Converting Renewable Energy to Gas: Cost Competitive with Batteries?
Power-to-gas, a technology that converts excess renewable energy to gases that can be stored, is cost-competitive with lithium-ion batteries in microgrids, according to Matt Gregori, technology development manager, Southern California Gas.
Gregori spoke at a recent solar conference at the University of California, Riverside.
Southern California Gas recently conducted a computer simulation of using power-to-gas in an existing microgrid at University of California Irvine (UCI), and concluded that the amount of renewable energy used could jump from 3.5 percent to 35 percent, Gregori said.
In addition, researchers at University of California in Irvine created a sophisticated financial model comparing power-to-gas to lithium-ion batteries.
“They found that power-to-gas, using a natural gas pipeline, is cost effective with lithium-ion batteries,” he said. It’s especially cost-competitive for longer charging durations, he noted.
The UCI microgrid has a central plant with combined-cycle turbines, chillers, thermal energy storage and some solar. “It’s an interesting...continue reading on Microgrid Knowledge.
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Inventor
7 年https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B8srudAUhE
CEO at NeoCarbons
7 年Gas=gasoline? why should thermodynamics be improved by the use of batteries? The equation is how do I maximize the benefit of collecting solar energy? I make electricity to replace fossils in power production and I have a low $ return and a high CO2 savings, I make chemicals with the electricity, which otherwise would require to process fossils, and I make even more $ and I save even more CO2. In the process I also can use the tech to absorb peaks in production of renewable electricity. So? Invest now in NeoCarbons technology, and in 10 years in electroreduction when the catalysts issues will be solved.
Alien Electric Motor & Permagnetics ~ Industrial & Architectural Design & Mfg.
7 年Waste-heat is a huge problem in a runaway greenhouse planet, if you need AC from DC all one requires are "converters", this is a DC motor driving an AC genset, these used for a century before solid state. Then, if one uses a longer torquearm for the motor it needs less power than it outputs thus a 5:1 ratio means using a 1kw motor to output 4kw and keep running. These are called "feedback generators", it's not free power, simply mechanical advantage. Do what you like, it's far cheaper than using steam for motive power from a DC power source.
Physicist at Boztronics
7 年Once again I find it unbelievable that intelligent people believe that the conversion of one (non-clean and expensive) technology to another (slightly less non-clean and expensive) technology is our best choice and these out dated and former failed ideas are receiving massive amounts of funding while truly advanced technologies that will generate the cheapest energy generation, the cleanest energy generation and the most advanced energy storage technology ever known is ready for implementation but has little funding. The only answer we, who have witnessed these world changing technologies, realize the only answer must be that those who are control, continue to believe these outdated technologies are what they can control while not realizing how their investments into this technology of the future will allow these people significantly higher profits while significantly assisting in providing a true clean solution to our world energy needs. Developing countries are investing in this set of technologies because they see every benefit. Solar to gas and other such ideas are simply ridiculous. Btw, anyone can make a computer simulation that agrees with their statements (and financial needs).