The problem and our solution

Coal Fired and Natural Gas

Changing energy use patterns, aging power grid components, and increasing electrical load due to advances in technology are a few reasons existing power distribution networks are experiencing an increasing burden. With the rapid growth of renewable energy production, strained electrical grids have become increasingly volatile and unsustainable. 

Our team researched and designed a Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to provide a cost-effective and modular solution to complement existing infrastructure. Using our innovative design, the need to upgrade current power distribution networks can be circumvented. Our project provides documentation consisting of complete drawings detailing the facility design, a feasibility study to prove the validity of the system, a bill of materials, a statistical analysis of overload support, a 3D CAD model, and an economic breakdown of the facility. 

A complete Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study was used in the creation of business cases on the implementation of this facility for power distributors within Alberta.

A BESS facility can complement any type of grid

Large Scale Solar
If you didn’t know, solar energy doesn’t work at night (crazy right?). Pairing a BESS facility with solar energy allows for more reliable and consistent net-zero energy production. During the day the BESS facility charges and as the sun sets, the BESS begins to discharge for use throughout the grid.

Large Scale Wind
Wind energy suffers from intermittency, which is a disruption caused by the inconsistency of the wind itself. The BESS facility would be used to reduce the unpredictability of wind energy. The BESS would store the energy produced when the wind is blowing for usage when the wind dies down.

Large Scale Hydro
While hydro energy is considered one of the most reliable and consistent energy sources, there are still ways a BESS facility could be implemented. A BESS facility could provide essential backup energy to the station services during outage events as well as maintaining reliability in times of drought.

Grid-scale batteries are a relatively new concept in the Canadian electrical sector, however, with the ongoing transition to net-zero electrical grids there is an increasing demand for sustainable energy storage.

Traditional methods for combating intermittent demand on the power grid include firing up peaker plants, which are short run-time fossil fuel generation facilities. Our facility essentially replaces the need for peaker plants in electrical grids. As energy demand ramps up, the BESS facility can discharge almost instantaneously to provide additional load support. Compared to peaker plants, which are notoriously inefficient at low heat rates, the BESS facility provides a fast and efficient solution for variable energy demands.

An additional factor driving the need for energy storage is the increasing penetration of renewable energy generation in the market. As renewable energy production grows, the applicability of the BESS facilities grows as well.  

Residential Solar

Combatting grid overloads is a key area which sets the BESS apart from its peers. Traditionally, to prevent overloads, utilities will perform load transfers to ensure critical areas are not left without power. This would include adding temporary feeder ties or temporary generators in the short term. The long term solution would be to construct new feeders or reorganize loads – a costly and time consuming task. The BESS facility provides overload support while maintaining flexibility and adaptability to the grid. On top of these features, the quick setup and installation time ensures no one goes without power for extended periods of time.

A comprehensive, to-scale 3D representation of the BESS facility and all relevant components was created in Autodesk Fusion 360. This model serves the purpose of design validation by ensuring component sizing, facility layout, and transportation requirements. The total facility dimensions were derived from the model, yielding size requirements for different battery aggregation configurations. The inferences made from the 3D model were used to make important design considerations, such as the deployment location of the facility. In addition to all this, the 3D CAD model provides a tangible aspect, bringing a concept one step closer to a reality.

A feasibility study was conducted that looked at the BESS’s ability to perform as required, and to do so safely. The study was completed using an overloaded distribution line, or feeder, in the community of Auburn Bay, Calgary. All information regarding this application was provided by ENMAX.

The Power System was modeled in ETAP, an electrical modeling and simulation software program. Power Flow studies were completed to demonstrate the BESS’s ability to handle an overload. Additionally, Short Circuit Tests were performed to determine protective ratings for electrical equipment, and for protective device coordination.

Implementation of the BESS facility would be used to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions for existing grid infrastructure. The largest amount of GHG emitted occurs during the initial manufacturing phase of the Tesla Megapacks but it must be noted that future improvements in the space will greatly reduce emissions. Battery manufacturing includes the mining, refining, and processing of materials, such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and aluminum. Tesla Megapack batteries from the Gigafactory in Nevada are estimated to emit around 60 kg of CO₂-eq/kWh.

The BESS facility also pairs very well with net-zero generation sources. It has the ability to smooth out renewable generation while maintaining a low carbon footprint. Overall, a BESS facility can lead to GHG emission savings of at least 20% paired with a photovoltaic (PV) system. Adding a BESS facility to your grid is a great way to encourage and promote renewable energy sources in your power mix.

To determine the economics of the project, we first collected all the total capital expenditures for the project. This included the material cost and the labor cost of manufacturing, building and installing the facility. The largest portion of this cost was, of course, the Tesla Megapack batteries. Next we needed the estimated operation expenditures or the OPEX costs. This includes the maintenance cost of the batteries as per the Tesla website, the maintenance of the electrical equipment, and an overhead cost. Some costs that we made note of but did not include as this is an unknown variable dependent on a site to site basis is the potential for site prep such as civil works and interconnection costs, or the cost to relocate the facility. 

Modern electrical grids are plagued by the combined variable demand of millions of consumers every day. Electricity has become ubiquitous in our society and consumers expect reliable service to consistently power their lights, TVs, air conditioning, or computers when they wake up in the morning, or get home in the evening. This demand volatility is difficult to predict and sometimes there is not enough energy to go around. The BESS facility can eliminate this issue by providing reliable energy to the grid to get through times of high demand. The system does not add any additional load to the grid, instead it draws at times of low energy demand.

The BESS facility can regulate the grid for safety and efficiency; it will maintain power draw within operating limits, preventing overloading and outages to keep the lights on for all.

Enfinite

Jason White – P.Eng.
COO – Enfinite 

Amin Kassam – P.Eng. 
Facilities Engineer – Enfinite

Azim Vira
Technical Consultant

University of Calgary – Schulich School of Engineering

Seyed Pouyan (Yani) Jazayeri – Academic Advisor
Senior Instructor – Department of Electrical and Software Engineering

Hamidreza Zareipour – Course Coordinator
Professor – Department of Electrical and Software Engineering

Udoka Nwaneto – Technical Advisor
Graduate Teaching Assistant – Department of Electrical and Software Engineering

Enmax Power Corporation

Freddy Gatta
Distribution System Development Engineer – Enmax Power Corporation

Suleman Osman – P.Eng., PMP
Distribution System Development Engineer – Enmax Power Corporation

The City of Medicine Hat

Mustafa N Hassan – P.Eng., PMP
Engineering Superintendent – Medicine Hat Power & Water

Sabre Instrument Services Ltd.

Trevor Vaughan

Trevor McInnis

Jacob Wollenberg – T.T RSE