Industrial processes are usually not designed for volatility. In order to attain stability, heating of endothermal- or cooling of exothermal processes must continue round the clock – adding major cost and resource burdens to power plants. But all too often batch processes or interruptions lead to imbalances between supply and demand requiring back-up boilers to start or steam to be dumped. Our steam to steam storage syste, fills exactly this gap by storing, time-shifting and balancing high- or medium pressure steam to make it available on demand: achieving true balance needed for greener industrial processes.
In recent years, the volatile feed-in of renewable energy sources has sent electricity prices into daily rollercoasters, requiring combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT) to move from baseload to two or even three cycles a day. This stop-start approach means precious steam is being dumped and wasted – but a new solution is here.
Storing steam and turning it to power captures, stores and recycles excess steam, allowing it to be re-used for auxiliary processes as needed
In recent years, the volatile feed-in of renewable energy sources has sent electricity prices into daily rollercoasters and anchilliary service compensation in the sky. Due to inflexible boilers, industrial steam delivery contracts and/or disposal requirements, existing biomass, waste-to-energy plants often can not benefit from this but instead are forced to accept losses in these hours and dump electricity in the grid when it is not needed.
Storing steam and turning it to power offers an antidote, bringing a new dimension to must-run electricity generation. By unlocking the flexibility to time shift power production from low to high, additional revenues are generated
All over Europe, large-scale photovoltaic (PV) projects and wind farms are being developed, with expansion targets more than doubling countries’ peak demands. At the same time, industrial manufacturers are desperately seeking ways to decarbonize their process steam, yet heat pumps don’t work for temperatures >200°, geothermal energy is rarely available, and the availability of sustainable biomass/biogas is very limited.
Turning power to steam on manufacturing or utility level with thermal energy storage is the missing link by storing excess electricity and making it available on demand for steam production. This reduces plant operating costs, creates new revenue streams and enables 24/7 renewable energy supply, all as part of an integrated waste to energy solution.
The sun has incredible power. Especially south of the 45th latitude, Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) power using parabolic through-systems will be among the cheapest technologies to produce carbon-free industrial process heat.
But without storage, customers are left with a cold dark night ahead. Turning solar thermal to steam is the technology of choice to best utilize CST assets, recycling excess energy for steam production – enabling true decarbonization.
We are always excited to create, design and engineer new solutions completely out of the box together with our customers to meet their requirements. As long as there is heat, steam or electricity without its place, we will store it until needed for 24/7 green energy supply. Get in touch with us to design your custom thermal storage solution for your individual production needs.
Are you interested in ENERGYNEST, or have any questions regarding your green energy or our applications?
Don’t hesitate to drop us a line.
The production unit of Avery Dennison in Belgium is shifting their heat production from natural gas (NG) to Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST).