INTRODUCTION

Azores is a group of 9 islands

ISLAND CHALLENGES
EDA EXPERIENCE USING
FLYWHEELS TO MAXIMISE THE
PENETRATION OF RENEWABLE
ENERGY
5 June2012
Malta

EDA runs 9 independent

Power Systems in the Islands
Power Production in EDA:

9 Diesel facilities (LFO and HFO)

12 Hydros (80 to 1600 kW)
8 Wind Parks
2 Geothermal Power Plants

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

EDA have 110 years of experience in small and isolated

electric systems and use of renewable energy
From 1900 to 1950, So Miguel Island
was only supplied with hydroelectric
energy (the biggest Azorean Island, with
53% of total demand)

First electric power plant (Hydro) - 1899

First geothermal power plant - 1980

First wind farm - 1988

Wave energy power plant - 1999

To satisfy the increase in consumption,

the first diesel generator was installed at
the Hydro Plant of Faj Redonda, which
became the first mixed power plant of the
Azores

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

In recent years EDA has invested continuously in

renewables to use the endogenous resources of Azores
(hydro, wind and geothermal)

In 2011 EDA managed to reach 30% total in renewable

energy
Hydro
Diesel
8,5%

This has brought about a reduction in the use of fossil

fuels and in CO2 emissions

3,9%
Geothermal
22,1%

Wind
3,9%

HFO
61,5%

INTRODUCTION
So Miguel Island: 48%
Geotherma
l
41,7%

Flores Island: 49,7%

Instability due to a large penetration of renewables on small,

weak networks (mainly caused by wind energy)

Hydro
36,3%
Wind
13,5%

Wind
0,1%

Hydro
6,1%

DIFFICULTIES

Biogas
0,1%
HFO
52,1%

Diesel
50,3%

MAIN OBJECTIVE

OBJECTIVES

In 2004 EDA launched a project to maximize the energy

production from renewables on Graciosa and Flores islands

Increase wind energy production (EDA installed

excess wind power in some power systems)
Improve the efficiency of the Diesel engines (smaller
spinning reserve vs. load > 40%)
Increase the grid stability

GRACIOSA ISLAND
The Graciosa island energy production is based on:
Wind (2x300 kW + 2x100 kW)
Diesel generators (3x600 kW + 3x810 kW)
Peak power around 2,2 MW

FLORES ISLAND
The Flores island energy production at the time was based on:

Hydro (3x250 kW + 600 kW)

Wind (2x300 kW)
Diesel generators (3x500 kW + 810 kW)
Peak power around 2 MW

EXISTING SOLUTION
Dynamic energy accumulation (flywheels)
Kinetic energy storage systems

EXISTING SOLUTION
Main advantages:
High charge and discharge cycles, with variable time
intervals between them, compared to other energy storage
systems
Brings about a decrease in the instability in the grid induced
by wind energy production
Allows the penetration of renewables to increase maintaining
the quality supply on the grid (EN 50160)

EDA PROJECT
EDA Launched a Public tender in September, 2004

TECHNICAL DATA
This equipment used combines a low-speed flywheel (1800-3300 rpm)
with power electronic converters to provide a high-performance energy
storage device

Contract was agreed with an Australian company

This project was co-financed by the European Union

TECHNICAL DATA

ASSEMBLING

The equipment is able to take or provide 500 kW for a maximum

period of approximately 30 seconds (16,5MJ), with a ramp-up time of
approximately 4 ms to change from 0 to +/-500 kW

The system was installed on a 20 feet container, and

assembled in Darwin, Australia

ASSEMBLING

REAL RESULTS

We installed a control system to allow an easy

integration with the rest of the equipments.

Wind station tripped with 450 kW, causing a frequency

drop of only 0,8Hz

This system is able to always know which engines are

online, their power status, and controls them and the
flywheel to maintain the grid stability.
Industrial service :
Flores: September 2005
Graciosa: March 2006
On the past, similar events would cause a frequency drop of 2,0 Hz

10

3:45:49 AM

3:45:47 AM

3:45:46 AM

Power [kW]
1600

3:45:45 AM

3:45:43 AM

3:45:42 AM

3:45:40 AM

3:45:39 AM

3:45:38 AM

3:45:36 AM

3:45:35 AM

3:45:33 AM

3:45:32 AM

3:45:30 AM

3:45:29 AM

3:45:28 AM

3:45:26 AM

3:45:25 AM

3:45:23 AM

3:45:22 AM

3:45:21 AM

3:45:19 AM

3:45:18 AM

3:45:16 AM

3:45:15 AM

3:45:13 AM

REAL RESULTS

Distribution line fault (Fault Ride Through)

REAL RESULTS

Comparison results (frequency)

2000

1800

Station Power During Fault

1400

1200
Power

1000

800

600

400

200

Time [hour:min:s] - 40 second window

11

REAL RESULTS

RESULTS

Flores load diagram (24th of December, 2010) :

Reverse side of the coin - Systems Efficiency

33,4% of Wind
12,1% of Diesel
14 hours straight without Diesel
54,5% of Hydro

The most exciting and challenging goal of the project!

EDA experienced around 142,9 MWh / 365 days / 24 hours = 16,23 kW

12

RESULTS

Wind production increase

(Average)
Liquid result
(Average)
Diesel reduction
CO2 emissions reduction

CONCLUSIONS

Graciosa (*)

Flores

(per year)

(per year)

164 MWh

134 MWh

28,1 MWh

28,5 MWh

7.450 Liters

7.560 Liters

19,8 Ton.

20,1 Ton.

EDA is focused on reaching the goal of maximizing the

renewable energy production
EDA is conducting technical and economical studies to
use this solution, and others, on a larger scale, in order
to achieve that goal, always maintaining the grid stability
and the quality of the supply

(*) Estimated results, because of the failure on the older wind turbines

13

CONCLUSIONS

CONCLUSIONS

Some of the work in progress:

Reversible Hydro Plant in So Miguel

Younicos Project for Graciosa Island (NaS batteries)
Use of Flywheels for several islands
Project Renewable Corvo
Following of the evolution of hybrid plug-in vehicles
and 100% electric vehicles

The know-how that EDA is trying to

obtain will provide sustainable energy
sources for the future

14

THANKS FOR YOUR

ATTENTION

15