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Title: Effect of Heat and Electricity Storage and Reliability on Microgrid Viability:A Study of Commercial Buildings in California and New York States

Abstract

In past work, Berkeley Lab has developed the Distributed Energy Resources Customer Adoption Model (DER-CAM). Given end-use energy details for a facility, a description of its economic environment and a menu of available equipment, DER-CAM finds the optimal investment portfolio and its operating schedule which together minimize the cost of meeting site service, e.g., cooling, heating, requirements. Past studies have considered combined heat and power (CHP) technologies. Methods and software have been developed to solve this problem, finding optimal solutions which take simultaneity into account. This project aims to extend on those prior capabilities in two key dimensions. In this research storage technologies have been added as well as power quality and reliability (PQR) features that provide the ability to value the additional indirect reliability benefit derived from Consortium for Electricity Reliability Technology Solutions (CERTS) Microgrid capability. This project is intended to determine how attractive on-site generation becomes to a medium-sized commercial site if economical storage (both electrical and thermal), CHP opportunities, and PQR benefits are provided in addition to avoiding electricity purchases. On-site electrical storage, generators, and the ability to seamlessly connect and disconnect from utility service would provide the facility with ride-through capability for minor grid disturbances. Threemore » building types in both California and New York are assumed to have a share of their sensitive electrical load separable. Providing enhanced service to this load fraction has an unknown value to the facility, which is estimated analytically. In summary, this project began with 3 major goals: (1) to conduct detailed analysis to find the optimal equipment combination for microgrids at a few promising commercial building hosts in the two favorable markets of California and New York; (2) to extend the analysis capability of DER-CAM to include both heat and electricity storage; and (3) to make an initial effort towards adding consideration of PQR into the capabilities of DER-CAM.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
Environmental Energy Technologies Division
OSTI Identifier:
945361
Report Number(s):
LBNL-1334E
TRN: US200903%%205
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-05CH11231
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32; 29; 25; CALIFORNIA; COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS; DIMENSIONS; DISTURBANCES; ECONOMICS; ELECTRICITY; HEATING; NEW YORK; RELIABILITY; SCHEDULES; STORAGE; VIABILITY

Citation Formats

Stadler, Michael, Marnay, Chris, Siddiqui, Afzal, Lai, Judy, Coffey, Brian, and Aki, Hirohisa. Effect of Heat and Electricity Storage and Reliability on Microgrid Viability:A Study of Commercial Buildings in California and New York States. United States: N. p., 2008. Web. doi:10.2172/945361.
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Stadler, Michael, Marnay, Chris, Siddiqui, Afzal, Lai, Judy, Coffey, Brian, & Aki, Hirohisa. Effect of Heat and Electricity Storage and Reliability on Microgrid Viability:A Study of Commercial Buildings in California and New York States. United States. doi:10.2172/945361.
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Stadler, Michael, Marnay, Chris, Siddiqui, Afzal, Lai, Judy, Coffey, Brian, and Aki, Hirohisa. Mon . "Effect of Heat and Electricity Storage and Reliability on Microgrid Viability:A Study of Commercial Buildings in California and New York States". United States. doi:10.2172/945361. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/945361.
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@article{osti_945361,
title = {Effect of Heat and Electricity Storage and Reliability on Microgrid Viability:A Study of Commercial Buildings in California and New York States},
author = {Stadler, Michael and Marnay, Chris and Siddiqui, Afzal and Lai, Judy and Coffey, Brian and Aki, Hirohisa},
abstractNote = {In past work, Berkeley Lab has developed the Distributed Energy Resources Customer Adoption Model (DER-CAM). Given end-use energy details for a facility, a description of its economic environment and a menu of available equipment, DER-CAM finds the optimal investment portfolio and its operating schedule which together minimize the cost of meeting site service, e.g., cooling, heating, requirements. Past studies have considered combined heat and power (CHP) technologies. Methods and software have been developed to solve this problem, finding optimal solutions which take simultaneity into account. This project aims to extend on those prior capabilities in two key dimensions. In this research storage technologies have been added as well as power quality and reliability (PQR) features that provide the ability to value the additional indirect reliability benefit derived from Consortium for Electricity Reliability Technology Solutions (CERTS) Microgrid capability. This project is intended to determine how attractive on-site generation becomes to a medium-sized commercial site if economical storage (both electrical and thermal), CHP opportunities, and PQR benefits are provided in addition to avoiding electricity purchases. On-site electrical storage, generators, and the ability to seamlessly connect and disconnect from utility service would provide the facility with ride-through capability for minor grid disturbances. Three building types in both California and New York are assumed to have a share of their sensitive electrical load separable. Providing enhanced service to this load fraction has an unknown value to the facility, which is estimated analytically. In summary, this project began with 3 major goals: (1) to conduct detailed analysis to find the optimal equipment combination for microgrids at a few promising commercial building hosts in the two favorable markets of California and New York; (2) to extend the analysis capability of DER-CAM to include both heat and electricity storage; and (3) to make an initial effort towards adding consideration of PQR into the capabilities of DER-CAM.},
doi = {10.2172/945361},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2008},
month = {Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2008}
}
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DOI:  10.2172/945361
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  • ; ; ; ...
    Berkeley Lab has for several years been developing methods for selection of optimal microgrid systems, especially for commercial building applications, and applying these methods in the Distributed Energy Resources Customer Adoption Model (DER-CAM). This project began with 3 major goals: (1) to conduct detailed analysis to find the optimal equipment combination for microgrids at a few promising commercial building hosts in the two favorable markets of California and New York, (2) to extend the analysis capability of DER-CAM to include both heat and electricity storage, and (3) to make an initial effort towards adding consideration of power quality and reliabilitymore » (PQR) to the capabilities of DER-CAM. All of these objectives have been pursued via analysis of the attractiveness of a Consortium for Electric Reliability Technology Solutions (CERTS) Microgrid consisting of multiple nameplate 100 kW Tecogen Premium Power Modules (CM-100). This unit consists of an asynchronous inverter-based variable speed internal combustion engine genset with combined heat and power (CHP) and power surge capability. The essence of CERTS Microgrid technology is that smarts added to the on-board power electronics of any microgrid device enables stable and safe islanded operation without the need for complex fast supervisory controls. This approach allows plug and play development of a microgrid that can potentially provide high PQR with a minimum of specialized site-specific engineering. A notable feature of the CM-100 is its time-limited surge rating of 125 kW, and DER-CAM capability to model this feature was also a necessary model enhancement.« less

