Bartek Glowacki

Abstract:

With the anticipation of a higher penetration of intermittent renewable technologies into electrical grids, energy storage technologies will be necessary to allow for load levelling and use of excess energy that would otherwise be wasted. Two methods of renewable energy storage that are currently being researched are: vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) and hydrogen storage along with the use of electrolysers and fuel cells (FC). Both technologies show promising characteristics for energy storage with many test applications already operating. The comparison of both technologies will be completed by the development of a system dynamic model using Vensim. The model will allow energy storage characteristics including storage capacity (kWh), power capacity (kW), estimated total costs, efficiencies and response time of the storage system to be compared to allow for an analysis of the feasibility of the storage systems. Different scenarios will be developed to indicate the response of the energy stored in the system over time with regard to wind power and how effective it is in meeting demand. The model will investigate the feasibility and suitability of both energy storage technologies.