MAXIMIZE THE TIME OF WIND

TURBINE POWER PRODUCTION

SEMESTER 1 2019/2020
MECH 3100/ ECIE 3100/ ECOM 3100

GROUP N0: 22
MEMBERS NAME AND MATRIC NO:

1. KHAIRUNNISA BINTI SUHAIMI 1711962

2. NUR FIRZANAH IWANI BINTI IBRAHIM 1716682

3. NUR KAMALIAA BINTI EMRAN 1717682

4. MOHAMAD HAMIZAN BIN SAIFUL ‘ADLI 1719613

5. MOHAMMAD HAZIQ BIN NORIZAM 1621083

Table of contents

Abstract

1. Introduction/ Background

2. Problem Statement

3. Solution
3.1 Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES)
3.2 Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES)
3.3 Pumped Hydro Energy System (PHES)
3.4 Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS)

4. Conclusion

5. References
ABSTRACT
The aim of this white paper is to identify the methods for wind turbine to be having less
energy loss or to be wasted. It sheds light on how to classify the most efficient solution
for wind turbine energy farm. With wind intermittent as the main factor for wind turbine
to function well, the white paper introducing various methods of solution. Defining all
four methods which are Compressed Air Energy Storage, Liquid Air Energy Storage,
Flywheel Energy Storage System and Pump Hydro Energy Storage System. Comparing
each for the round trip efficiency, energy density and the power capacity. Also,
discussing pros and cons upon using the systems. It turns out that Pump Hydro Energy
Storage is the best storage system to be used to maximize the time for power production.

1.0 BACKGROUND / INTRODUCTION

Google has a goal in purchasing 100% renewable energy and move towards a carbon-
free energy for their own data centres. Their first step in moving towards that goal was
begin in 2010, which they signed their first Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to
purchase all the electricity from a 114-megawatt wind farm in Iowa, US for 20 years.
Briefly, Power Purchase Agreement is a contract to purchase electricity power over a
period of time from a particular power producer at a negotiated price (Google’s Green
PPAs, 2013). The electricity is needed to be consumed continuously to deliver most
services of Google; Google search results, YouTube video plays, Gmail and much more
without interruption. For instance, Google estimates that average energy consumption
for a typical google search requires as much energy as illuminating a 60 watt light bulb
for 17 seconds which can emit 0.2 grams of carbon dioxide (Pearce, 2018).Yet, it will
consume larger energy since people always conduct over a billion searches a day.
Furthermore, during 2011, Google has announced that its data centres around the world
continuously consume almost 260 million watts which is about a quarter of the output
of a nuclear power plant (Glanz, 2011). This gives a huge emphasis on importance to
use carbon-free energy such as wind energy to match the electricity needed for all
Google data centres at all times.

In the Google Data Centre of Iowa US, 74% carbon-free energy was matched
on an hourly basis in electricity consumption (Moving toward 24x7 Carbon Free
Energy at Google Data Centres, 2018). Due to wind intermittency problems, in which
the wind hardly blows, the wind farm did not produce enough energy to match the data
 centre load. Thus, the carbon-based energy had to be used to match the load. However
during the high wind period, wind farms can produce nearly three times as much power
as the data centre requires. Providing 100% of carbon-free energy for data centre but
the remaining energy is wasted.

The white paper proposes in solving the efficiency of harnessing carbon-free

energy caused by wind intermittency problems. Ensuring for Google to reach the goal
of 100% carbon-free energy consumption at all time in data centres. There are factors
affecting the amount of energy for a turbine to harness wind energy which are wind
speed, density of air and swept area of wind turbine. The small changes in wind speed
can have a large impact on the amount of power available in the wind. As for the density
of air, the denser the air the more energy received by the turbine. Also, the larger the
swept area of the turbine rotor spins, more power can be harnessed from the wind (Wind
Energy Basics, 2018).

2.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Wind power is highly intermittent because the electrical output depends on many
factors; such as wind speed, air density and turbine characteristics. Therefore, the
electrical output may not be able to be used at any given of time to meet society’s
fluctuating electricity demands. Google has become the world’s largest corporate buyer
for renewable energy. Each Google facility is connected to its regional power grid just
like any other electricity consumer; the power mix in each region usually includes some
carbon-free resources (e.g. wind, solar, hydro, nuclear), but also carbon-based resources
like coal, natural gas, and oil. To address the use of carbon-free energy, Google buys a
surplus of renewable energy in regions or hours when wind power is abundant. On a
global and annual basis, their purchases of wind energy zero out the entire carbon
footprint of their electricity use. Yet, this is an imperfect solution. Google wants to build
a future where each facility is always matched with carbon-free power. This white paper
aims to minimize the idle time of wind turbine power production caused by the wind
intermittency.
3.0 SOLUTION

3.1 Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES)

Compressed air energy storage is based on pumping air to a reservoir using an
electrical source. This is done when there is a low need for energy later was used
when there is a greater demand for energy. Compressed Air Energy Storage has
a round trip efficiency within the range of 65% to 75% which is quite good for
wind turbine efficiency. Round trip is the ratio of energy that were put in to the
energy are retrieved from storage. Indicating most of the energy stored can be
retrieved back with lower energy losses. The amount of energy stored in a given
system or region of space per unit volume or called energy density of CAES is
within 2kWh/m3 to 6kWh/m3. Next, the capacity for compressed air energy
storage to store the energy are lesser than 250 MWh. Compressed Air Energy
Storage has a low cost of installation. Considering the using of nature cavern as
the storage for the compressed air, installing the system does not require a high
cost demand. For power to be produced and supplied with a less delayed of time
or in short amount of time, CAES has a fast start-up time. This will make sure
the energy demand from the data centre to be fulfilled. However, Compressed
Air Energy Storage depends on the geological structure. Thus, the installation
of the system is limited to a higher and big area of a place due to the using of
nature cavern as a storage. A problem like increasing in the cost of installation
might be happening.

