The configurable Series 6001 interface allows communications and control of the inverter through a variety of links. By connecting to a system supervisory controller, transmission providers are able to send commands and receive data.

An industrial manufacturer has introduced an advanced utility-scale inverter in its new Series 6001 energy storage grid-connect inverter, engineered to provide improved power stability for wind and solar energy customers. Engineered by Eaton Corp. for utility-scale grid-connect battery applications, the Series 6001 inverter lets customers achieve full battery storage potential because of a large direct current operating voltage window. Eaton power electronics switching techniques result in lower losses and improved efficiency. The Series features proprietary electronics that make it one of the most efficient inverters in the renewable power market.

“With the recent IE Power acquisition, Eaton now combines strong design capabilities with an established product to deliver dependable and efficient inverters for utility-scale customers,” Chris Thompson, business unit manager at Eaton.

The Series 6001 provides high-performance conversion in utility applications for wind, solar and other heavy industrial power applications by creating a high-performance link between the power source and battery. The Series 6001 helps utilities reduce downtime and clear faults faster by staying on line during fault conditions. Low-voltage ride through (LVRT) with proprietary algorithms let the Series 6001 inverter run near zero line voltage for extended periods, while maintaining line synchronization. Also, high-voltage ride through (HVRT) capability is achieved through conservatively rated components.

Ride-through capabilities meet the requirements of North American and European standards: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Bundesverband der Energie und Wasserwirtschaft (BDEW), and E-ION. These standard compliance settings are field selectable to match site requirements.

A four-quadrant inverter for battery charge and discharge, the Series 6001 withstands demanding applications with a rugged design. The enclosure meets a seismic zone 4 rating and is available as indoor or outdoor rated. The dust-tight section protects the liquid-cooled inverter and electronics control components from harsh and dusty environments. Also, a vented section houses robust air-cooled magnetics.

The Series 6001 is rated for 500 kilowatt (kW), 1,000 kW and 1,500 kW applications. Designed for a 20-year life for utility applications, the unit has conservatively rated magnetics, liquid-cooled power modules with over seven million hours mean time between failure (MTBF) and a rugged enclosure for demanding environments. Additionally, the transformerless design, proprietary control strategies and filter design result in over 98% peak power efficiency.

Eaton grid-connect inverters provide the required grid support, including: low, zero and high voltage ride through; standalone/black start operation; islanding detection; utility communication; and full four quadrant operation.

In conjunction with a system supervisory controller and feedback from the point of common coupling (PCC), additional grid support features can be achieved. These include: peak power shaving, load leveling, grid frequency regulation and voltage control.

The configurable Series 6001 interface allows communications and control of the inverter through a variety of links. By connecting to a system supervisory controller, transmission providers are able to send commands and receive data.

Eaton Corporation
www.eaton.com.

Windpower Engineering & Development

Although the CRES sector is still nascent, market conditions, technology capabilities, and economics are beginning to align in a way that points to significant growth opportunities over the coming decade. The expansion of distributed solar photovoltaics capacity, the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles, and the spread of dynamic pricing programs will all be key drivers in the growth of such distributed energy storage systems. However, current barriers to CRES include the need for further refinement of business models for community and residential deployments, regulatory barriers related to financial structures, and the identification of cost/benefit models for various CRES applications.

This report assesses the market opportunity for the use of battery-based energy storage systems in community and residential deployments. Key applications covered include voltage support, frequency regulation, islanding, and peak shaving using lithium ion, advanced lead-acid, and flow battery technologies. The study includes profiles and analysis for key industry players as well as global revenue and installed capacity forecasts, segmented by technology and region, from 2012 to 2022.

Questions addressed in the report:

• What are the key applications for distributed energy storage systems?
• What are the market drivers and barriers for community energy storage and how do they differ for residential energy storage?
• What is the technology mix for CRES in each global region and how will it change over time?
• What regions will be the global leaders in CRES and why?
• How large is the CRES market, in terms of capacity and revenue?
• What are the key metrics and methodologies for analyzing CRES?

Pike Research
Pikeresearch.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

Maxwell manufacturers a range of ultracapacitors. The two above are of most interest to the wind industry.

“Maxwell has produced more than 20 million ultracapacitor cells since setting up initial high-volume production,” said David Schramm, the company’s president and CEO. “With ultracapacitor sales having grown by more than 500% since 2007, we are moving aggressively to make sure we stay a step ahead of customer demand.” The company manufacturers ultracapacitor cells ranging in capacitance from one to 3,000 farads and multi-cell modules ranging from 16 to 125 volts.

The new electrode plant will be housed in a 123,000 ft² facility the company has leased in Peoria, Arizona. To date, all proprietary electrode material used in Maxwell ultracapacitor products has been produced at the company’s San Diego facility.

In 2011, Maxwell and an assembly partner built and shipped more than 2 million large-cell ultracapacitors, and a new large-cell assembly line scheduled to come on line later this year will increase capacity by 50%. Large cells are used mainly in hybrid and electric public-transit vehicles for braking energy recuperation and torque assist. The company also supplies large cells to Continental AG, a global Tier 1 auto parts supplier, for a stop-start idle elimination system introduced by PSA Peugeot Citroën in Europe for the 2011 model year.

Working with another contract assembly partner, the company brought on line a high-volume assembly line in mid-2010 for its redesigned, 350-farad “D-cell” ultracapacitor products, used mainly in wind turbine blade-pitch mechanisms.

A third contract manufacturer assembles Maxwell’s HC family of small cell products, which range from one to 150 farads, and are used mainly in industrial electronics applications.

The company also has expanded production capacity for its postage stamp-size, 10-farad PC-10 ultracapacitor cells to satisfy increasing demand for a backup power application in solid-state drives used in enterprise computing systems. Previously, the company delivered several million PC 10s to power wireless transmitters in automated electric utility meters and other devices.

Unlike batteries, which produce and store energy in a chemical reaction, Maxwell’s ultracapacitors store energy in an electric field. This electrostatic energy storage mechanism lets ultracapacitors charge and discharge in as little as fractions of a second, perform normally over a broad temperature range (-40 to +65C), operate reliably up to one million or more charge/discharge cycles and resist shock and vibration.

Maxwell
www.maxwell.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

The lithium battery will come from Canada's Electrovaya.

Arizona Public Service Company has begun testing a 1.5 MWh energy-storage system the size of a shipping container. The goal of the company’s two-year pilot in Flagstaff, Ariz., will be to determine the benefits for storing solar-generated electricity and putting it onto the grid at times when APS customers need it most. The battery could work as well for wind generated power.

“We plan to study a number of things, including how we can decrease equipment stress on high demand days and how we can provide solar energy to our customers after sundown,” says APS Director of Energy Innovation Barbara Lockwood. “This pilot has great potential to change some of the ways we deliver electricity in the future.”

The energy storage pilot will be two-fold. In 2012, the system, which was developed by Electrovaya Inc., a lithium-ion battery manufacturing company, will reside in an electrical distribution substation. The system will be later trucked a few miles up the road to support a neighborhood-scale solar power plant. In addition, Electrovaya has partnered with ABB, a power and automation technology company, to provide the power conditioning and conversion equipment for the battery energy storage system.

A video of the energy storage system can be found on YouTube at (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNMclgXUUqw&feature=youtu.be).

“This system is possibly the world’s largest Lithium Ion battery in a single container” commented Dr. Raj Das Gupta, Electrovaya’s General Manager, Energy Storage Systems. “Working with major utilities represents a tremendous opportunity for us in the rapidly growing grid energy storage market, and validates the importance of our advanced battery technology and unique toxic chemical-free manufacturing process.”

In the substation, the system will store energy when it is inexpensive and the electricity flowing through the substation equipment is at lower capacity. Then, APS can dispatch the energy at times of higher demand when electricity is more expensive to purchase or produce and equipment is at maximum capacity.

