Cutting-edge research
The latest from laboratories and research facilities
More than 160 research projects were initiated by the end of 2012 with more projects being commissioned in subsequent years. The latest news on the status of the projects and new insights by scientists can be found here, as well as information on publications and conference reports.
Interim findings of the Energy Storage Research Initiative
Which contribution can energy storage systems make to the energy transition? How can they be employed economically? And what are the future research priorities? These were the questions answered during the 2nd status seminar on energy storage systems in Berlin last week. Half-time for the Energy Storage Research Initiative, and time to look at the score.
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Power station supplies valuable raw materials
Scientists are examining the use of alkaline metals and alkaline earth metals as potential fuels for power station processes. As an example, they have constructed a laboratory reaction chamber for burning lithium. The experimental lithium burner achieved a thermal capacity of 30 kilowatts. It atomises and burns melted lithium in a carbon dioxide atmosphere to produce lithium carbonate. Carbon monoxide is also produced. ...
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Gas and heating networks store electricity
Germany’s electricity provision needs to be made more flexible in future in order to integrate the increasing proportion of fluctuating renewable energy. Heating and gas networks can already balance out some of these fluctuations and help to stabilise the future energy system. In the Multi-Grid Storage project, scientists at Fraunhofer IFAM have investigated how the energy from the surplus electricity can be stored as heat or gas, and then made available again as electrical energy when required. ...
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13th Greenstock conference in Beijing
This year’s 13th international Greenstock conference will take place in Beijing from 19 to 21 May 2015. The conference is geared towards decision makers from politics and industry, researchers, users and planners and provides a stage for sharing experience and networking on energy storage projects. Contributors still have until 15 February 2015 to submit an abstract of their article online. ...
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“We’re marketing renewable energy with storage systems”
The “Sell or Store” study shows that energy storage systems make a significant contribution to the economic integration of renewables in the market, whereby the connection, efficiency and size play a surprisingly small role. Dr Stephan Krohns, head of the ENREKON young investigator group, operations research expert Dr Jochen Gönsch and econometrician Michael Hassler speak in an interview about the revenue-oriented use of energy storage systems and how they can be utilised to stabilise the power grid. ...
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Focus on the hydrogen storage process chain
In the PlanDelyKaD project, scientists studied the option of storing surplus electricity as hydrogen and converting it back for use. They considered the entire process chain from generation to storage and use. The research focused on hydrogen electrolysis and gas storage in salt caverns. The study completed in May 2014 reveals the method’s potential on the market. ...
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Modular 5-megawatt battery storage system
The world’s first modular battery storage system with a performance class of five megawatts is being built in Aachen. This shall use lithium-ion batteries for, for example, short-term power storage, high-temperature batteries across several hours and lead-acid batteries for short and medium discharge times. Construction of the large-scale storage system is scheduled to begin in autumn 2014. ...
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Private solar power storage systems can relieve the grid
The range of battery storage systems for photovoltaic installations is growing dynamically. The benefits offered by these storage systems for both solar system operators and the entire energy system were therefore discussed by solar and storage experts in December 2013 in Frankfurt am Main. Their conclusion: Decentralised solar power storage systems in private households could provide one of the few functioning business models for stationary battery storage systems for the foreseeable future. ...
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Storing solar energy with new materials
The interdisciplinary NEOTHERM junior research group at Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg is developing new materials for storing thermal energy. Using new composite materials, the scientists at the Faculty of Process and Systems Engineering (FVST) want to recover and store unused solar thermal energy and waste heat from industry. This energy can be used, for example, for heating domestic hot water or for space heating. .
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Electricity grid makes island self-sufficient
The North Frisian island of Pellworm has been a showcase for energy research since the early 1980s. In 1983, Europe's largest solar farm was built there. In 1989, wind turbines were added to create Europe’s largest hybrid power plant. A smart electricity grid will now make the island power-independent. ...
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