Your company: phelas GmbH

Name of the case: Scalable, cheap and sustainable energy storage enabling 100 % renewable future!

Description:

phelas was founded to make a very simple vision a reality: We want 100% renewable electricity to be a given everywhere on this planet. That is, that it is economically and environmentally the most viable form of electricity generation.

Over the past 20 years, the world has made progress in lowering the cost of renewable power generation, but still lacks a scalable, resource-efficient storage option to offset the uncontrollable volatility of renewables and thus fully decarbonize the power sector. The phelas team is developing Aurora, a standardized, mass-produced large-scale electrical storage system built on a new, proprietary approach to air liquefaction, designed to achieve over 50% efficiency and revolutionize the cost of electricity storage. We are using air and gravel as the primary storage media – both materials are universally available and, unlike lithium-ion, less hazardous and less resource-geographically dependent. The technology offers a decisive cost advantage for large amounts of energy, while at the same time exhibiting no cyclic degradation and combining this with excellent environmental compatibility. Since the storage system is based on already developed and reliable technology (compressors, cryotanks, turbine technology, etc.), the entire system can be operated extremely reliably and with low maintenance.

What is the impact of your case:

phelas Aurora is able to significantly mitigate CO2 emissions on two levels:

Cheap long duration energy storage, such as phelas Aurora, is able to replace fossil fuels together with renewables in a cost competitive, scalable and sustainable manner by providing renewable baseload power. Assuming fossil plants will be replaced by 100% renewable energy sources, which will achieve –placed strategically, considering transmission lines, demand response and low correlation between wind and solar – a capacity factor of 70%. The remaining 30% will be covered by storage.

Thus, long duration energy storage will have significant GHG mitigation potential of approx 5.2 Gt (CO2 eq). Moreover, phelas addresses the resource criticality and environmental impact of existing storage technologies by using abundant and recyclable resources. According to Climate Impact forecast  350 t Co2 eq can be saved per 8 MWh phelas system.

On a global scale, long duration energy storage has the CO2 mitigation potential of 5.2 Gt CO2(eq). This number origins mainly from enabling baseline renewable energy (such as wind or solar) and by thus, replacing thermal, fossil based power plants (oil, gas, coal). Moreover, as part of a preliminary study with the Climate Impact Forecast, we could allocate a social and environmental impact of 350 t CO2(eq) per 8 MWh system. These savings origin from the comparison to current storage technologies (Lithium NMC, LFP, NCA, LMO).

How is your case innovative:

The Aurora system is a new approach to liquid air energy storage (LAES). It uses both pressure and cryogenic temperatures and the enthalpy inherent in the phase transition to store energy. The primary focus of our system is to reduce capital expenditures – efficiency considerations must sometimes take a back seat to this. Thus, for commercial success, a good trade-off must be made between the rapidly exponentially increasing cost of improving efficiency and the value added to the customer by improving efficiency. We are continually evaluating this trade-off with potential customers who are encouraging us in our approach.

The final system will be modular to allow independent sizing of storage performance and capacity, as well as easy transportability of the storage systems. The modules will be realized in the form of standardized 40-foot shipping containers and are thus well adapted to the global transport infrastructure.

Category:

Sustainability, Storing and switching of energy

Your company: WE Tech Solutions Oy

Name of the case: WE Tech’s Hybrid Electric Propulsion Solution Boosts Aurora Botnia for a Sustainable Future

Description:

The eco-friendly RoPax ferry Aurora Botnia is an Ice Class 1A super Ropax passenger ferry capable of 1500 lane meters of cargo and 800 passengers. The ferry that operates on the world’s northernmost year-around ferry line is equipped with WE Tech’s Hybrid Electric Propulsion solution. WE Tech has delivered the total powertrain from flywheel of the Dual Fuel engines to Azipod® propulsion units, including Switchgears, Drive technology, Energy Storage System (ESS), Energy Management System and Propulsion Control System.

The Hybrid Electric Propulsion solution brings redundancy, flexibility and ultra-efficiency to the operations, as well as a huge reduction of fuel consumption and emissions.

What is the impact of your case:

The energy cluster in Vaasa region has always been productive, and the collaboration between WE Tech and its local partners for Aurora Botnia is another excellent example of this. Aurora Botnia was built by Rauma Marine Construction in Rauma, Finland. This project, with great benefits to the local community, demonstrates Finland’s most advanced technology and world-class shipbuilding experiences to the world. It also shows that we are utilizing all Finnish know-how to strive for IMO’s target, that is 50% annual GHG emission reduction from shipping by 2050.