3.2 Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES)

Liquid Air Energy Storage is a cryogenic energy storage that consists of three
parts which are charging, storing and discharging the energy. When there is
excess energy available, LAES is used to liquefy air. When charging, Off Peak
or excess electricity is used to power an air qualifier to produce liquid air. Then,
the liquid air is stored in a tanks at low pressure. To recover the power lose, the
liquid air is pumped to high pressure. After that the high pressure gas drives a
turbine to generate electricity. Liquid Air Energy Storage has a round trip
efficiency within the range of 21.6% to 56.9%. In which, the range is
substandard for the company. Throughout the process of extracting and storing
the energy, the system also losing more energy and it will effect for the company
 as well. The energy density for Liquid Air Energy Storage can reach to
107kWh/m3 which is the highest energy density between four types of storage
system. The storage system can store for 300 MWh of power. LAES has low
cost of maintenance due to the technologically mature, long-lasting and mass-
produced of components are being used. The energy density of LAES is higher
than CAES. The installation of the system does not requires a big place like
CAES. It can be installed without geography constraint.

3.3 Pumped Hydro Energy System (PHES)

Pumped hydro energy storage systems are connected to a hydroelectric system.
When the demand of energy is low, a pump uses energy to pump water uphill in
a reservoir. Later when the demand is higher again, water is released and drives
a generator that can produce electricity. The round trip efficiency of the system
is within the range of 70% to 85%. Showing that less energy has been wasted
throughout extracting and storing the energy or power in the system. The energy
density for PHES is only 0.28 kWh/m3. Meanwhile, the capacity to store the
power is divided into two categories which are for small storage system or the
big one. As for the small PHES, the storage can store up to 5000MWh and for
the large PHES, it can save up to 140000 MWh. The high efficiency make it
become more favourable as the objective of the white paper is to maximize the
time of wind energy power production. Next, PHES also provides firming
capacity and reserves. Thus, the energy can be maintained efficiently at a
committed level for a period of time. Pump Hydro Energy Storage can respond
very quickly to the frequency deviations. However, the installation of the system
need for geological structure approval as the system relies on the potential
energy from the water tank at the higher ground to make output energy and it
has a high capital cost.
 3.4 Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS)
Flywheel Energy Storage System has the highest round trip efficiency of 85%.
Thus, makes FESS is the highest efficiency comparing to the other three system.
This indicates that the system can be stored and supplied most of the energy
without it going to be wasted. If the system is completely vacuumed and made
with frictionless, the efficiency can reach to the maximum. The power density
for FESS is only 115Wh/kg. However the capacity of Flywheel Energy Storage
System is within 3kWh to 133kWh. Flywheel Energy Storage System are able
to respond to grid signals instantly. FESS can deliver a large amount of energy
in a short period of time. Thus, FESS is the best fit for grid support and backup
supply ride-through support during grid outages. FESS also has a low cost of
maintenance due to the components that are being used is a long-life element.
However, the installation cost for FESS is expensive as the components used
has a critical design aspects for a long-term energy storage applications.

4.0 CONCLUSION
Pump Hydro Energy Storage System; PHES is the most fitted storage system to be
installed. Since the round trip efficiency of PHES is within the range of 70% to 85%.
Showing that the energy loss upon using PHES is not in a critical range. Thus, the aim
for maximizing the time of wind energy power production is achieved. Other than that,
PHES are able for two types of storage system which makes it more efficient since the
power production is not limited to the high range of storage. Thus, the small PHES can
be used for energy storage up to 5000MWh and the large PHES can be used up to
140000MWh.
5.0 REFERENCES

1. N.a, October 2018, Moving toward 24x7 Carbon Free Energy at Google Data Centres:
Progress and Insights. Retrieved from https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-
sustainability.appspot.com/pdf/24x7-carbon-free-energy-data-centres.pdf
2. Jordan Hanania, 29th August 2017, Intermittent Electricity. Retrieved from
https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Intermittent_electricity
3. N.a, 17th September 2013, Google’s Green PPAs: What, How, and Why: What Google
actually does. Retrieved from https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-
sustainability.appspot.com/pdf/renewable-energy.pdf
4. Fred Pearce, 3rd April 2018, Energy Hogs: Can World’s Huge Data Centres Be Made
More Efficient? Retrieved from https://e360.yale.edu/features/energy-hogs-can-huge-
data-centres-be-made-more-efficient
5. James Glanz, 8th September 2011, the New York’s Times: Google Details, and
Defends, Its Use of Electricity. Retrieved from
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/technology/google-details-and-defends-its-use-
of-electricity.html
6. N.a, October 2018, Moving toward 24x7 Carbon Free Energy at Google Data Centres:
Examples of Google’s Progress Toward 24x7 Carbon-Free Energy: Iowa. Retrieved
from https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-sustainability.appspot.com/pdf/24x7-
carbon-free-energy-data-centres.pdf
7. N.a, 20th November 2018, Wind Energy: Wind Energy Basics. Retrieved from
https://openei.org/wiki/Wind_energy
8. Tomas H, Martin T, Evaluation of Liquid Air as Energy Storage Alternative. Retrieved
at 20 December 2019 from
http://kth.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1216213/FULLTEXT01.pdf