Here is a really good overview of the current state of battery developments of many types.
Future batteries, coming soon: Charge in seconds, last months a
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Here is a really good overview of the current state of battery developments of many types.
Future batteries, coming soon: Charge in seconds, last months a
The Pumped Heat looks interesting Ray, although the first thing I wondered about was the efficiency, and sure 'nuff, it's low at 50-70%, but there are a number of upsides to the tech, it seems.
"to advance the pilot program towards industrial applications by taking CO2 from raw flue gas as a CO2 capture process path from cement and steel industries as well as fossil fuel energy generators."
and also at the 1:20 mark in the vid.
Now I don't know exactly where they are up to with that but I get the impression they are more or less ready to go live.
In any case, surely the point is that it doesn't matter where the CO2 comes from (exhaled and inhaled as it were), as long as we have zero nett emissions. For example if we belch out CO2 in Millmerran, and inhale it in some other place, it shouldn't matter too much should it? One would think that wind/turbulence/air currents would mix things up at some point anyway. I suppose it would be better to inhale it closer to the exhalation source, but....
Hi Mark
I've looked again at my numbers -- you are correct, I'm an order of magnitude out with my maths.
A 40 kWh should suffice for two nights plus a cloudy day. Three nights and two cloudy days would push you up towards a 60 kWh battery.
Revisiting my maths,
As of 2019, Li-ion batteries cost about USD $139 /kWh. So a 60 kWh battery (good for powering a "typical" 3 person home for about 3 days) might cost somewhere north of USD $8,000. In that context, an AUD $5,000 subsidy is a very significant subsidy -- but like many subsidies it does nothing for the 50% of Australians who rent or live in unit blocks.
By 2030, Li-ion batteries "could fall to as little as USD $76 per kWh". That's something like AUD $7000 using today's (Feb 27, 2020) mid-market exchange rate. So certainly doable -- just need to address the issue of equity for renters and people living in units.
Yeah, I was thinking that at the time I was proposing it, but not forgetting that there is still a considerable investment by the owner in the battery (and panels). Anything to save building a new CF PS if we can avoid it (for international political reasons as much as anything alse).
Brett
40 hours roughly equates to 2 nights plus an intervening cloudy day.
In part I thought we were tossing around ideas about how the "grid" could be supported by home battery storage.
A Tesla Powerwall 2 will struggle to get a family though a single night without a user actively turning off appliances.
now I'm dredging my memory, but I recall that the maximum theoretical efficiency (Carnot cycle) of a steam engine -- i.e. a coal powered power station -- is 43%. I sort of remember the graph, but not what was on each axis.
So John Turk Jr at 42% is pretty close.
Hi gents, I haven't dropped out of this discussion, but it's now in the phase where I can get much more from it than I can contribute. I never realised there was such a wide range of expertise here. Thanks.
But not "any power plant".
as mentioned previously, the grid has to maintain supply stability to prevent a state-side black out. I'd content that in the current
In the "olden days" this could be done using an inertial generator located inside a large power station. Unfortunately I forget what these inertial generators were called, or even if they are still installed in power stations.
Since the advent of SA's Tesla battery, grid stabilisation -- at least in SA -- has been achieved by using the micro second response rate of the battery.
the inherent variability of wind and solar rules out both sources.
A largish gas turbine could be started and stabilised using the grid and then, using "smart" electronics, take over the grid stability issue, but such a generator is still producing CO2.
I believe the issue is spinning momentum. Really big generators -- say 500 MW size -- have momentum in spades
the problem with this scenario is that "the magic unicorns" pulling CO2 out of the air are also reducing the quantity of Oxygen left for everyone to breathe.
It maybe not much of a problem -- then again it could be significant. Our physiology is fairly finely tuned to the % of O2 in the atmosphere.
Maybe I haven't been as clear as I could be, but I'm just talking about reducing the demand on CF Base Load - not replacing it altogether for each user with a battery. And to repeat again - this would be part of the transition, until BL can be delivered by a properly "clean" or at least "much much cleaner" system, such as Hydrogen or whatever it turns out to be.
Basically trying to find a way through the looming deficit of BL without building CF.
Turn off a few appliances? Not such a bad idea anyway. They could start with the idiotboxscreen (in whatever format). :;
CO2 is 0.042% of the atmosphere (and rising :((), and O2 is 21%, so 500x more O2 than CO2. I dunno what the ratio of O2 to CO2 is with the MCi process, but I very much doubt it would in the order of 500:1.