A carbon-neutral future is the common vision of Vaasa and Umeå. The Hybrid Electric Propulsion solution helps to achieve this goal by providing the best energy efficiency and lowest emissions possible. In the harbor, the ferry can be connected to the shore supply. This allows the batteries with 2MWh capacity to be fully charged in either port within maximum an hour. Batteries can support peak shaving, hotel loads and propulsion during manoeuvring. The ferry’s power gird can get its energy directly from the shore, eliminating the need for the vessel’s generators to generate electricity and thus minimizing emissions to air and water. The WE Drive ensures that the vessel’s power grid can be seamlessly matched to the harbor’s shore supply in terms of voltage and frequency. The Zero-Emission Mode ensures a better and smoother voyage from Vaasa to Umeå as the vibrations and noise onboard the vessel is dramatically minimized. In this way, it brings more comfort to passengers.

With its Zero-Emission features, Aurora Botnia will operate in the Kvarken world heritage site without leaving any environmental footprint.

How is your case innovative:

WE Tech solutions introduced a wealth of sophisticated solution to the first Zero-Emission Mode ferry in the world. The Hybrid Electric Propulsion ferry is equipped with four generators that supplies energy for propulsion and electrical power demand in normal sailing mode. The Zero-Emission Mode utilises battery banks only for vessel’s propulsion and electrical power demand and is initiated in harbor manoeuvring mode. While stationary in the harbor, the vessel’s electrical system and re-charging of the Energy Storage System(ESS) will be supplied by the high-power shore connection.

The ESS which is connected to the common DC-link of the main propulsion drives provides power for peak-shaving and back-up functionality, and as a single supply when in Zero Emission Mode. WE Tech delivers the dedicated power and energy management system (DPMS) to control the energy flow and different operation modes as well as interface with the vessel’s automation system. Also, as the vessel’s bow thrusters are fed via dedicated inverters connected to the common DC-link, it can be said that the Hybrid Electric Propulsion solution by WE Tech truly is the heart of the vessel.

This versatile and flexible solution will save tons of fuel and reduce emissions both at sea and in the harbor.

Category:

Sustainability

Your company: Surplus International LTD

Name of the case: ESTER LEVY

Description:

SUR + International is a world leading surplus chemical company. We are committed to assisting industrial companies in reducing the environmental impact of their products and manufacturing processes. Our dedication encompasses the integration of sustainable and environmental practices into our business solutions. Sur+ specializes in recycling and repurposing of surplus inventory.

What is the impact of your case:

Sur+ specializes in recycling and repurposing of surplus inventory.

How is your case innovative:

By procuring surplus chemical inventory (out of date, off specification materials or any other reason) from manufacturing industries and matching it with relevant buyers, we provide high quality and cost-effective inventory solution.

Category:

Digitalization, Sustainability

Your company: Valmet Automation Inc,

Name of the case: Guarantee of origin for biogas

Description:

Valmet DNA Integrated Operations and Valmet DNA Information Management System identify reliably the biogas guarantee of origin.

What is the impact of your case:

The entire European Union area strives for renewable energy. When giving the guarantee of origin for biogas, the whole supply chain of the material starting from the producer of the biogas until to the last delivery point is transparent and trustful. More and more biogas is used, based on that, the need for clean biogas is increasing. With Valmet’s solution, it is possible to guarantee end to end delivery of biogas and for reporting purposes, differentiate it from natural gas thus creating additional value.

How is your case innovative:

For the first time ever, biogas guarantee of origin, in connection to process automation technologies, is launched. Reporting solution developed by Valmet enables end-to-end tracking of biogas, that is from the place of origin to the place of consumption. Reports formed in Valmet’s system are accepted by authorities to prove origin of biogas.

Category: Sustainability

Your company: PJP Eye LTD.

Name of the case: Plant Based Carbon Batteries – Cambrian

Description:

PJP Eye provides a novel solution to the energy storage crisis; plant-based, rare-earth-metal-free, carbon batteries. These batteries use common metals for one electrode and carbonized plant material (not graphite) for the other electrode. They have proprietary technology to convert any organic materials into carbon including industrial waste like waste of olives.  This means that their batteries charge up to 10 times faster without the risk of explosion, have 20 years of battery life, and are 100% recyclable, revolutionizing the energy storage industry. Their inert properties means they can also be used as residential energy storage, as they are the only batteries that conform to strict safety standards about large batteries within homes.

