Electrify Europe 2018

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Assets Optimization of an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Power Plant with Energy Storage System (Room Lehar 2)

Energy generation market has changed drastically in the recent years due to the extensive increase of renewable energies, and will continue this way as it is expected wind and solar will reach 46% of energy generation by 2040, and will double the global cumulative installed capacity. Electric grids are facing new challenges because of the increasing amount of highly variable and unpredictable generation systems and consequently efficient generating power plants with a flexible operation are becoming essential. The highly demanding new grid codes scenario can be addressed with the flexibility of the Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) with optimized electrical assets, like generators and battery energy storage systems. This new role in the market of the Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) power plants will allow supplying grid support services like: Black –Start, Power quality, Frequency regulation, Peak shaving, Capacity firming, etc., and additional benefits by less rotating energy or reduction spinning reserve for minimizing the greenhouse emissions and fuel consumption of the engines. In order to provide a reliable solution, generators, protection and control systems have to be designed in combination with the energy storage system for an optimum cost and lifecycle of the power plant assets. There are already optimized plants supported with batteries and energy management systems running in this new energy ecosystem, offering flexible operation and grid code compliance which can be looked as pioneers of this new generation of flexible Internal Combustion Engines power plants. This paper will review the advantages of integrating generator and energy storage system design with the grid requirements for an optimal solution and will present some real results of the improvements achieved.