Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EnergyKeeper (Keep the Energy at the right place!)

Teaser

The EnergyKeeper project pursues an innovative interplay of key partners’ technologies flexibility in order to achieve the development (TRL3) validation and demonstration (TRL7) of an efficient, low cost and environmental friendly Redox Flow Battery (RFB) based on organic...

Summary

The EnergyKeeper project pursues an innovative interplay of key partners’ technologies flexibility in order to achieve the development (TRL3) validation and demonstration (TRL7) of an efficient, low cost and environmental friendly Redox Flow Battery (RFB) based on organic redox-active materials and simple aqueous electrolyte solutions. This innovative electric energy storage (EES) system will be interoperable thanks to the development of a Battery Management System (BMS) and smart power electronics that will interact with a Central Grid Control System (CGCS) capable to (technically and economically) optimize the functioning mode of a Smart Grid. Intelligent hardware and software layers of the Smart Grid are been developed, and will be validated as well as demonstrated at the smart grid test location at ACRRES centre in Netherlands.
The global goal of the Energy Keeper is the implementation of a flexible, interoperable, reliable, secure and profitable low voltage Smart Grid where RES (PV and Eolic), optimized EES, domestic and commercial consumption, and electric vehicles chargers are to be integrated.
The Project sets ambitious scientific and technical objectives in the broad range of technologies conforming a highly flexible distribution smart grid in the light of the economic benefit of the prosumer as owner and operator of the EES system. The Project proposes a smart grid composed by superposed and interconnected layers comprising the physical infrastructure, the intelligent control and management system and the conceptual market model.

Work performed

In the part of development organic RFB, the major efforts were applied to identification of material combinations for the efficient EES. Two new organic electrolyte formulations have been developed and currently third one is being prepared. First electrochemical screening shows a reversible redox behavior with high diffusion coefficient. Targeting high energy density and superior long-time stability, several electrolyte solutions were prepared and tested in redox-flow cells. To this end, the test cell equipment has been expanded by additional diagnostic tools besides the core functionality to monitor the charge/discharge behavior. The test cell is used to monitor the RFB characteristics as function of electrolyte flow and densities of electrical current. First results are promising and provide a good basis to build the targeted RFB.

In practical construction of RFB, the starting point was to prepare a functional specification document, which provides the general requirements for construction of the battery system and preparation of ACRRES test site. Based on this document, all functional specifications were transferred into a mechanical and electrical designs. To allow for an easy transport to the test site, all battery components were intentionally planned so that to fit the standard shipping containers. Construction of the battery components has been started and will be completed soon as all technical questions are solved.
In parallel to the system design, a coupled electrochemical and CFD model for cell stack was developed using a simplified two-dimensional version of the geometry. Furthermore, a hydrodynamic 3-dimensional model of the electrolyte flow was used to qualitatively prove that the proposed cell design had acceptable flow distribution.

In the part RFB integration, the EnergyKeeper\'s smart grid architecture was developed including energy grid, communication grid and community with on-roof-integrated solar, wind power plants, electrical vehicles and other consumer loads subjected to the management of CGCS control. The solutions for metering control system nodes, communications protocol and smart grid control algorithms have been elaborated and preliminarily validated. To test and optimize this architecture, the test site in ACRRES center was adequately prepared. All relevant technical and regulatory specifications are described in a report enabling the partners to prepare their equipment, devices and models for smooth testing.

In the European energy policies and technical standardization context, the current European policies were reviewed with focus on deployment of distributed energy resources like microstorage, RES-based microgeneration and flexible loads. In result, both binding and/or encouraging policy measures have been identified relevant for EnergyKeeper project. The international smart grid standards have been reviewed and those applicable to energy storage have been identified. Also, the cybersecurity recommendations have been developed for the smart grid communication channels transmitting energy storage data.

In the part of electricity storage business, the review of existing and new business models was started. Community and prosumer storage business are seen as new opportunity which is expected to replace in future the current practices of financial support for storage providers.

In the part of communication, dissemination, and exploitation activities, The Communication and Dissemination Plan was developed which contains the communication strategy of EnergyKeeper. A logo and a website were developed: www.energykeeper.eu. On the website there is a secured area which leads to the sharepoint of EnergyKeeper\'s data . A LinkedIn page was created and an electronic newsletters are developed and published twice a year. A preliminary Exploitation Plan for targeted EnergyKeeper products/results was compiled. Besides description of Project’s objectives and scope, it details the steps n

Final results

Until the end of the project the partners expect to install an organic RFB at the ACRRES testing site and integrate it in a real-life, i.e. smart-grid environment. On the long run, the organic RFB will move the stationary battery research to a new level, because of its fundamentally advantageous technology. While conventional batteries are based on expensive and scarce metals that have to be mined in politically troubled parts of the world, the active materials of organic redox-flow batteries can be manufactured in any chemical company around the world. That is because they use carbon-based, organic materials made from oil, coal or – in the long run – even renewable resources. The technology has the potential to become the European answer to lithium (and cobalt) based batteries from Asia as all battery components can be made in Europe. This will have a strong positive impact on all industries along the whole value chain of manufacturing and electricity production, including component suppliers (e.g., membranes, electrodes, pumps, electronics) as well as end users, who may become “prosumers” (e.g., photovoltaics and wind farms, power network, companies with high peak power demand, home owners).

The Project is expected to reinforce the European low carbon economy targets and European energy policies. EnergyKeeper batteries might be an attractive option for energy communities, individual prosumers, small-to-medium size enterprises and other potential users. It is supposed to contribute to energy transition into smart energy.

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Website & more info

More info: http://www.energykeeper.eu/.