Metals Tech

To power future devices and vehicles there are two competing research strands: looking at batteries or fuel cells. One research group has undertaking an assessment of the infrastructure costs associated with both options for vehicles.

Both technologies have advantages and disadvantages for powering vehicles. Batteries are well-established, but they have on-going issues with efficiency and they need to be connected at regular intervals to charging stations. Fuel cells are a newer technology. They too require recharging or rather ‘refueling’, in the form of hydrogen supply.

To assess which is the appropriate energy source going forwards, Jülich Research Centre (Jülich, Germany) researchers have assessed the finances of the infrastructure for both batteries and fuel cells. The research is based on the situation in Germany although the researchers state that their model is applicable to any developed nation.

By infrastructure, this relates to the charging network for battery-powered vehicles or the use of hydrogen filling stations. The outcome, in terms of economic efficiency, very much depends on how many vehicles need to be powered at any one point in time.

Here the Jülich Research Centre technologists found that for several million vehicles, it is more it cost-efficient to build a hydrogen infrastructure. For a lower number of vehicles, the battery option is the more effective.

These are important questions since to establish hydrogen power a large infrastructure still needs to be established. What is needed are electrolyzers to split water and storage areas for the generated hydrogen, such as underground salt caverns. In addition, a supply network would be needed to distribute the hydrogen to filling stations, such as a series of interconnected pipelines.

The reason for conducting the research, according to technologist Martin Robinius from the Jülich institute, is to address the best options for climate change in the short term. The researcher tells Smart2Zero that during the construction of a hydrogen infrastructure, battery electric cars represent the best cost-optimized path; however, however in the long-term they are not optimal. This is because, after a point, the more battery cars there are on the road the ratio in favor of batter cars reverses in favor of hydrogen powered vehicles. The cut-off point is around 20 million vehicles.

On February 6, Orange & Rockland Utilities, a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, New York’s largest utility company, filed a proposal with the state’s Public Utilities Commission to test whether adding Tesla Powerpack grid storage batteries “can provide a range of services with costs and benefits shared by multiple stakeholders,” according to a report by the American Public Power Association. Tesla will own and develop the battery systems. It will work with O&R to develop multi-use operational strategies designed to balance power distribution among stakeholder groups that include participating customers, the distribution system, and Tesla.

“These strategies will be guided by algorithms and protocols, designed by Tesla, to deliver optimal dispatch for the aggregated portfolio, maximizing the portfolio value among customers, the distribution grid, and Tesla,” an O&R spokesperson says. “Under this demonstration, the flexible operating characteristics of distributed energy storage will be employed to obtain the highest value use of the resource at any point in time.”

The utility says that a lack of regulatory and market mechanisms in place at the present time prevents battery storage projects from spreading their cost among multiple stakeholders, which inhibits more storage projects from going forward.

“When energy storage is deployed for multiple value streams, the amount of value and revenue generated on a per unit basis increases to capture previously idle storage capacity for productive use,” according to the utility. “This additional revenue means that multi-use applications of energy storage can be economically viable in locations where single-use applications are not.”

Compared to Tesla’s giant storage battery in South Australia, the two systems included in this latest proposal are modest in size, but they could form the basis for adding more and larger systems throughout Con Edison affiliated companies in the future. Both projects are 2 MW, 4 MWh systems. O&R says the batteries should make it possible for selected commercial and industrial customers to reduce the demand charges they currently pay, which can account for as much as 70% of their utility bills.

Think of these as “proof of concept” projects designed to eliminate any doubts O&R — and, by extension, Con Ed — may have about the effectiveness of battery storage systems. If the projects are successful, the utility company expects it may be able to defer or avoid investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure upgrades.

Assuming O&R and its parent company are pleased with the results, this could lead to a lot more business for Tesla’s power storage division. If Con Ed gets on board, other utility companies around the country will be sure to sit up and take notice.

Did you know that many batteries are recyclable at the household hazardous materials facility located at the Council Bluffs Recycling Center?

National Battery Day is Sunday, so it’s a great time to learn more about battery recycling. Although some single-use, non-rechargeable, household batteries (AA, AAA, 9V, etc.) can be thrown away with your regular trash, no batteries should ever be tossed in your curbside recycling bins or the outdoor recycling containers at the grocery stores.

Fire Rover, a national fire protection service, estimates there were 244 fires in U.S. recycling facilities from February to November of 2017. The frequency of these incidents is increasing, with a major problem being the increase of batteries as electronics become obsolete.

Due to the presence of corrosive chemicals, such as mercury and lead, all batteries pose hazards and risks of fire. The biggest problem, however, is with rechargeable batteries. Many rechargeable batteries are lithium-ion (also referred to as li-ion batteries or LIB). Li-ion batteries are usually found in your electronics such as cellphones, laptops, tablets, iPods and digital cameras.

“We want to see these batteries recycled, but they need to be recycled correctly,” Solid Waste Management Supervisor Tony Fiala said. “Throwing them in the trash or in any recycling container has the potential to cause a fire and put our staff at risk.”

It is especially dangerous when li-ion batteries are mistakenly put into a recycling bin or container. When batteries short out or are damaged, they can spark and possibly catch recyclables, such as cardboard or paper, on fire. In fact, lithium-ion batteries are one of the leading causes of recycling truck fires.

It is also important to note that lithium-ion batteries should not be disposed of in your trash either. These batteries are toxic and create numerous health and environmental hazards.

When you want to dispose of them, take them to the Council Bluffs Recycling Center’s household hazardous materials facility Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Any rechargeable or li-ion battery is recyclable at this facility, from a car battery to a laptop battery to a AA lithium battery. Help keep local trash and recycling staff safe and protect our environment by properly recycling your batteries.

Power producer KenGen has announced plans to add an extra 160 megawatts to the national grid by June 2019.

Managing director Rebecca Miano said the Sh17 billion project was on course to achieving 721MW by 2020. It is currently at 533.8 MW

“The power plant is part of KenGen’s ambitious green energy development agenda aimed at delivering 721MW of renewable energy by year 2020 at an investment of Sh135B,” she said.

The power plant whose construction began last year and several other green energy projects, at different stages of procurement will ensure Kenyans benefit directly from reliable, clean and affordable electricity.

“Our focus is on geothermal energy, which is an eco-friendly, renewable and reliable source that can reduce consumers’ utility costs by up to 50 per cent,” she said.

Miano said manufacturing of equipment in Japan and Germany was on schedule and several equipments already tested in readiness for shipment to Kenya.

“All earth works at the project site are complete and the main activity in progress is subsurface ground stabilization by pilling to create a strong foundation,” she said.

She said they water levels at KenGen hydro power plants have fallen below the minimum operating level and unless the country receives sufficient amount of rainfall in the next few weeks, the company would be forced to shut down its hydro-power stations.

“We will be forced to shut down the ones in the Eastern region which draw their water from River Tana that supplies water to Masinga, Kindaruma, Gitaru and Kiambere power plants,”

She at the same time said there was no cause for alarm as KenGen was scaling up geothermal and wind energy sources to offset the deficit that will be created by closure of the dams.

“The current weather forecast indicates that Tana catchment is most likely to experience depressed rainfall while the catchments for Turkwel and Sondu Rivers, which serves Turkwel and Sondu Miriu power plants, are most likely to receive near average rainfall,” she noted.