A commercial thermal energy storage technology for CHP and heat-only applications in industries: market research analysis and tecno-economic assessment.

Abstract

With the rise of electricity generated from renewable energy, there is arising demand for cost-competitive energy storage solutions. Considering the intermittence and the non-dispatchability of renewable energy sources, storage systems play a critical role in accumulating the excess of production and ensuring flexibility and reliability. In this context, thermal energy storage systems have been attracting interest because of their innovative technology and technical specifications that offer a valid alternative to the more mature electrochemical solutions. Moreover, one of the peculiarities of some thermal energy storage systems is that they can work in CHP (combined-heat-and-power) mode, offering two different services, like electricity and heat, at the same time. This report aims to evaluate the integration of a commercial thermal energy battery, patented under the name TES.POD® by Azelio company, working in CHP mode into selected business sectors. If the CHP application is not feasible, the heat-only working mode option is evaluated. This study investigates 10 industrial sectors of potential interest,using a methodology based on three pillars: energy assessment, market analysis, and techno-economic simulation. Firstly, the possible integration is assessed from a technological perspective, to evaluate in which part of the industrial process the CHP system can be deployed. Secondly,the market is analyzed to estimate the potential of targeting the sector from a business-strategy point of view. Finally,a techno-economic simulation is implemented to weigh the performance of the integration within the broader industrial energy system. The evaluations are carried out accounting for a PV system as a charging technology and a comparison with Li-ion and flow batteries is presented, when feasible for the case assessed. Furthermore,a continual dualism with the state-of-the-art technologies, taken as benchmarks, is carried on in all the evaluations. The global results indicate that 6 of the sectors analyzed are of interest for the CHP application, 3 are of interest for the heat-only mode and 1 is not of interest. Focusing on the CHP application, which is the core of the research, the results highlight the benefits, both from a market and an economic perspective, of recuperating and deliver the heat, instead of working in electricity-only mode. In several cases, it is needed to pay a GP (green premium) to implement the PV + TES.POD® system; however, the heat recuperation helps to significantly lower the GP, even if a higher initial investment is required. Finally, to support and strengthen the global results and lay out general considerations, an additional analysis of risk, a marketability indication, a sensitivity analysis,and a comparison with state-of-the-art alternatives are presented

Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::7 - Energia Assequible i No Contaminant::7.3 - Per a 2030, duplicar la taxa mundial de millora de l’eficiència energètica

Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i Infraestructura::9.4 - Per a 2030, modernitzar les infraestructures i reconvertir les indústries perquè siguin sostenibles, usant els recursos amb més eficàcia i promovent l’adopció de tecnologies i processos industrials nets i racionals ambiental­ment, i aconseguint que tots els països adoptin mesures d’acord amb les capacitats respectives