Annual Report 2010 - Enel.com

conducted as part of a European project coordinated by
Enel, will make it possible to study the behavior of a traditional
power station when it is fueled with biomass for the
generation of renewable energy.
Wind
Operating data has been collected at Enel Green Power’s
wind farms in Italy, and the Group has developed a system
for forecasting their short-term output in order to understand
when and how much electricity will be generated in
advance, so that the flow of electricity to the grid can be
better managed. Construction has also been completed
for the test station in Molinetto (Pisa), where small-scale
wind turbines for distributed home power generation are
to be studied, and the systems to be studied have been
selected.
Marine energy
In 2010, the pre-feasibility analysis and selection of the
areas of greatest interest were completed. In Europe, the
most promising areas were identified in which to develop
this technology, as were five potential sites in Chile.
Energy storage
Some renewable energies, such as wind and photovoltaic
solar, are, by their very nature, intermittent. In order
to achieve optimal modulation in power generation, it is
possible to add energy storage systems to these energy
sources. The storage systems currently available need to
be optimized in order to increase their performance and
reduce costs, and it is also necessary to study new forms of
electrochemical storage or other alternative systems, such
as storage using compressed air. In addition, we need to
define strategies for using these systems in order to maximize
the benefits to the power grid.
Enel’s efforts in energy storage are mainly focused on the
testing of storage systems coupled with renewable energy
plants and with the power grid. In Livorno, we have
completed construction on a test facility for the study of
storage systems in the pilot stage, and testing has begun
on three promising technologies (vanadium, lithium ion,
ZEBRA) using a power generation and load emulator.
On the Canary Islands (Spain), Endesa is conducting field
140 Enel Annual Report 2010 Report on operations
testing on various storage technologies (sodium-sulfur
- NaS batteries, zinc-bromine batteries) as part of the
STORE project.
These projects in Italy and Spain have been integrated,
and they should provide important results regarding their
technical potential, methods of installation and optimal
operation, and the profitability of the various storage systems.
Energy efficiency and aftermeter
services
Work continued on the Enel Home project to develop
value-added services for efficiently managing energy usage
in the home targeted at residential users. More specifically,
preparation has been completed for the start of a
pilot phase of after-meter service provision to customers.
Interesting developments in this area could arise from the
Malaga Smartcity demonstration project, which is being
developed by Endesa in Spain with the participation of
Enel. In 2010, work continued which led to the installation
of some 2,500 smart meters and the start of LED-based
public lighting projects.
The Navicelli project for developing and testing new thermal
and power grid management systems for a services/
industry energy district was launched as part of the effort
to develop solutions for integrating generation systems,
storage systems and grid management systems. The project
has received funding from the Region of Tuscany.
Smart grids
Work continued on the development of smart grids as
part of the European ADDRESS project, of which Enel
Distribuzione is the project leader and coordinator, for developing
an innovative infrastructure with the inclusion of
new power grids and generation, compensation and load
systems. Work has begun on smart grids in Spain as part of
the Malaga Smartcity project. The power line communications
(PLC) network and automation of the MV/LV grid are
already functioning.