Think of it in terms of how much O2 would have been used up in Black Summer - reckon that would be stacks more than the MCi process (gasp...wheeze....cough...help I need air ...:D)
Ian
I suspect (but don't absolutely know) that the Tesla battery's main function today is frequency control and there can be quite a deal of money for that specialised market. There are three price scales for regulation raising and another three for regulation lowering. Being in SA with large quantities of solar and wind it is ideally placed. The politicians are quite pleased with it too as it looks as though they have produced a whole swag of power. They don't point out that it can only produce 5% of demand from what is one of the smallest states as far as electricity demand goes and it can only do that for a single hour. I don't wish to detract from the Tesla battery as I think it is proving it's worth, but also I don't wish to propagate any misconceptions not that you, ian, were trying to do that.
It is probably my own hang up that feels the need to mention these limitations any time Tesla is mentioned. Incidentally there are other similar batteries around, I have been told, including Sydney.
To put the Gas turbines into perspective regarding carbon emissions they have a carbon intensity around .6 but only if they have a HRSG tacked on to their exhaust. About .8 if there is no HRSG tacked on to the exhaust gases and this compares with the coal fired stations of 1.0 (The now defunct Hazelwood was 1.6 to put the polution factor into perspective.) Trouble is the gas is expensive. HRSG stands for Heat Recovery Steam Generator and is simply a turbine that is powered by the low pressure steam extracted from the turbine's hot exhaust.
I am not sure if the "olden days" generator you mention was an asynchronous generator. If it was, then you are referring to very old days as it was archaic when I entered the power industry in 1982 and never saw one in action.
The grid itself is a juggernaut: An immovable force and any generators synchronising to the grid are carried along at 50Hz whether they like it or not. To cause a system disturbance, several generators (or transmission lines) have to fall off almost simultaneously. The last occasion I can remember this happening, apart from the SA storm that wreaked havoc, was in 2004 when a transformer fire at Bayswater caused several units (six) to trip and we had a power cut in Queensland as a consequence.
We were having tea at the time and had to finish it by candle light. :rolleyes:
https://www.aemc.gov.au/sites/defaul...m-Incident.pdf
Regards
Paul
It is amazing what you turn up when looking through the web.
Another link:
Energy and Climate Change - Energy Facts Australia
I have not read all of it, but did pick up on this regarding the SA collapse:
"On 28 September 2016, South Australia experienced one of its most severe storms in recent decades.The storm involved at least seven tornadoes, wind gusts of 190 – 260 km/h (similar to wind speeds experienced during Cyclone Tracy), large hailstones and intense rainfall. The supercell thunderstorms and tornados knocked down 23 transmission towers in South Australia triggering a statewide blackout (Burns et al 2016)."
and this on how power stations and people are more susceptible to climate change as they get older.
"Just as old people suffer in the heat, our ageing fossil fuel power stations don’t cope well. Extreme heat reduces output and they suffer mechanical failures, right when they are needed most."
I think they are referring to power stations of about 50 years old and by older people I hope they mean people greater than 110 years.
:wink:
Regards
Paul
Bushmiller;
"Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"
Well sheeeyit, I finally get it.
You took up the wrong career Paul.
You did tell me once (I think over the bottle(s) of spectacular 2016 Petersen's Pressings at your place) that you were easily corrupted. I fully understand now.
You mean the Japanese guy that died a few days after becoming world's oldest? It's not really a record that you want is it eh? Almost a death sentence...
Brett
I absolutely remember that bottle. Possibly the best red wine I have ever drunk.
As to any admissions about corruption, I don't recall (sorry Alan Bond). Also I confess to being a little confused:
Just before I get into my confusion and to add some levity, What would you say about a citizen of South Korea who travels to live and work in the Democratic Republic immediately to the North?
A bad Korea move....:-
Back to my confusion. What career should I have chosen. (I'm sure I am going to regret asking this.)
Regards
paul
Paul
as I interpret the "tea leaves", 70% of the battery's output is reserved for frequency control. This percentage may fall after the battery's capacity is increased by 50% -- the 50% upgrade will allow Neogen to sell more peak capacity into the market -- but, in absolute terms, I understand that around 70 MW will remain reserved for "grid stability" purposes.
so leaving aside the boasting of politicians about how the battery allows SA's lights to remain on, the lights are staying on because SA's load is not being automatically shed in order to protect SA's grid.
Brett
IMO there is little point in reducing the demand for coal fired base load unless it is substituted with another form of reliable power that doesn't generate CO2.
Talk to Paul, but my understanding is that the economics and response times of a coal fired generator are such that they need to run at near maximum capacity 24/7. I'm not sure of the exact timings, but the response time of a coal-fired base load generators are so long that the plant runs at a loss during the middle of the day when the sun is shining. The flue CO2 is still being exhausted, even if the generators are just spinning and only working at 50% capacity.
