uLISS.EMR: hybrid storage for smoothing high frequency fluctuations
In operation
This project is led by Entech
The energy transition involves a major rework of the electricity grids which will become “smart-grids”. To allow for the massive integration of renewable energies, for the most part being intermittent, one must anticipate and correct the intermittency so as not to destabilise the grid.
The problem of high frequency fluctuations is not currently addressed while very critical, in particular for small-size grids (non-interconnected zones in France but especially the tens of thousands of islands and isolated zones throughout the world). Among other renewable power sources, tidal power generation is impacted by this problem, whichmust be mastered for the large-scale deployment of this technology.
The uLISS.EMR collaborative project units the skills of four Breton partners (Entech SE, Sabelle, Blue Solutions and the Institut de Recherche de l’École navale (IRENav)) in order to develop a tidal power generation smoothing solution using innovative energy storage technology.
Project goals
Characterising the perturbations to eliminate
Designing a smoothing architecture and a dedicated control strategy, based on supercapacitor technology in order to smooth out the rapid power fluctuations (0.1-1Hz)
Providing a level of performance and added reliability at competitive costs
producing a prototype of several tens of kilowatts, dedicated to tidal power generation including a turbine/generator emulator and storage systems
Assessing the feasibility of integrating such a smoothing system into a high-power tidal turbine
Validating and testing the solutions retained
The outcome of the project will be the construction of a uLISS.EMR prototype adaptable to a tidal power generator of the Sabella D10 type with an output power of 1MW.
Adaptable to a Sabella D10 type tidal turbine
The challenges
The energy challenges come from the overlap of different economic sectors of Brittany and the following Domaines d’Innovation Stratégiques (DIS) [Strategic Innovation Areas]:
- Maritime activities for blue growth
- Technologies for the digital society
- The observation and ecological and energy engineering in the service of the environment
State of the art technologies for industrial applications
Outcomes of the project
The uLISS.EMR project will provide a real anchor in the region for technological expertise and know-how in the areas of tidal power generation, energy storage and energy smoothing. A model easily duplicated internationally and transposable to other sectors, in particular the whole of the renewable energy sector. The developments from this project will have direct commercial outcomes for all industrial partners in the project, allowing them to widen their respective commercial offers.
Budget
Total budget: 905 K€
FEDER grants + Quimper Bretagne Occidentale + Brittany Region: 219 K€
Project co-financed by the European Union, the Brittany Region, the department of Finistère and Quimper Bretagne Occidentale.
Project labelled by Pôle Mer Bretagne and Images et Réseaux with the support of the Quimper Technopole.
The project has been led by Entech smart energies, Sabella, Blue Solutions and the Institut de Recherche de l’École navale - IRENAV