  • ; ; ; ...
    The addition of storage technologies such as lead-acid batteries, flow batteries, or heat storage can potentially improve the economic and environmental attractiveness of on-site generation such as PV, fuel cells, reciprocating engines or microturbines (with or without CHP), and can contribute to enhanced demand response. Preliminary analyses for a Californian nursing home indicate that storage technologies respond effectively to time-varying electricity prices, i.e., by charging batteries during periods of low electricity prices and discharging them during peak hours. While economic results do not make a compelling case for storage, they indicate that storage technologies significantly alter the residual load profile,more » which may lower carbon emissions as well as energy costs depending on the test site, its load profile, and DER technology adoption.« less

  • ;
    The commercial sector of the New York Region is compared with the national commercial sector in terms of relative size, growth, and growth of component industries. Ordinary least squares equations were estimated for the region, relating commercial sector electricity consumption to measures of the sector's size (employment and payrolls), productivity, and electricity prices. Cross-section equations were estimated for 1970, using 23 counties in the region. Time-series equations were estimated for the 1959-72 period. Projections of commercial sector electricity consumption were calculated for 1985 (using estimated equations) under three assumptions about the 1970-85 trend in real electricity prices. Even the highestmore » consumption projection shows a marked slowing in electricity consumption growth compared with the past.« less

  • Electric thermal storage (ETS) systems were installed in three commercial/industrial buildings in New York State to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of using ETS to shift the electric heating loads of these buildings to off-peak periods. The project was funded by the New York Power Authority, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and the Empire State Electric Energy Research Corporation. The ETS systems were developed, installed, operated, monitored and analyzed by Demand Shift Technologies, Inc. The crushed-rock, radiantly heated ETS systems were installed and operated (during the 1990--91 heating season) in two municipal garages with forced-airmore » heating systems (70 and 130 kW heating loads) and one elementary school with a hydronic heating system (800 kW heating load). Each system' s performance during the 17-week monitoring period and projected annual energy use are presented. The economic benefits of ETS to each building owner and utility are evaluated for various electric rate structures and benefit-sharing strategies. Recommendations are made regarding future ETS unit design and operation and methods to encourage the installation of ETS by building owners.« less

  • Electric thermal storage (ETS) systems were installed in three commercial/industrial buildings in New York State to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of using ETS to shift the electric heating loads of these buildings to off-peak periods. The project was funded by the New York Power Authority, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and the Empire State Electric Energy Research Corporation. The ETS systems were developed, installed, operated, monitored and analyzed by Demand Shift Technologies, Inc. The crushed-rock, radiantly heated ETS systems were installed and operated (during the 1990--91 heating season) in two municipal garages with forced-airmore » heating systems (70 and 130 kW heating loads) and one elementary school with a hydronic heating system (800 kW heating load). Each system` s performance during the 17-week monitoring period and projected annual energy use are presented. The economic benefits of ETS to each building owner and utility are evaluated for various electric rate structures and benefit-sharing strategies. Recommendations are made regarding future ETS unit design and operation and methods to encourage the installation of ETS by building owners.« less