The Dinorwig Power station in Wales is perhaps the best example of a rapid response hydro power system. 2800 MW (capacity is 9.1 GWh) available to respond to all those pommy kettles being at flicked on almost simultaneously at half time in the footy. Perhaps the definition of the "flick of a switch" scenario.
I've seen a paper, or news report, suggesting that in a carbon free world, Australia needs the capacity to generate hydro power for around 3 days to cover for the intermittent nature of grid scale wind and solar, and the certainty that at any given time much of the country is affected by drought. So at a national scale it has to be assumed that most dams are near empty because of a drought. That works out at something in order of 2100 GWh of energy storage. Water is possibly the most efficient energy storage medium but where would we put the required infrastructure? There's no way that it will fit in mine.
BTW: 2100 GWh is approximately 20 times the pumped capacity of Snowy 2.
Here is something just announced. Adds some flavour to the soup.... Empowering Homes Pilot Program
The program will run as a pilot for up to 12 months and will then be rolled out statewide to provide the solar battery loan offer to up to 300,000 NSW homeowners. The program provides interest-free loans of:
- up to $14,000 for a solar battery system; or
- up to $9,000 for the addition of a battery to an existing solar system.
Brett
The second bottle, although still Petersens was very slightly different (still good, although not quite as good).
"Things" are returning slowly and I believe your memory of me being easily corruptible may have been confused with me admitting, in a moment of vino fueled clarety, that I have an "addictive nature" which is why I keep the saw collecting under such tight control. :rolleyes:
In a management interaction at work a couple of years ago I was asked how I felt about working at Millmerran. I replied that "If I had to work at a fossil fueled CO2 polluting power station Millmerran is absolutely my first choice." I don't think it was the warm and fuzzy response the manager was expecting.
When I was at school, a very conservative establishment(nobody would have dreamed of voting anything but Tory), we had a new, young, history teacher arrive. It was quite clear, in fact he made no secret of it, that he was an out and out Labour voter. Collectively we asked him what the hell he was doing there (perhaps we did not ask exactly like that) and he said he was working to convert from the inside. I have not forgotten that.
Regards
Paul
Angus Taylor to announce shift in climate investment away from wind and solar
Scant, but no surprises there from Angus Trailer.
We are going to keep using fossil fuels and capture the CO2.... a sort of 'clean coal' initiative.
Let's hope the Lithium $s goes into battery research more broadly and isn't just a flip to the mining sector to go find some more lithium.
The hydrogen focus could be beneficial, provided it is generated by renewable energy.
And, it's OK Nats, we have a plan to stop your bovines farting!
A 'bottom up' approach seems like the right description there.
So, no roadmap, yet, not even a mud map, just some "consultation paper to inform the design of the roadmap". That doesn't fill me with any confidence. He is not out there leading but waiting to be pulled along after consulting with the bovver boys.
In the mean time, he's trying to work out how to wiggle out of a 2050 commitment!
I just can't see how that can happen with the topography of our landscape here in Australia.
In mountainous west area of Canada, yes (392 TWh of hydro). With 35 peaks above 4,000m
In mountainous Norway, yes (122TWh of hydro). It is just about all mountains with almost 300 peaks over 2,000m
In mountainous Sweden, yes (65 TWh of hydro). With 12 peaks above 2,000m
In the Swiss Alps, yes (36TWh of hydro). With close to 10,000 sq km above 2,000m and 50 peaks over 4,000m
In Australia, doubtful! With only one (little Mt Kosciuszko) above 2,000m and it has already been exploited for all its worth.
There are currently about 120 hydro plants operating here in Australia providing about 1/3 of out renewable energy generation. Perhaps some small/micro scale pumped hydro may be added to that, but I think it is unlikely that we will see much by way of any large scale additional generation (like in Tasmania and the Snowy) added to that.
The Swiss have the greatest potential for hydroelectricity. They could be Europe's battery, but there is some opposition based on environmental factors. I expect that would happen here. The following article is old, but still mostly relevant.
Swiss Alps proposed as powerhouse of Europe - SWI swissinfo.ch
And, for a nitty-gritty analysis, if that is your predilection.
Swiss pumped hydro storage potential for Germany’s electricity system under high penetration of intermittent renewable energy | SpringerLink
In any case Neil, pumped hydro is just a battery storage, not really an energy producer. It may make good use of Solar energy to be greener energy but its main function is to spread around the load by making use of cheaper energy produced earlier (more probably that excess CF energy when they are twiddling their thumbs keeping the turbines spinning in off-peak).
Neil
I think I mentioned before that different solutions will become apparent in different countries. However, even in Switzerland with it's abundance of sites it is not plain sailing and I took from your first link that they have to deal with the environmental issue and the potential changes hydro systems make to the ecology. Switzerland has a buoyant tourist industry and they need to preserve the natural beauty. There were large loses too in delivering power to Germany. They might have to consider DC connectors.
