MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Xcel Energy today released preliminary results from its wind-to-battery
storage project in Minnesota, and the bottom line is -- the technology
works.
Integrating variable wind and solar power production with the needs of
the power grid is an ongoing issue for the utility industry. In October
2008, Xcel Energy began testing a one-megawatt battery-storage
technology to demonstrate its ability to store wind energy and move it
to the electricity grid when needed. It is first use of the technology
in the United States for direct wind energy storage.
“We have proved that this technology can perform the functions of
storage that we were looking for to help us manage the variability of
wind energy on our operating system,” said Frank Novachek, Xcel Energy
director of corporate planning. “The success of this technology is
important to both Xcel Energy – the nation’s leader in wind power
distribution – and our customers, and we are greatly encouraged by these
results.”
The preliminary test results indicate that the battery has the ability
to:
-
Effectively shift wind energy from off-peak to on-peak availability
-
Reduce the need to compensate for the variability and limited
predictability of wind generation resources
-
Support the transmission grid system by providing voltage support,
which contributes to system reliability
-
Support regional electricity market by responding to real-time
imbalances between generation and load
Results also indicate that this technology may be applicable for solar
energy. The complete report is available at Battery
Energy Storage Click on: Milestone #5.
Testing will continue to determine the technology’s ability to
facilitate integration of larger penetrations of wind energy on the
grid. Phase II of the study will also assess the potential value of the
various battery system functions and determine the potential cost
effectiveness of the technology. A final report is expected in summer
2011.
The project is being conducted in Luverne, Minn., about 30 miles east of
Sioux Falls, S.D. The battery installation is connected to a nearby
11-megawatt wind farm owned by Minwind Energy, LLC.
Collectively, the 20 50-kilowatt battery modules are roughly the size of
two semi trailers and weigh approximately 80 tons. They are able to
store about 7.2 megawatt-hours of electricity, with a charge/discharge
capacity of one megawatt. Fully charged, the battery could power 500
homes for more than 7 hours.
Xcel Energy purchased the battery from NGK Insulators Ltd. The sodium-sulfur
battery is commercially available and versions of this technology
are in use elsewhere in the U.S. and other parts of the world, but this
is the first U.S. application of the battery as a direct wind energy
storage device.
In addition to NGK, partners in the project with Xcel Energy include:
S&C Electric, the University of Minnesota, the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory, the Great Plains Institute and Minwind Energy, LLC, and
Gridpoint. Xcel Energy is testing emerging technology and energy storage
devices as part of its overall Smart Grid strategy, which modernizes and
upgrades the grid to allow for easier integration of renewable energy
sources.
The project received a $1 million grant from Xcel Energy’s Renewable
Development Fund.
Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas
company with regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern
states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related
products and services to 3.4 million electricity customers and 1.9
million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies.
Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis. More information is
available at www.xcelenergy.com.
Source: Xcel Energy
Contact:
Xcel Energy
Media Relations, 612-215-5300
www.xcelenergy.com