Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Exiled_Tyke

Very Interesting update from Gravitricity and development of gravity storage as well as complimentary Hydrogen storage.

"We are pleased to be able to give you an update on progress since the last letter and on our plans for the coming year. Technology Plan Since the successful build and test of the 250kW Concept Demo we have taken a critical look at the Technology Plan, making some changes in response to identified risks, market opportunities, and the broader energy environment. We have completed significant work on our multi-weight (longer duration) power storage concept, partially funded by the BEIS Long Duration Energy Storage Grant, and on the single weight (high power) variant. As a result, it is clear that we now need to de-risk the full-scale single weight system before moving on to the more complex multi-weight system. To this end, we have concluded that our next project will be a single winch system in a new part-scale shaft of around 100m depth. This 1MW project is a significant progression from the 250kW Concept Demonstrator and enables us to de-risk two major elements of the system: winch design and shaft sinking. In addition, it will trial the build process, control systems, and the O&M requirements. We believe this strategy is critical to ensuring we get the technology to a condition where it can be rapidly deployed commercially with appropriate performance warranties. In parallel, we have completed initial work on safe underground Hydrogen storage. This work has now reported and is looking promising. Moreover, initial market feedback indicates that it is particularly interesting given a huge upsurge in activity and investment in green hydrogen. Our attention now is on a detailed R&D programme - potentially Grant funded - to refine the material science and geological-interaction elements of our lined-shaft concept. We continue to work with Arup and with new commercial partners including civil engineers (VSL, part of Bouygues Group) and specialist pressure-vessel manufacturers (Bendall’s Engineering Ltd) and two UK Utility Companies.  We are also working with specialist partners on developing shaft sinking technology for our own particular needs. Our Technology Road Map reflects this and concentrates our effort on areas that provide the most risk reduction and get us to market as quickly as possible. You will see news soon about our work with shaft-sinking specialists Joseph Gallaghers and OTB Engineering.

Market Conditions  As you will be aware the war in Ukraine has significantly and permanently altered global geopolitics, changing the thinking about energy, energy security and supply chains. It has also created significant turmoil in the financial markets. We have done considerable thinking around both our own circumstances and regarding the prospects of being able to raise finances. Some of our conclusions are as follows: Energy Security is no longer a question of having multiple sources of fossil fuel supply. Electricity infrastructure and local, distributed energy storage is becoming an important strategic asset.    Governments and companies are having to accelerate the energy transition. Things which might have been expected to take five or ten years are now going to have to be done faster. Much faster. In fact, it is not overstating it to say the change in pace is analogous to what needed to be done with the covid vaccine.    In our view the immediate market requirement remains for fast-response high-power systems – single-weight Gravitricity systems meet this need very well.    Another aspect of this acceleration is the huge emphasis being placed on hydrogen to support energy independence and decarbonisation, in the UK, the EU and across the world. Storing hydrogen is hard, and existing solutions are not well suited to the way in which the hydrogen economy is likely to evolve. By leveraging our expertise in underground spaces, we believe we can deliver an approach which will be well aligned with the very specific needs of hydrogen producers and consumers     Lithium battery prices have begun to climb as raw material shortages bite, and as serious competition for available batteries ramps up from Electric Vehicles.     Accordingly, we are experiencing significantly more interest in our Gravitational power storage technology. Additionally, interest in Hydrogen as an energy vector has become what can only be described as frenzied.  We believe the first market for green hydrogen is decarbonisation of the industrial process industries, as this is most easily tackled by commercial companies and large-scale finance.     The constraints on production and supply of methane mean industry is being forced to move away from steam reforming of methane (‘grey hydrogen’) and to look very seriously at electrolysis using electricity. The changes in the price of gas coupled with the strategic risk associated with the suppliers, means that this is becoming more cost competitive, especially with the potential to use otherwise constrained-off renewable electricity, and is evidenced by recent comments from the CEO of Shell.    65% of hydrogen produced today (nearly all of it grey) is used for ammonia production and other material production, where hydrogen is a raw material rather than an energy source. The global ammonia market is currently worth $73 billion per year. As a consequence, there is a need for large-scale, safe, buffer storage of Hydrogen so that continuous processes can continue to operate. This need is reflected in a considerable uptick in corporate interest in our underground fuel-gas storage technology located with existing process plants. There is interest in both the combined system (fuel gas and power storage in the same volume) and also in stand-alone power storage.

zeupater

Hi

After doing all the calculations & coming across the multitude of groups opposing 'shaft sinking' and other related issues, they'll probably look at buying a number of decommissioned oil/gas platforms for an absolute song (similar to SpaceX), station them in deep waters and winch the weights there ... not ideal and has it's own issues, but at least it's using mainly tried & tested kit and the gravitational access element doesn't involve the development of expensive shafts ... also, in being out of sight they'll likely be out of mind for most protest groups ...