You are right that we don't have the mountains to justify too much hydro despite the earlier identification of 10,000 sites. I think some of those may be a lot more marginal than was admitted.
Regards
Paul
PS. What I did take from the two articles was that the Europeans may be moving away from nuclear but really the main one was that they have been talking and making plans since 2012! In a way, it is our abundant fuel sources (coal and gas) that are inhibiting the development of research and any degree of open mindness amongst the government in particular.
Yes and it has been one of the backbones of this countries financial security for many years so it is a big step and transition to move away
When you think about the big deal it was bringing in the GST, it will probably be nothing compared to the changes that will need to be made to our current tax/ revenue collection system when fossil fuels are phased out.
The pollies will have plenty to argue about navigating a path through that.
https://www.woodworkforums.com/image...quote_icon.png Originally Posted by Bushmiller https://www.woodworkforums.com/image...post-right.png
I absolutely remember that bottle. Possibly the best red wine I have ever got drunk on.
But not the second one, apparently :D
BTW Brett (see, I am learning all the abbreviations)
I had forgot to mention regarding a small degree of quotational licence going on there that the eagle eyed followers of this thread may have picked up upon. The actual quotation in post # 739 was:
" I absolutely remember that bottle. Possibly the best red wine I have ever drunk."
I know it is only a very small change but it reflects seriously on my sober nature. :rolleyes:
:D
Regards
Paul
Indeed Beardy, but then again so was wool and wheat for Menzies entire Prime Ministership, and that made him incredibly lazy too. Australia could have been right out there as a Space launch site (Woomera is perfect apparently) but Pig Iron Bob couldn't see that wool and wheat would only go so far, because the world changes (and the UK was completely buggered by then due to WWII). The poor old fool wanted to be PM of the UK. :B:doh: He may be revered by Howard, but Menzies has a very great deal to answer for in holding back this country with missed opportunities.
A bit of light hearted entertainment with some serious technology, interesting to see the 4 vids of the build
YouTube
Not a Cybertruck, but the mighty Baojun E100 city car.
A ridiculous price too! - ~$7000
Attachment 469303
Baojun E100 Info, Range, Power, Specs, Wiki | GM Authority
It wont be long until some streeter gets their hands on one of these and turns them into Lightning Rods (Muscle cars converted to EVs, or "sleepers" i.e. boring cars that go like greased lightning).
Zactly, Paul.
It's one thing to look at a topographical map and nominate a potential dam site, but getting the social licence to construct it is another matter.
Even in a dry continent like ours where dams are essential for secure water supply, very few dams have been built over the last decade or so. I think it's only 20 large ones since 2003.
And of those only one has hydro as one of its purposes. You have to go back to 1993 for the last dam to be built purely for hydroelectricity.
See spreadsheet link at bottom of this link on the ANCOLD website.
Paul, I presume you are referring to this publication from the ANU: An atlas of pumped hydro energy storage
It did identify 22,000 potential sites, but it has the following disclaimer upfront.
None of the PHES sites discussed in this study have been the subject of geological, hydrological, environmental and other studies, and it is not known whether any particular site would be suitable.There has been no investigation of land tenure apart from exclusion of national parks and urban areas,and no discussions with land owners and managers.
As they explain, their focus was on "off-river (closed loop) PHES requir[ing] pairs of reservoirs that are generally [only] 10-100 hectares in size, rather like oversized farm dams, located in hilly country away from rivers, urban areas and national parks."
So, small footprint implementations, and less likely to have the same issues as some of the larger dams have run into in the past.
Yes, when I was in Scadinavia last year the situation couldn't be more different to here. Even in the smallest Norwegian town in the remote far north there were rows of Tesla cars lined up recharging for free in the central public car park. They do have a big advantage from their hydro, but they are not sitting on their hands. They are installing wind turbines apace. I asked why they were doing that when they already have more power generation than they need. The answer; we will use the wind power when that is blowing here (it always seems to be blowing on that fjord coastline), save our hydro and then dispatch that into Europe at a premium when the wind isn't blowing there...:2tsup:
The utes are coming too
10 electric utes on the horizon | CarAdvice
If we consider for a moment that renewable sources of power will eventually take over from the fossil fueled stations, although quite likely, particularly in Australia, not fast enough, I don't see that much will change in the home or indeed industry. The electrical plugs will still be the same.
Not so with vehicles and transport in general. The combustion vehicles will be obsolete and with no fuel available. Everybody will be faced with purchasing a new vehicle. Trains can be and already are electric so no problem there. What happens with ships and planes? What will they be burning?
Regards
Paul