Periodic Reporting for period 2 - GRIDSOL (SMART RENEWABLE HUBS FOR FLEXIBLE GENERATION: SOLAR GRID STABILITY)
Reporting period: 2018-04-01 to 2019-11-30
Renewable energy generation has increased significantly led by solar photovoltaics and wind energy, reaching economic competitiveness against conventional power plants. However, both renewable technologies are not dispatchable, which requires until now the role of polluting power plants to ensure security of supply and grid stability.
To address these flexibility needs, GRIDSOL project develops an innovative solution led by COBRA, within a consortium formed by 10 partners from 5 European countries (Spain, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Greece). The project presents a new concept to increase renewable energy penetration in a grid-friendly manner: “Smart Renewable Hub”
A Smart Renewable Hub is a flexible hybrid power plant that select and combine the most suitable technologies to deliver an optimal configuration at each location. Every possible solution, considers market and grid requirements, providing ancillary services and relieving pressure on the Electricity System Operator.
In this context, GRIDSOL represents a major drive to integrate renewable energy sources thanks to flexible generation. Demonstrating the adequacy of Smart Renewable Hubs for Continental and Island grids in order to achieve a more secure, reliable and clean Energy system for the citizens.
GRIDSOL aims to provide secure, clean and efficient electricity by combining primary renewable energy sources and technology under an advanced control system called Dynamic Output Manager of Energy (DOME) supplying secure electricity and contributing to grid stability through Smart Renewable Hubs. The main objectives of the project are:
To create the required environment for Smart Renewable Hubs development. Building-up a tool to optimally size the Smart Renewable Hubs according to the electric system requirements.
Development of a Dynamic Output Manger of Energy (DOME) system for Smart Renewable Hubs in order to displace traditional fossil generators in grid regulation markets. Improving the ability to follow a variable power target.
To select the optimum CSP multi-tower configuration to provide the required synchronous energy generation and flexibility at grid level while being cost-effective.
To take advantage of synergies between different kinds of renewable energy technologies in order to optimise investments and increase cost-effectiveness. Enhancement of electricity dispatchability thanks to energy storage and back-up systems.
The specific business case of Hybrid Power Plants with energy storage has been analysed, where (i) hybrid power plants are based on the combination of different primary energy sources and technologies under and advanced control system providing flexible and firm electricity supply to TSOs and DSOs, (ii) revenues come from the sales of electricity and ancillary market services, (iii) the added value of flexible generation provides cost savings in terms of grid costs and balancing costs (iv) the potential market are countries with a great renewable energy source or with weak electrical grid or with a favourable regulatory framework for RES.
To address these flexibility needs, GRIDSOL project develops an innovative solution led by COBRA, within a consortium formed by 10 partners from 5 European countries (Spain, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Greece). The project presents a new concept to increase renewable energy penetration in a grid-friendly manner: “Smart Renewable Hub”
A Smart Renewable Hub is a flexible hybrid power plant that select and combine the most suitable technologies to deliver an optimal configuration at each location. Every possible solution, considers market and grid requirements, providing ancillary services and relieving pressure on the Electricity System Operator.
In this context, GRIDSOL represents a major drive to integrate renewable energy sources thanks to flexible generation. Demonstrating the adequacy of Smart Renewable Hubs for Continental and Island grids in order to achieve a more secure, reliable and clean Energy system for the citizens.
GRIDSOL aims to provide secure, clean and efficient electricity by combining primary renewable energy sources and technology under an advanced control system called Dynamic Output Manager of Energy (DOME) supplying secure electricity and contributing to grid stability through Smart Renewable Hubs. The main objectives of the project are:
To create the required environment for Smart Renewable Hubs development. Building-up a tool to optimally size the Smart Renewable Hubs according to the electric system requirements.
Development of a Dynamic Output Manger of Energy (DOME) system for Smart Renewable Hubs in order to displace traditional fossil generators in grid regulation markets. Improving the ability to follow a variable power target.
To select the optimum CSP multi-tower configuration to provide the required synchronous energy generation and flexibility at grid level while being cost-effective.
To take advantage of synergies between different kinds of renewable energy technologies in order to optimise investments and increase cost-effectiveness. Enhancement of electricity dispatchability thanks to energy storage and back-up systems.
The specific business case of Hybrid Power Plants with energy storage has been analysed, where (i) hybrid power plants are based on the combination of different primary energy sources and technologies under and advanced control system providing flexible and firm electricity supply to TSOs and DSOs, (ii) revenues come from the sales of electricity and ancillary market services, (iii) the added value of flexible generation provides cost savings in terms of grid costs and balancing costs (iv) the potential market are countries with a great renewable energy source or with weak electrical grid or with a favourable regulatory framework for RES.
The main results in each WP are the following:
• WP2 has developed the Smart Renewable Hub tool (SRH-Modeller) in charge of sizing the hybrid plants with energy storage technologies in Continental Europe with a price-based optimisation and in EU islands with a demand-following optimisation.
• WP3 has developed CSP field layout and performance models: Software and algorithms for optical solar field modelling up to thermal output.
• WP4 has developed a Dynamic Output Manager of Energy (DOME) prototype for different SRH configurations that has been tested and validated in TECNALIA lab.
• WP5 has studied the adequacy of Smart Renewable Hubs in Continental Europe (Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece) providing a market simulator and SRH models for grid connection studies. A SRH composed by PV, Wind and batteries seems to be the most convenient solution.
• WP6 has studied the adequacy and viability of GRIDSOL in EU Islands, focusing in those with a high solar resource (Crete, Fuerteventura, Cyprus and Madeira). A SRH composed by CSP, PV, Wind, HYSOL-GT, TES and Batteries seems to be the most convenient solution to substitute conventional thermal plants in EU islands.
