Project Description
agistin
Context
Figure: Spectrum of AGI related possible hardware topology
The rapid and widescale deployment of renewables and electrification of society presents an era-defining challenge for grid operators to develop and operate the grid reliably. In European grids such as Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands, challenges for grid development, grid access, network congestion, operations with low inertia grids, human capital and supply chain threaten to impede the realisation of decarbonisation goals, despite the best effort of grid operators.
Energy storage is the key resource that is needed to orchestrate and integrate industrial processes and large-scale renewables. Advanced storage integration methods are needed to resolve issues for grid users and operators.
agistin
Challenges
The Advanced Grid Interfaces for innovative STorage INtegration (AGISTIN) project addresses urgent challenges for industrial grid users, grid operators, renewables developers, storage manufacturers by:
- Reducing pressure on grid connection capacity and grid reinforcement requirements for new renewables and industrial demand, beneficial to all grid users and grid operators.
- Enabling major classes of industrial grid users to economically integrate significantly more renewables on-site than traditional integration approaches, through DC coupling.
- Supporting the grid by providing advanced grid services such as grid forming control, fast frequency response and balancing flexibility that supports grid operators in operating low inertia grids and reducing curtailment of renewables within the emerging European market framework.
Avoiding delay in the electrification and decarbonisation of society using increasingly sustainable approaches, resulting in Mt of CO2 avoided per annum.
agistin
Solutions
As the need for innovation in the integration of energy storage is shared across grid and grid users, AGISTIN proposes to develop grid integration architectures for energy storage with on-site renewables and emerging DC end uses. This follows the DC coupling approach considered in current PV + storage hybrids, extending it to include end use, grid users and system integrators.
As such, industrial grid users can benefit from the avoidance of additional hardware, reducing costs, improved operational efficiency, flexibility and self-consumption as compared to the AC connection approach. The project will develop control algorithms to coordinate between all three asset classes that will be open sourced for exploitation by system integrators and power electronics OEMs.
agistin
Tests and Demonstrations
The AGISTIN solutions will be simulated and tested in three separate laboratory tests.
- The German laboratory test will test the design’s controls and functionality on a fast-charging application for electric vehicles;
- The Spanish laboratory test will test the concept on a pumping system before implementation in a real irrigation system;
- The German laboratory test will test the developed solution for an electrolyzer application using a dynamic grid emulator.
The refined design will then be implemented in two field demonstrations:
- The Spanish demonstration pilot will demonstrate the potential of using irrigation systems as an energy storage medium.
- The Dutch demonstration pilot will demonstrate the use of energy storage and advanced control to maximize the use of renewables on a renewable hydrogen generation facility.
AGI-integrated innovative storage for green H2 production
AGI-integrated innovative storage for large pumping loads
agistin
Milestones/
Objectives
- Demonstrate the performance and value of innovative storage technologies providing flexibility and grid services.
- Design advanced grid interfaces to integrate energy storage with industrial grid users and - on-site generation, resulting in potential for enhanced economic and technical performance.
- Demonstrate the technical feasibility of the innovative coupling of multiple forms of energy - storage, production and demands into innovative energy systems and novel grid topologies.
- Enable innovative storage, coupled through the proposed advanced grid integration - technologies, to provide the new grid services needed in the energy transition.
- Reduce material use and embedded emissions by innovative approaches of energy storage integration with industrial grid users.
- Propose innovative business models to easily enable energy storage integration with significant grid users.
agistin
Benefits
- Increased resilience of the energy system based on improved and/or new technologies to control the system and maintain system stability under difficult circumstances.
- Increased flexibility and resilience of the energy system.
- Provided solutions to short-duration energy storage needs by developing two relevant technologies.
- Enabled industrial grid users to benefit who have engaged with the energy transition and invested in on-site production and storage assets.
- Delivered efficient solutions for transporting & transforming energy (on-shore & off-shore) thanks to power electronics and hybrid Alternate Current – Direct Current grid solutions.
