Friday 1/2/2008 Page: 18
Energy solutions company, CBD Energy Limited (CBD), is ready to commercialise its energy storage system following successful completion of internal trials.
The system has exceeded expectations in internal trials, producing superheated steam of sufficient quality to verify its design concept and drive a steam turbine/ generator. The first application of this technology will be in CBD's joint venture with Hydro Tasmania on King Island. Installation on King Island of six storage modules, in conjunction with additional wind turbines and a control system, will enable King Island to be powered mainly by renewable energy, replacing annual diesel use of approximately 1.25 ML.
Successful completion of the internal trials is a breakthrough since lack of economical and long lasting energy storage has been a barrier for the wider use of renewable energy world wide. According to CBD executive chairman, Mr Gerry McGowan, installation of a workable energy storage system will attract global interest as its application has far reaching consequences for both grid connected power systems and remote area power systems. "By enabling a bigger take up of renewable energy, energy storage will also enable substantial progress towards reductions in greenhouse gases," Mr McGowan said.
CBD's energy storage system has the following features:
- each unit contains 19 tonnes of graphite blocks in the size of a standard transport container;
- each block has 420 kW of silicon carbide
- heating elements and heating of the block with electricity enables it to reach temperatures of 800°C and above, with heat energy then released in various forms depending on the required application.
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