Abstract
With an increase of wind energy entering the electrical grids, wind "management" is increasingly needed. High grid penetration hides the problems of the times over production of wind electricity and an additional need for normal output. Hydrogen offers an ecologically ideal energy storage that is suited to store electricity generation peaks and according to schedule efficiently and emissions-free for example via fuel cells, returning the electricity when needed. Wind energy develops electricity that can electrolyze water creating hydrogen that is stored and then fed to fuel cells to recreate electrical energy as needed. In the hydrogen laboratory of the Fachhochschule Stralsund, the interplay of wind energy, hydrogen production and storage, and fuel cells is studied. At the University of Oldenburg the "HyWindBalance" project uses hydrogen as intermediate storage produced by electrolysis from the grid and involving storage management. The project also involves Planet (Planungsgruppe Energie & Technik) of Oldenburg and the company partners Overspeed, energy & meteo systems, and Project Ökovest. Management of the storage is studied. The project is funded by Lower Saxony, the EU, and EWE AG. As a "virtual power plant" it provides wind energy with the options of planning electricity generation, reducing the need for control energy from conventional power plant outputs, and marketing wind energy on the spot market as control energy and peak electricity. The distribution of investment costs for a large scale wind-hydrogen system is illustrated. They include 37% for electrolysis and 31% for storage. The installed wind power is 1.5 Gw and electrolysis unit output is 300 Mw (electrical). The system produces hydrogen motor fuel at 2.5 times the price of diesel motor fuel. This cost difference can be attenuated by increasing oil prices, reduced facility costs, and improved efficiency of motor fuel cell systems.
Translated title of the contribution | Special section on hydrogen. Hydrogen as wind electricity intermediate storage. Mediator between wind and grids |
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Original language | German |
Journal | BWK - Energie-Fachmagazin |
Volume | 58 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
Publication status | Published - 26 May 2006 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Fuel Technology
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes