20 June 2016: DNV GL is seeking comment and input from stakeholders in the energy storage industry on an update to its GRIDSTOR guidelines for grid-connected storage systems.
The recommended practice document was issued at the beginning of this year and is aimed at developing a “common language” for discussing technical and safety standards. With the International Electrotechnical Commission’s technical committee (IEC TC120) not due to publish binding international standardisation documents until late 2017 or 2018, DNV GL published GRIDSTOR as an interim measure.
The international accreditation and certification body has made the document available free of charge. It includes an overview of storage technologies in their interaction with grids and renewable energy markets, with an emphasis on the most commonly used battery technologies.
DNV GL has invited stakeholders to participate in the so-called Joint Industry Project to update the document by the end of this year, to develop updates “in line with the most important developments in the sector”, the certification group said.
Among topics already suggested for possible inclusion in the update are a broader range of storage technologies, cyber security and communications protocols for energy management and battery management systems (EMS and BMS) and templates for standardising contracts for storage project development and system implementation.
The report’s authors told Energy-Storage.News at the time of GRIDSTOR’s publication that in addition to improving safety and technical understanding of storage systems, it was also designed to foster greater understanding of the technology among diverse stakeholders and reduce risk for investors.
DNV GL's GRIDSTOR can be downloaded free of charge and can be found here along with more details on the invitation to join the project.
This story by Andy Colthorpe.
India considers 'National Storage Mission'
Secretary of India's ministry of New and Renewable Energy Upendra Tripathy. Twitter: Upendra Tripathy
17 June 2016: India is considering a National Storage Mission to complement its highly successful National Solar Mission (NSM), according to comments from Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) secretary Upendra Tripathy.
The comments were reported by local newspaper Economic Times, with Tripathy announcing a second phase of India’s Solar Parks policy, which seeks to have the government acquire vast sections of land whilst sorting out transmission and off-taker issues for PV developers. Each park is equal to or above 500MW in capacity.
However, the second phase, which targets land areas enough to hold 40GW of solar capacity in 20 states, will mandate solar developers to setup energy storage systems to complement the solar PV. Tripathy said this would involve 200-300MW of storage.
A pilot storage project is under development in a solar park in Andhra Pradesh where storage is to be included in a major solar tender for the first time ever in India.
Tripathy also said: "We are also thinking of launching a National Storage Mission."
Juwi and KPS partner on hybrid systems for mines
The Degrussa copper mine with a solar hybrid system installed. Credit: Juwi (this and cover image).
17 June 2016: German renewables firm juwi Australia and KPS, a subsidiary of Pacific Energy, are partnering on hybrid systems using solar, battery energy storage and diesel or gas generation for remote mines in Australia.
The strategic alliance will focus on remote projects aiming to integrate solar into their energy mix, with Juwi focusing on solar and KPS on thermal power. The mines will not need to provide capital outlay for the systems provided.
Pacific Energy managing director, James Cullen said: “The partnership with juwi provides us with immediate solar and battery storage capabilities for existing and new customers seeking renewable power solutions. The experience and expertise of juwi leap-frogs us ahead in terms of delivering utility-scale solar capability to the market.
“Importantly, we have developed the knowhow behind successfully integrating and operating the hybrid system in the challenging and changing conditions encountered in mine site operations."
The two frims have already worked together on the Degrussa copper and gold mine project, pairing 10.6MW of PV to 6MW of energy storage as well as existing diesel generator sets.
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