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Transform PV to Load Capacity Status by Coupling PV Plants to CAES Plants. James Mason Renewable Energy Research Institute ASES Forum on Solar and the Grid Buffalo, NY – 13 May 2009. Problem: PV Electricity Supply Is Intermittent. * PV Electricity Supply Is Intermittent
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Transform PV to Load Capacity Status by Coupling PV Plants to CAES Plants James Mason Renewable Energy Research Institute ASES Forum on Solar and the Grid Buffalo, NY – 13 May 2009
Problem: PV Electricity Supply Is Intermittent * PV Electricity Supply Is Intermittent - Does Do Not Meet Load Capacity Requirements * Load Capacity = Dispatchable Power ¤ Dispatchable = Available on Demand - PV Cannot Replace Load Capacity Plants * PV Is Only Supplemental Electricity * A Large Increase in PV Capacity Without Energy Storage Increases System Variability, the Need for Additional Reserve Capacity, and System Costs, which Translate Into Higher Electric Bills
Insolation Variability: Diurnal and Annual Average Southwest US Insolation
The Solution to PV’s Intermittency: Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Alabama Electric Cooperative’s McIntosh, Alabama 110 MW CAES Power Plant in Operation Since 1991
CAES Power Plants CAES Power Plants HVDC Power Lines DC-AC Converter Stations PV Power Plants CAES Power Plants
Supply of PV and CAES Electricity to Local Grid in a Coupled PV-CAES Plant Design for Load Capacity
Next CAES Plant Will Be Similar In Design to the Schematic • Adiabatic CAES (No NG) Will Not Be Available Until Post-2020 • * PV Electricity for Air Compression • Conventional CAES = 0.8 kWh In / kWh Out • Adiabatic CAES = 1.43 kWh In / kWh Out • * CAES Plant Natural Gas Consumption • Conventional CAES = 4,800 Btu (HHV) / kWh Out • * Fuel Efficiency of a Coupled PV-CAES “Peak” Power Plant • CAES Only Fuel Efficiency = 71% (3412/4800) • Aggregate Electricity Supplied to Grid = 64% PV and 36% CAES • Aggregate PV-CAES Fuel Efficiency = 191% (3412/1786) • * Conclusion: Coupled PV-CAES Provides Load Capacity, and • Significantly Reduces Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions
NG Cost for PV-CAES to Achieve Breakeven Peak Electricity Price • 1. PV-CAES = Natural Gas Combined-Cycle with CCS • A. $2/W Installed PV Cost • Natural Gas Electric Utility Price = $15.17/MMBtu • * 117% higher than current natural gas price. • B. $1.50/W Installed PV Cost • Natural Gas Electric Utility Price = $11.63/MMBtu • * 66% higher than current natural gas price. • 2. PV-Adiabatic CAES = Natural Gas Combined-Cycle with CCS • A. $2/W Installed PV Cost • Natural Gas Electric Utility Price = $15.83/MMBtu • * 126% higher than current natural gas price. • B. $1.50/W Installed PV Cost • -Natural Gas Electric Utility Price = $12.34/MMBtu • * 76% higher than current natural gas price.
Cost of CAES Power Plant The levelized cost estimates are calculated by the net present value cash flow method. Financial assumptions: capital structure 80% debt – 20% equity; cost of debt 6.5%; cost of equity 10%; ; 30-year capital recovery period; 38.2% tax rate, MACRS depreciation; 2% annual inflation rate.
Sizing PV and Air Storage Capacity • Size of Air Storage Reservoir Must Account for Solar Variability to Insure Sufficient Air Supply • The Optimized Peak PV-CAES Plant Model Indicates That Air Storage Capacity Must Be Sufficient to Enable 110 hours of CAES Operation Independent of Air Storage Recharging (40-60 million cubic feet) • Our Optimization Is Based on Insuring Peak Load Capacity Electricity Supply 99.5% of the Planned Operation of the CAES Plant • The Optimized Ratio of PV Capacity to CAES Peak Load Capacity Is 1.45:1
Sizing of Air Storage Reservoir and PV Capacity Assigned to Air Compression Has to Account for Insolation Variability
Number of Days per Year Air Storage Reservoir Is Depleted An Important Factor in Selecting the Size of Storage Reservoir
Air Storage Balances of the CAES Underground Reservoir To Insure CAES Plant Availability 99.5% of Planned Operation
Effect of Distributed PV Plants Coupled to Distributed CAES Plants on Levelized Electricity Price Compared to SW PV
Immediate Needs • Define CAES in Renewable Energy Incentives - Legislatures and Regulatory Agencies • Federal Plan for a HVDC Grid from Southwest to Electricity Markets in Southeast and Along Eastern Seaboard • Federal Adiabatic-CAES R&D Program
Acknowledgements • Ken Zweibel – George Washington University • Vasilis Fthenakis – Columbia University and Brookhaven Nat’l Lab • Tom Hansen – Tucson Electric Power • Thomas Nikolakakis – Engineering Grad