Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GRIDSOL (SMART RENEWABLE HUBS FOR FLEXIBLE GENERATION: SOLAR GRID STABILITY)

Teaser

Renewable energy generation has increased significantly led by solar photovoltaics and wind energy, reaching economic competitiveness against conventional power plants. However, both renewable technologies are not dispatchable, which requires until now the role of polluting...

Summary

Renewable energy generation has increased significantly led by solar photovoltaics and wind energy, reaching economic competitiveness against conventional power plants. However, both renewable technologies are not dispatchable, which requires until now the role of polluting power plants to ensure security of supply and grid stability.
To address these flexibility needs, GRIDSOL project develops an innovative solution led by COBRA, within a consortium formed by 10 partners from 5 European countries (Spain, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Greece). The project presents a new concept to increase renewable energy penetration in a grid-friendly manner: “Smart Renewable Hub”


A Smart Renewable Hub is a flexible hybrid power plant that select and combine the most suitable technologies to deliver an optimal configuration at each location. Every possible solution, considers market and grid requirements, providing ancillary services and relieving pressure on the Electricity System Operator.
In this context, GRIDSOL represents a major drive to integrate renewable energy sources thanks to flexible generation. Demonstrating the adequacy of Smart Renewable Hubs for Continental and Island grids in order to achieve a more secure, reliable and clean Energy system for the citizens.

GRIDSOL aims to provide secure, clean and efficient electricity by combining primary renewable energy sources and technology under an advanced control system called Dynamic Output Manager of Energy (DOME) supplying secure electricity and contributing to grid stability through Smart Renewable Hubs. The main objectives of the project are:
To create the required environment for Smart Renewable Hubs development. Building-up a tool to optimally size the Smart Renewable Hubs according to the electric system requirements.
Development of a Dynamic Output Manger of Energy (DOME) system for Smart Renewable Hubs in order to displace traditional fossil generators in grid regulation markets. Improving the ability to follow a variable power target.
To select the optimum CSP multi-tower configuration to provide the required synchronous energy generation and flexibility at grid level while being cost-effective.
To take advantage of synergies between different kinds of renewable energy technologies in order to optimise investments and increase cost-effectiveness. Enhancement of electricity dispatchability thanks to energy storage and back-up systems.

Work performed

The main results up to now are:

To sign the Consortium Agreement and to define consortium operating procedures. To establish the Project Management Plan.
Producing a technical manual on programming procedures and implementations. Smart Renewable Hub Modeler (SRH Modeler): This tool optimally sizes the hybrid RES plants for Continental Europe and EU Islands taking into account market and grid requirements. Results for WP5 and WP6.
CSP technologies software: The project has developed and validated novel tools to optimse CSP technologies within SRHs. Optimization of Multi-tower configuration, including the development of a tool, validation and results
Requirements and specifications for the Dynamic Output Manager of Energy (DOME) system. Including a preliminary design.
Preliminary setups for GRIDSOL simulation in the EU electric power system. Scenarios and models for market and grid analysis. First Results of SRHs in market simulations for Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and France.
Collection of data for isolated systems. First results of SRH in Crete.
Methodology for Smart Renewable Hubs implementation. Promotion and development of of First-of-its-kind (FOIK) project.
Definition of IPR Management Procedures, business models and legal issues related to the development of SRHs.
Communication and dissemination plan, project logo, templates, project video, dissemination material (leaflet, etc.). 1st International Workshop of GRIDSOL project with 50 people attending the meeting.

Final results

The main results of GRIDSOL project are:
• Optimisation of CSP multi-tower configuration
• Methodology assessment of Smart Renewable Hubs Implementation.
• Development of Dynamic Output Manger of Energy (DOME)
• Assessment of the adequacy and feasibility of GRIDSOL plant in continental and island scenarios.
• FOIK project

The expected benefits consist on providing alternative solutions and approaches to maximize RES penetration in the grid by introducing Smart Renewable Hub concept.
Socio-economics
GRIDSOL implementation will increase employment rates and raise social awareness on RES technologies, costs and capabilities.
• Employment effects: More than 140,000 direct-jobs per year may be created.
• Pricing: New pricing mechanisms and incentives will be developed and measures should be taken to ensure pricing schemes remain transparent and understandable to final consumers.
• Technology Leadership: New technologies development and smart approaches will enable to hold Europe leadership against external competitors leading to a more secure energy supply.
Environment impacts
GRIDSOL will increase the share of energy from renewable sources. Thus contributing to the renewable energy targets aimed to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, decrease land impact and water consumption.
• Land use: Increasing solar field efficiency reduces the impact on land use. According to the objectives defined, a 33% of land reduction is expected.
• Water resources: Following the previous assumptions made, reducing the solar field area reduces the total surface of heliostats that must be cleaned, leading to a reduction of water consumption.
• CO2 emissions: CO2 emissions reduction are only considered as the ones associated to GRIDSOL power plant.
Market Transformation
• Island Implementation: Islands are the perfect example of RES integration limits. GRIDSOL aims to demonstrate the feasibility of the solution in islands, since this application will be the first niche market to address due to its high generation costs and requirements of backup systems for grid regulation.
• Substitution of conventional power plants: GRIDSOL aims to substitute in high solar irradiation hours those power plants with the greatest carbon footprint.
Policy
GRIDSOL will also contribute to the definition of the new Energy System policies that will be needed in order to strongly promote Renewable Hubs.
• Regulation standards: The main obstacle found to develop the project is the lack of regulation for Smart Renewable Hubs. The consortium will work with TSOs and stakeholders (End-User Advisory Board) to successfully draft a regulation proposal that enables the development of future projects.
• Financing of follow-up steps: the approval of the financing is indispensable to develop the concept to reach TRL9. Despite the big expected impact on islands, financing the installation of a prototype using traditional solutions (project finance) may not be accepted due to technology risks.
• Cooperation with other links in the value chain: The project will require changing regulations and including new procedures in grid regulation. Main agents involved in policy-making must cooperate to maximize results. TSOs, as active system regulators.

Website & more info

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