Theme : Energy storage - DNV Kema

Column CEOEnergy storage14 World-class laboratoryDERlab was founded as anindependent, world-classlaboratory for gridintegration of distributedpower generation.Consulting & Services16 Opening doors,worldwideOur aim is to help customersmaximize the geographicreach of their products. WithKEMA certification, theyeffectively get one-stopaccess to global markets.Testing & Certification18 NavigatingsustainabilityHawaiian Electric Companyhas been actively engaged insupporting and promotingtrans formative clean energygoals and technologies.Consulting & Services20 Risk awarenessIncreasing competition, theinternet and public assertive -ness mean that familiar risksare being displaced by newuncertainties.Consulting & Services22 Finishing touchEnergy companies seek tomake absolutely sure thattheir transformers are of therequired quality.Testing & Certification13 InnovationsA few weeks ago, I attended the European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC). I wasnot the only one; more than 7,000 other interested people were there as well. Andthey had good reason. Expectations are that in 2020, installed wind capacity inEurope will be 200 Gigawatts; in 2030, 300 GW.In other news, we hear about a potential 50 GW of concentrated solar power in theSahara, which is scheduled for transportation into Europe. But how will we handlethese fluctuating sources? Can we balance more than 30 percent of Europe’sgeneration in the grid, even when this is strengthened with more interconnectionsand HVDC lines? Is large-scale storage needed? What are the options? Howlarge? How fast? What are the economics and what are the environmentalimpacts?These are some of the questions which we must answer, and soon.Nowadays, not many people have PV-panels on their roofs. But what will happenwhen PV technology climbs its S-curve of maturity? With all the research into thedifferent technologies, one might expect that houses will be able to generate moreenergy than their inhabitants need – except, of course, during the night or whenclouds pass overhead.We will need part of this electrical output for heat pumps to support the storage ofheat and cold. Another part will be used to charge electrical vehicles. Or… will thecharged electrical vehicle fuel those heat pumps at 6 PM when we all are cookingour meals?It is wishful thinking to imagine that the existing grid technologies will be able toefficiently support all these energy-efficient, energy-saving, renewable sourcebasedtechnologies.The new era of the energy economy will benefit greatly from electricity storage,whether small- or large-scale, whether slow or fast reacting, and whether it’ssmartly integrated or controlled with an on/off switch.KEMA is heavily involved in expanding the understanding and capabilities ofstorage technologies by grid simulation. Through our studies on the business ofstorage and electrical vehicle integration in the grid, our knowledge of storagetechnology and its potential, our testing facilities for small-scale storage systemslike batteries, our Flexible Power Grid Laboratory for grid integration of storagesystems, and our knowledge of safety, environmental and customer aspects - wecan answer the questions storage presents. We are more than happy to serve onyour storage issues and share our knowledge and capabilities in this increasinglyimportant area.24 Regions26 News and eventsGlobal Contact - June 2009 | 3