“The steadier flow of electricity on peak days could keep our equipment healthy for longer periods, so we can improve reliability and keep maintenance costs down,” says APS Energy Storage Project Manager Joe Wilhelm. “In the future, if a piece of equipment fails and causes an outage, we could also dispatch energy from storage units temporarily until repairs were made.”

At the Doney Park Renewable Energy site, a 500-kW solar power plant, energy storage will help reduce the intermittency of solar power generation and help to get more renewable energy onto the grid. For example, when a cloud passes over and system output decreases slightly, APS can dispatch energy from storage to fill the gap and keep a smooth flow of generation to the grid. APS also plans to test dispatching the energy after dark.

“Energy storage can make renewable resources more reliable for operations teams and consumers. One of the busiest times on our system is between 5 and 9 p.m. That’s when many customers get home from work, turn on lights, the TV and air conditioning. However, by that time, solar systems have largely stopped producing for the day,” says Wilhelm. “With storage, we can gather solar energy during the day and dispatch it in the evening, when it provides the greatest benefit to customers.”

The 500-kW Doney Park Renewable Energy site is part of the APS Community Power Project. With Community Power, APS is studying the effects of a high concentration of solar energy in a single neighborhood as part of a $3.3 million U.S. Department of Energy grant awarded in 2010. In addition to the solar plant, 125 APS customers and a local elementary school are generating electricity from rooftop solar systems.

Flagstaff is home to several APS Energy Innovation pilots. In addition to Community Power, APS is engaged in a self-healing/self-isolating grid pilot and a distribution fault anticipation pilot. The latter two technologies help predict and manage system faults, resulting in reduced power outages and quicker repair times.

Arizona Public Service Company
www.aps.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

Engineered for high-energy requirements, the Industrial line delivers 1,500 cycles at 80% depth-of-discharge and features advanced battery technologies that provide high performance.

A manufacturer of deep-cycle batteries expands its product offering with the launch of Industrial flooded line of batteries for renewable energy (RE) and backup-power applications. Intended to support large daily loads where the batteries are cycled regularly, Trojan Battery’s deep-cycle industrial versions work well in a wide range of photovoltaic (PV) systems.

The Industrial product family is intended for use in large off-grid PV systems, off-grid hybrid PV systems, grid-tied PV systems with battery backup, smart grid peak shifting systems and a variety of other applications. Engineered with advanced battery technologies that deliver reliable power, the units are tested to meet International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Battery Council International (BCI) standards.

The flooded batteries are for deep-cycle use and optimized for deep discharge and recharge cycles characteristic of RE systems. The Industrial line features five different configurations to meet various capacity needs.

The manufacturer’s industrial line of batteries is comprised of removable 2-V cells bundled in a secondary containment case to form single, high-capacity 4 and 6-V batteries. Components of the individual cells are assembled in a rugged polypropylene housing to protect the internal plates from damage that may occur during transport and installation. The 2-V cells are enclosed in a larger polyethylene outer case that protects against damage caused by harsh environmental conditions such as moisture and dirt buildup, as well as safeguards against potential acid leaks. For added protection, thick-walled cases feature a lattice design that reinforces the outer case’s structural integrity. The removable 2-V cells are easier to maintain and replace while the combined insulation of the dual container construction provides added protection against extreme temperatures.

The batteries feature a lower profile and wider stance to evenly distribute weight throughout the battery. By creating a lower center of gravity the battery profile enhances overall stability. Dual handles molded into the case make it easy to move, transport, and install.

Engineered for high-energy requirements, the Industrial line delivers 1,500 cycles at 80% depth-of-discharge and features advanced battery technologies that provide high performance.

In addition, the Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC) recently welcomed the company back into its membership. As a manufacturer of deep-cycle batteries, Trojan is renewing its membership with the ALABC in an effort to actively participate in the consortium’s research program and assist in the continued development of advanced lead-acid and lead carbon batteries for current and emerging markets.

Trojan Battery Company
trojanbatteryre.com 

ALABC
www.alabc.org

Windpower Engineering & Development

The chart plots different storage technologies and chemistries along with discharge rates.