HTH - Z

Coastalwatch

Lots of claims about the benefits of this solid state battery including 25 year warranty and 11k deep cycles. It also claims a higher energy density than Lithium Ion and non flammable too. Strangely though the 12 kWh version looks about the size of a fridge and weighs in at 125kg but 100% recyclable and non toxic.

Not available until 2024, location for the manufacturing facility is still to be finalised. But an interesting alternative to Lithium Ion all the same.

US battery maker unveils solid-state storage systems for residential applications

Amptricity has emerged from stealth mode with plans to manufacture solid-state batteries for residential and commercial installations.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/11/16/us-battery-maker-unveils-solid-state-storage-systems-for-residential-applications/

Coastalwatch

Quite a beastie this one with over 550 miles of transmission lines having been in planning since 2015.

Regulatory approval for SunZia Transmission paves the way for a Southwest renewable energy corridor

If approved, the transmission-plus-wind project (3.5 GW) would become the single largest U.S. renewable energy project to enter operations.

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2022/11/15/regulatory-approval-for-sunzia-transmission-paves-the-way-for-a-southwest-renewable-energy-corridor/

Coastalwatch

The US again but this time a macrogrid of HVDC. Huge distances and cost yet still presenting a saving of $25/MWh in the long term not to mention that of gas emissions. Doubt we're likely to be around, if it ever is completed, but great to see the ambition.

Proposed HVDC ‘macrogrid’ to transmit low-cost, renewable power in US

Modeling specialist Vibrant Clean Energy (VCE) has proposed a transmission “overlay” for the contiguous United States, with about 210 underground high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines, 70 nodes, and underwater lines along nearly the entire coastline. HVDC transmission can deliver power over long distances more efficiently than alternating current (AC) transmission.

VCE’s modeled transmission system would cost $400 billion if financed over 30 years at a 3% interest rate. That translates to a cost of $7.50/MWh, which would enable reduced electricity costs of $25/MWh. It would save 4.5 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. At an 8% interest rate, it would cost $700 billion. Costs were based on cost numbers from “Tier 1” vendors and construction companies likely to do the work, with some “padding” because the numbers “might be a little optimistic,” Clack said.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/11/18/proposed-hvdc-macrogrid-to-transmit-low-cost-renewable-power/

Coastalwatch

As if it's original proposal of 600MW/2.4GW wasn't large enough it's since been uprated. The batteries to be Lithium Iron Phospate, LFP. I wonder if it may now be the upper limit of this technology or is it just scaleable and so as yet unknown!

Singaporean developer sizes up 1.2 GW/2.4 GWh battery in Australia

Singapore-based infrastructure developer Equis has announced plans to construct a 1,200 MW/2.4 GWh battery in Australia. It claims it will be the largest battery energy storage system to be developed in Australia and Asia.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/11/18/singaporean-developer-sizes-up-1-2-gw-2-4-gwh-battery-in-australia/

michaels

Coastalwatch said:

The US again but this time a macrogrid of HVDC. Huge distances and cost yet still presenting a saving of $25/MWh in the long term not to mention that of gas emissions. Doubt we're likely to be around, if it ever is completed, but great to see the ambition.

Proposed HVDC ‘macrogrid’ to transmit low-cost, renewable power in US

Modeling specialist Vibrant Clean Energy (VCE) has proposed a transmission “overlay” for the contiguous United States, with about 210 underground high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines, 70 nodes, and underwater lines along nearly the entire coastline. HVDC transmission can deliver power over long distances more efficiently than alternating current (AC) transmission.

VCE’s modeled transmission system would cost $400 billion if financed over 30 years at a 3% interest rate. That translates to a cost of $7.50/MWh, which would enable reduced electricity costs of $25/MWh. It would save 4.5 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. At an 8% interest rate, it would cost $700 billion. Costs were based on cost numbers from “Tier 1” vendors and construction companies likely to do the work, with some “padding” because the numbers “might be a little optimistic,” Clack said.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/11/18/proposed-hvdc-macrogrid-to-transmit-low-cost-renewable-power/

Hmm - why don't we use HVDC more widely if it is more efficient?

QrizB

michaels said:

Hmm - why don't we use HVDC more widely if it is more efficient?

Transmission efficiency vs. conversion losses.

For short distances, keeping it as AC wins out.

Coastalwatch

I don't know michaels, it would certainly seem to make sense. Could it be to do with renewables generating DC while traditional power stations, which the grid was set up to service, generates in AC?

michaels

Coastalwatch said:

I don't know michaels, it would certainly seem to make sense. Could it be to do with renewables generating DC while traditional power stations, which the grid was set up to service, generates in AC?

What do we use for the long subsea cables like the Norway link or even the proposed North Africa link?