• WP7, has evaluated the impact of Smart Renewable Hubs in Europe from now up to 2050 delivering prospective studies for decision making and evaluating FOIK projects. It has been predicted a large market uptake of PV and storage (batteries) in South Europe from 2025 up to 2050.
• WP8 has ensured the protection of IPR through an IPR repository, an exploitation plan tailored to GRIDSOL KERs and the framework to analyse its competitiveness from a business point of view.
• WP9 has disseminated the project world-wide and at EU level intensively in order to exchange know-how and to promote the development of Smart Renewable Hubs going beyond the state of art.
• WP2 has developed the Smart Renewable Hub tool (SRH-Modeller) in charge of sizing the hybrid plants with energy storage technologies in Continental Europe with a price-based optimisation and in EU islands with a demand-following optimisation.
• WP3 has developed CSP field layout and performance models: Software and algorithms for optical solar field modelling up to thermal output.
• WP4 has developed a Dynamic Output Manager of Energy (DOME) prototype for different SRH configurations that has been tested and validated in TECNALIA lab.
• WP5 has studied the adequacy of Smart Renewable Hubs in Continental Europe (Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece) providing a market simulator and SRH models for grid connection studies. A SRH composed by PV, Wind and batteries seems to be the most convenient solution.
• WP6 has studied the adequacy and viability of GRIDSOL in EU Islands, focusing in those with a high solar resource (Crete, Fuerteventura, Cyprus and Madeira). A SRH composed by CSP, PV, Wind, HYSOL-GT, TES and Batteries seems to be the most convenient solution to substitute conventional thermal plants in EU islands.
• WP7, has evaluated the impact of Smart Renewable Hubs in Europe from now up to 2050 delivering prospective studies for decision making and evaluating FOIK projects. It has been predicted a large market uptake of PV and storage (batteries) in South Europe from 2025 up to 2050.
• WP8 has ensured the protection of IPR through an IPR repository, an exploitation plan tailored to GRIDSOL KERs and the framework to analyse its competitiveness from a business point of view.
• WP9 has disseminated the project world-wide and at EU level intensively in order to exchange know-how and to promote the development of Smart Renewable Hubs going beyond the state of art.
The main results of GRIDSOL project are:
• Optimisation of CSP multi-tower configuration
• Methodology assessment of Smart Renewable Hubs Implementation.
• Development of Dynamic Output Manger of Energy (DOME)
• Assessment of the adequacy and feasibility of GRIDSOL plant in continental and island scenarios.
• FOIK projects
The impact of GRIDSOL strives in 5 pillars:
• To increase of renewable energy penetration while ensuring grid stability.
• Fostering the hybridisation of renewables and storage technologies for flexible generation.
• Methodologies and tools for SRHs implementation to better allocate renewables in the grid while avoid traditional reinforcements.
• Regulatory proposals for FOIK projects to overcome current barriers.
• EU Industry competitiveness, jobs creation and maximisation of social welfare.
The expected benefits consist on providing alternative solutions and approaches to maximize RES penetration in the grid by introducing Smart Renewable Hub concept.
• Socio-economics: GRIDSOL implementation will increase employment rates and raise social awareness on RES technologies, costs and capabilities.
• Environment impacts. GRIDSOL will increase the share of energy from renewable sources. Thus contributing to the renewable energy targets aimed to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, decrease land impact and water consumption.
• Market Transformation: Islands are the perfect example of RES integration limits. GRIDSOL aims to demonstrate the feasibility of the solution in islands, since this application will be the first niche market to address due to its high generation costs and requirements of backup systems for grid regulation. Substitution of conventional power plants: GRIDSOL aims to substitute in high solar irradiation hours those power plants with the greatest carbon footprint.
• Policy. GRIDSOL will also contribute to the definition of the new Energy System policies that will be needed in order to strongly promote Renewable Hubs.
• Optimisation of CSP multi-tower configuration
• Methodology assessment of Smart Renewable Hubs Implementation.
• Development of Dynamic Output Manger of Energy (DOME)
• Assessment of the adequacy and feasibility of GRIDSOL plant in continental and island scenarios.
• FOIK projects
The impact of GRIDSOL strives in 5 pillars:
• To increase of renewable energy penetration while ensuring grid stability.
• Fostering the hybridisation of renewables and storage technologies for flexible generation.
• Methodologies and tools for SRHs implementation to better allocate renewables in the grid while avoid traditional reinforcements.
• Regulatory proposals for FOIK projects to overcome current barriers.
• EU Industry competitiveness, jobs creation and maximisation of social welfare.
The expected benefits consist on providing alternative solutions and approaches to maximize RES penetration in the grid by introducing Smart Renewable Hub concept.
• Socio-economics: GRIDSOL implementation will increase employment rates and raise social awareness on RES technologies, costs and capabilities.
• Environment impacts. GRIDSOL will increase the share of energy from renewable sources. Thus contributing to the renewable energy targets aimed to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, decrease land impact and water consumption.
• Market Transformation: Islands are the perfect example of RES integration limits. GRIDSOL aims to demonstrate the feasibility of the solution in islands, since this application will be the first niche market to address due to its high generation costs and requirements of backup systems for grid regulation. Substitution of conventional power plants: GRIDSOL aims to substitute in high solar irradiation hours those power plants with the greatest carbon footprint.
• Policy. GRIDSOL will also contribute to the definition of the new Energy System policies that will be needed in order to strongly promote Renewable Hubs.