A vigorous U.S. energy storage market offers good potential for growth over the next five years, according to a study sponsored by the Copper Development Association (CDA) and conducted by KEMA, Inc. The study, Market Evaluation for Energy Storage in the United States. determines the current market for grid energy storage in the U.S. and the associated copper demand in storage applications over the next five years. Thermal-energy storage, pumped-hydro power, compressed-air-energy storage (CAES), and distributed applications constitute most of the energy-storage market. These can support the integration of renewables, such as wind and solar power.

Within the U.S., analysts forecast that $240 billion will be invested in storage-grid applications over the next 10 years. Overall, government support is strong with the Department of Energy Smart Grid Demonstration Grants project investing $772 million. Strong investments from government and venture capitalists, successful demonstration projects, and recent technological advancements have all contributed to strong growth in the storage market.

Market drivers are energy independence and security, smart-grid investments, time of use/peak demand rates, increase in renewables and distributed generation, and government policies, incentives and regulations. Though all sectors of the energy storage market show strong potential, from an application perspective, distributed generation devices, renewable systems, and ancillary services show greatest near-term growth potential. Global opportunity over the next 10 to 20 years is estimated at upwards of 300 GW, which translates into $200 to $600 billion in value.

Newer technologies are growing due to commercial investment and governmental support. Growth in the energy storage market over the next five years is estimated at between 2 to 4 GW with an estimated copper demand of 900 to 3,000 tons.

Copper’s superior conductivity and reliability play a key role in batteries, wiring, and motors used by these devices. Lithium-ion, flow, and sodium batteries as well as flywheels, CAES, and pumped hydropower are users of copper at the unit level. Moreover, certain pieces of electrical equipment and supporting infrastructure—such as transformers, generators, inverters, cooling systems, other motors and wiring—rely on copper for efficient, reliable operation.

“We are excited to see that the results of the study emphasize the growth and development of energy storage in the U.S. and support our belief that copper can play a vital role as a key component of energy storage in coming years,” says Zolaikha Strong, Director of Sustainable Energy at CDA. “In this time of transformation of the electric grid, we encourage policy makers to support the growth of storage technologies because they provide the needed reliability to support to the grid.” The report is available at: http://www.copper.org/about/pressreleases/pdfs/kema_report.pdf

Copper Development Association Inc.
www.copper.org

Windpower Engineering & Development

Li-battery-manufacturer Valence challenged the grant of European Patent number 0904607, originally held by the University of Texas and now assigned to Hydro Quebec, in an opposition proceeding in the European Patent Office filed on July 27, 2005.

Valence Technology Inc., a U.S.-based global manufacturer of advanced energy storage solutions for commercial applications, has prevailed in seeking the dismissal of an appeal by Hydro-Quebec (HQ) of a decision of the European Patent Office revoking a HQ European patent. The EPO Patent corresponded to the primary HQ patent being litigated in the Western District of Texas Federal Court (Austin). The patent is related to lithium metal phosphate technology.

In December 2008, the EPO Opposition Board revoked the grant of the patent based on evidence presented by Valence showing that the patent lacked novelty. The Board’s decision revoking HQ’s European

Patent eliminated any risk that HQ could assert the European Patent against Valence’s proprietary lithium iron magnesium phosphate cathode material, a critical material for the next generation of advanced batteries. HQ filed an appeal of the 2008 revocation of the European Patent. The appeal hearing was heard and decided on February 2, 2012, by an EPO Board of Appeal, which dismissed HQ’s appeal. As a result of the decision, European Patent number 0904607 has been revoked by the EPO in its entirety. Valence was represented in the opposition and the appeal by Dr. Claus Beckmann of the German Intellectual Property Law firm Kraus & Weisert.

“This decision removes any possible patent infringement claim under the Hydro-Quebec European Patent, thereby affirming Valence’s unrestricted right to market its unique, patented lithium phosphate powder batteries in Europe. Valence’s intellectual property is a key asset and we intend to vigorously protect our worldwide patent estate,” said Roger Williams, Valence’s General Counsel.

