1. Frank Burke, Technical Director, Schwungrad Energie Ltd.
Presentation to IWFA
Frank Burke, Technical Director, Schwungrad Energie Ltd.
7th May 2015

2. Agenda: Demonstration Project & Technology Context & Purpose
Conclusions
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3. Demo Project Description
Rhode site
Hybrid of flywheels and batteries
2 flywheels * 160kW
Batteries up to 240kW, 80kWh (full output for 20min)
MIC 400kVA
MEC 422kVA
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4. Benefits of Hybrid + Battery Flywheel Chemical Energy Storage
Kinetic Energy Storage
Chemical Energy Storage
High energy storage
Fast response
Thousands of charge/ discharge cycles
High Power
Restricted energy storage
Fast response
Hundreds of thousands of charge/ discharge cycles
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5. Flywheel Construction
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6. Flywheel Installation
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7. How Flywheel Energy Storage Works
Motor/generator spins a heavy flywheel which stores kinetic energy
Energy taken from grid to speed up the flywheel
If grid suddenly needs more generation the flywheel control system will draw energy from the flywheel. The flywheel will slow down converting its kinetic energy into electrical energy
The flywheel is connected to the grid via a Power Control Module AC->DC->AC
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8. Batteries Many different types with different characteristics
University of Limerick currently investigating most suitable types for System Services application
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9. Battery Racks
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10. Progress to Date Planning permission received for Rhode site
Connection offer received
Agreement reached with leading flywheel supplier to collaborate and invest in trial
Finalising selection of battery supplier
Collaboration with University of Limerick
Working closely with EirGrid
First delivery of equipment has already arrived
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11. Timeline Flywheels to be installed Q3 2015 Trial flywheels Q3 2015
Install and trial batteries Q4 2015
Trial hybrid of flywheels and batteries Q1 2016
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12. What System Services are We Providing - Frequency?
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13. What System Services are We Providing - Voltage?
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14. Why are We Doing This?
Increased penetration of wind generation has implications for grid operation
Ireland has high targets for wind generation and is a weakly interconnected island system
Grid operator in Ireland starting to experience problems which will be seen worldwide as other countries increase renewable energy penetration
Schwungrad set up specifically to develop plant to provide system services to facilitate the integration of high levels of intermittent generation
Global market in the context of climate change
Ongoing discussions with overseas system operators incl. China
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15. Consequences of High Volumes of Wind and Solar 1/2
Wind and solar generation are variable and unpredictable
They don’t provide system services i.e. don’t respond instantaneously to provide additional output to compensate for supply/demand deficit e.g. if large generator trips
Increasing levels of renewable generation reduces the percentage of conventional plant on the grid which can provide system services
Consequently grid has less inertia and is less stable
If large generator trips, frequency will fall more rapidly because there is less plant able to respond
Other generators may not be able to ride through this higher Rate of Change of Frequency (RoCoF) e.g. due to excessive torque on rotor shafts => cascading loss of generation and system collapse
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17. Actual Frequency Disturbances
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18. Consequences of High Volumes of Wind and Solar 2/2
The Penetration of Non-Synchronous generation on the System (SNSP) has to be limited currently to 50%
Otherwise there is not sufficient inertia and, if a large generator trips, the frequency falls too fast i.e. RoCoF is higher than other generators can ride through.
This SNSP limit results in curtailment of wind
Renewable energy targets not met
May cause financial difficulties for some renewable generation projects
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19. Curtailment of Wind to Limit SNSP to 50%
Actual SNSP Dec. 2013
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20. Curtailment of Wind
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21. Curtailment at 50% SNSP
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22. Curtailment at 75% SNSP
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23. Conclusions
Grid operators have difficulties in accommodating high penetration of wind and solar generation – being seen in Ireland before other countries
Renewable generation targets will be difficult to meet without additional system services
Flywheels/battery hybrid is the ideal solution and does not displace renewable generation
Schwungrad Demonstration project in Ireland on its way to validate performance in providing system services in Ireland and further afield
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24. Thank you
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