuels and renewable energy) significantly lowers fuel
consumption, which improves operating economics and curtails emissions.
At
TDX Power, we’ve found that hybrid power systems are well suited for
power generation in remote locations. These sites demonstrate the cost
effectiveness of renewables. To date, we have installed three hybrid
systems in remote Alaskan outposts – wind turbines integrated with
diesel-generator systems. All three locations offer excellent
wind-generation resources, and include existing diesel generators. These
sites are also “must run” environments, requiring continuous energy
access. Even short lapses in power availability can be extremely
detrimental to equipment, livelihoods and lives.
In our experience, the keys to integrating renewables into existing fossil fuel power plants include:
- Use of “off-the-shelf” products and technology
- Avoidance of unproven power-storing technologies
- Applications for leveraging excess power from renewable sources
As
an example, in 2000 at our POSS Camp facility on St. Paul Island,
Alaska, we created a hybrid system marrying diesel generators with
wind-generated energy. The system powers our commercial installations as
well as a hotel and airport terminal facilities on our property. Ten
individual buildings in all are powered by the hybrid system.
Technically,
installation of hybrid systems can be astonishingly straightforward.
The core components of the original POSS Camp plant include one 225-kW
Vestas V27 wind turbine, a pair of 150-kW Volvo diesel-engine
generators, a 6,000-gallon hot water tank, a 300kVA synchronous
condenser, and immersion water heating elements to manage integration of
wind energy with the existing grid. The products required for
integration are clearly affordable and readily available, maximizing
return on investment (ROI).
Operation at POSS Camp
can even be done without the diesel engine, one of the first
demonstrations of this type of system architecture in the world. This
was accomplished by building in a high amount of excess wind capacity,
as opposed to employing energy-storage technologies, which were not
commercially feasible at the time. Our installation takes advantage of
low-cost thermal storage to maintain system stability. We created a
thermal network in our ten buildings, redirecting excess wind energy – a
“thermal dump” – to generate hot water for commercial and domestic use
throughout more than 75,000 square feet on our site. Shunting excess
wind energy to the thermal system via the automatic control system is
nearly instantaneous and seamless.
POSS Camp diesel/wind hybrid system operated by TDX Power on St. Paul Island, Alaska.
The
proprietary installation at POSS Camp runs 20 percent of the time on
pure wind power, 20 percent of the time solely on diesel power, and 60
percent of the time on a combination of both energy sources. In 2011,
the cost savings on diesel fuel was estimated at more than $26,000 per
month, as wind energy replaced nearly 5,000 gallons of monthly diesel
fuel usage. By demonstrating power stability and
proving the viability of our proprietary hybrid system, we’ve been able
to enter a relationship with City of St. Paul Municipal Electric
Utility, recently connecting one of POSS Camp’s three 225kW wind
turbines to the city’s power grid. In the first three weeks of trial
operation, we supplied 52,500 kWh, reducing fuel usage by approximately
3,800 gallons, and with an approved plan to add additional turbine
capacity.
While we are still in the early phases
of the project with City of St. Paul Municipal Electric Utility, the
proven hybrid system performance has opened eyes of numerous parties who
guide power-infrastructure decisions. As is typically the case,
dependable systems that deliver demonstrable value will always be of
interest to forward-thinking municipalities.
We
at TDX Power are excited about the advancements we’re seeing in
renewable technologies. But while we wait for renewable solutions that
completely satisfy the needs of utilities and their customers, we’re
aggressively pursuing integrated solutions that meld fossil fuels and
renewable sources. By proving the reliability of hybrid systems in
microgrids and isolated utilities, we’re confident that power generators
and utilities of all sizes will become more comfortable in their
assessments of hybrid systems for their organizations.
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