Forum Day 2: Building a Renewable Future
The conference agenda for Day 2 focused on regulation and the evaluation of existing and new energy storage technologies.
Key questions in defining the new paradigms for the electric power system were answered in Mr Axel Strang’s (Green Technology Policy Advisor, French Ministry of Environment & Energy) presentation on ‘Addressing Regulatory and Legal Issues Related to Energy Storage’. Mr Strang raised three principal factors to be accounted for in the devising of a feasible regulatory framework to ease the widespread adoption of energy storage technologies. Firstly, ensuring the security of supply to meet peak demand, secondly, the management of intermittency of renewable energy sources and thirdly, assuring social acceptability of infrastructure and development.
Persistent challenges utilities face includes coping with peak demand and the integration of renewable energy sources into grid infrastructure. Mr Angelo Ferrante’s (Head of International Regulation,Terna) Day 2 presentation on ‘Storage Applications in the Italian Transmission Grid to Facilitate RES (Renewable Energy Source) Integration’, thus served as a timely, prime example of energy storage technology being effectively employed as a viable solution in mitigating the impact of both challenges.
In the field of energy storage, though looking forward may be the name of the game, Mr Peter Matt’s (Head of Civil Engineering, Vorarlberger Illwerke) presentation on ‘Evaluating Pumped Storage: Old Fashioned Technology or One of the Turn Keys for the Future?’ shed light on the concept of old ideas rediscovered as one of the turn keys for the future. Mr Peter Matt also shared on a future where intelligent turnkey solutions in conjunction with productive energy storage technologies and energy management systems may improve the system’s power factor, provide black start facility, smooth the local demand curve, supply power during peak demand and bring substantial cost-savings. Mr Matt also drew upon a creative metaphor, likening the pumped storage solution to a ‘fire brigade’ which allowed for quick hydroelectric generation.
Day 2 of the conference concluded with a panel discussion centred on the topic of ‘NaS vs Li-ion vs Sodium Metal Halide – Which One Offers Better ROI And Why?’. Panellists engaging in the discussion included Mr Richard Wills (Research Institute for Industry, Engineering & Environment, University of Southampton), Mr Sten Peeters (Senior Product Manager, A123 Systems), Mr Guy Patrick de Broglie (Sales Director for Europe & Asia, SAFT), Mr Hiroyuki Abe Manager of System Design, NAS Battery, NGK Insulators) and Mr Rick Cutright (Director of Product Management, GE). The interactive nature of the discussion allowed for the cross-exchange of varied insights and perspectives which gave rise to a multi-faceted deliberation that ended Day 2 of the conference on a high note.
If you want to know more about this and other topics directly from end users of energy storage technologies join us at one of these annual events: The Energy Storage World Forum (Grid Scale Applications), or The Residential Energy Storage Forum, or one of our Training Courses.