Valence Technology, Inc.
www.valence.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

Xtreme Power

Gotcher joined Xtreme Power in 2011 as chief technology officer. He brings to the company more than 25 years of C-level experience in prominent materials science organizations, including energy storage and power product manufacturer Altair Nanotechnologies Inc., (Nasdaq: ALTI) where he served as president & CEO. Gotcher will continue in his role as CTO at Xtreme Power while the company seeks a successor.

Xtreme Power’s Dynamic Power Resource technology is a complete real-time power management and energy storage system that manages existing power resources and puts renewable energy into the electric grid. Among the company’s commercial projects in operation and in development are multiple installations integrating renewable resources onto the grid, including the world’s largest storage-integrated wind farm in partnership with Duke Energy.

“To date, the company has secured more than $90 million in contracts from leading renewable developers and utilities around the world, and we are confident our new executive team structure will secure Xtreme Power’s long-term market leadership,” says Pat Wood, Xtreme Power board member and former FERC chairman.

Xtreme Power
Xtremepower.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

The SEL-734B Three-Phase Monitor and Capacitor Bank Control automates and monitors three-phase banks, combined with T&B’s selection of VerSaVac one and three-phase vacuum switches for pole-top capacitors, and VBM distribution vacuum switches.

Voltage regulation and volt ampere reactive (VAR) compensation wield the most influence over the efficiency of a power distribution system, according to Sergio Arellano, product line manager with Thomas & Betts. “The fastest way to improve the efficiency of power distribution is to install switched capacitor banks with smart electronic controls. It also provides the quickest return of investment of all possible methods.”

Among the new capacitor bank controls offered by this collaboration is the SEL-734B Three-Phase Monitor and Capacitor Bank Control, which is used to automate and monitor three-phase banks, combined with T&B’s selection of VerSaVac (VSV) one and three-phase vacuum switches for pole-top capacitors, and VBM distribution vacuum switches. Capacitor bank upgrade kits are also available for applying the capacitor bank control system to existing fixed-capacitor banks.

The new capacitor-bank control includes a power-quality monitoring, control, and reporting functions, and can be combined with metering accuracy measurements. Its plug-and-play pole mount enclosure provides weather-protected space to mount network radios, power supplies and encrypting transceivers. The capacitor-bank controls also include SEL standard software tools, a 10-year product warranty on SEL products, and technical support.

 Thomas & Betts Corp.

www.tnb.com

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
www.selinc.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

The HyStat30 electrolyzer will be part of the fourth hydrogen fueling station contract awarded to Hydrogenics in 2011.

The developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products has announced a contract with Ballast Nedam IPM, awarded at the end of December 2011, to supply a HySTAT30 electrolyzer for integration into a Netherlands’ based hydrogen fueling station. The owner of the fueling station will be Waterstofnet, a non-profit organization financed by the Flemish and Dutch governments. It is likely the electrolyzer will be powered in part by offshore wind-generated electricity.

Hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cell vehicles have been embraced as a significant part of Europe’s transportation solution towards the achievement of 2050 carbon-emission targets. Multiple regional initiatives are underway throughout Europe to this end.

With over 35 hydrogen fueling installations world-wide, Hydrogenics’ HySTAT electrolyzers continue demonstrate a role in the energy mix for transportation, with scalable capabilities to produce hydrogen on demand. This is the fourth hydrogen fueling station contract awarded to Hydrogenics in 2011.

“Our success in supplying electrolyzer-based hydrogen fueling stations is directly linked to our considerable experience in industrial hydrogen markets,” says Daryl Wilson, Hydrogenics President and Chief Executive Officer. Over the past 10 years, Hydrogenics has added over 200 industrial installations worldwide to its 1,800 install-base.

HySTAT 30 electrolyzers are capable of producing up to 65 kilograms per day of pure hydrogen. The unit will arrive mid-2012 and produce hydrogen by year’s end.

HYDROGENICS Corp.
www.hydrogenics.com

Windpower Engineering & Development