Also, PJP Eye has succeeded in producing dual carbon batteries using their plant based carbon, which has monstrous voltage of 5.2 V which can change the game of battery production. PJP Eye intends to commercialize this battery by 2024

What is the impact of your case:

Other batteries contain metals such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese, which are associated with environmental pollution, human rights issues including child labour in the DRC, and geo-political issues stemming from resource monopolies. Their proprietary technology allows any organic matter, even waste, to be converted into carbon, and their Cambrian batteries do not have rare metal electrodes. This simplicity, at scale, will allow them to produce batteries affordably. They eliminate the demand for replacement batteries as their Cambrian batteries last for more than 20 years, reducing CO2 emissions associated with manufacturing completing sustainable circular economy of battery production.

How is your case innovative:

PJP Eye has the following proprietary technology

1- Conversion of any organic materials including industrial waste into carbon which provides benefits of resource flexibility, sustainable circular economy, and cost competitiveness comparing to graphite.

2- Electrodes manufacturing technology including binder and carbon slurry using plant based carbon

3-dual carbon batteries: generally called dual-ion batteries, PJP Eye has succeeded in manufacturing of dual carbon batteries using plant based carbon for both electrodes.

As the technology itself is revolutionary, PJP Eye is ready to mass produce it by 2025 implementing them into EVs and electric airplanes.

Category:

Sustainability, Storing and switching of energy, Future of energy

Your company: Nelinor Oy

Name of the case: Energy Storage Operating System

Description:

Offering fully integrated off-grid energy storage system to private customers and corporate customers. We have developed a battery management system, load monitoring and control. All our products are IOT products that provide enhanced energy storage and power consumption. Our case is AI powered consumption management, it is possible to access locally and remotely, can be used directly by the customers  and has high privacy and security.

Now you can avoid expensive power-line extensions and reduce the need for fossil fuel-based solutions in off grid locations, provide the customers with a more affordable and sustainable solution.

What is the impact of your case:

1,9 B people have no access to electricity/unreliable grid connection. People in off grid environments rely on fossil fuel-based solutions, which is bad for the environment. There is no easy way to monitor, store and control energy in off-grid locations on the market. Our solution is good for the environment, the solution stores excess energy to be used later and it is working mainly with sustainable energy sources, e.g. solar energy. Our solution is a good alternative for markets that use fossil fuel solutions now, e.g. working camps in remote locations.

Impact on UN sustainable development goals:

Climate Action, we provide climate friendly options to reduce pollution of fossil fuel-based solution in the energy sector.

Affordable and clean energy, our products work mostly with solar energy and saves the energy for when there is a use. There does not have to be a expensive grid connection, our products work totally off-grid.

Responsible consumption and production, we produce energy in an environmentally friendly way. Good for the environment and safe to use for the customer. The privacy and security of the technology is also high.

Sustainable cities and communities, we provide sustainable energy alternatives for housing and other needs for energy, which is used in all cities and communities, with our solution cities will fast reduce the pollution in the city.

How is your case innovative:

This is the first energy storage with consumption awareness. This allows more flexibility and optimization of the use of renewable energy. The technology is proprietary IoT platform that is built in house. It allows us to provide the product with unique features and competitive advantage, such as reshaping the consumption curve to eliminate peaks. AI powered consumption management, local and remote access, privacy and security and it is also DIY friendly. Our power cube can be installed by end customer while custom made solutions for customers need are installed by installers. Our solution works both on grid and off grid.

Category:

Storing and switching of energy

Your company: Near grid Solutions

Name of the case: Green Box

Description:

The Green Box is a battery-based and containerised solution developed to connect construction sites to the nearby distribution grid. Construction sites often need electric power that exceeds the capacity of the available electric distribution grid connection points. Tower cranes in particular require very high peak currents when a load has to be lifted. This poses a problem that – until today – was solved by implementing a heavy diesel generator to deliver these peak currents.

Near grid Solutions places its Green Box between the distribution grid and the site consumers: an easy obtainable low-voltage residential connection is sufficient to charge the battery on a permanent basis. The battery/inverter then meets the fluctuating power demand from the construction site. The Green Box has constantly 140 kVA available for the construction site and has an overload capacity of 210 kVA for 15 seconds. Therefore the Green Box can be used to supply up to 3 heavy tower cranes + other small equipment. (a smaller version is also available for construction sites with just 1 tower crane installed) Furthermore, the Green Box is fitted with a comprehensive energy monitoring system that gives a thorough insight in the energy consumption on site.

What is the impact of your case:

Thanks to the Near grid Solutions Green Box, these construction sites do not longer need diesel generators. In this way, we drastically reduce CO2 emissions and work towards an energy-neutral construction site. The contractor also has less nuisance with neighbours in densely populated areas: no noise, no diesel particulate emissions and no sooth. Moreover, they do not longer need to be concerned about weekly refuelling their diesel generators, no more maintenance every 6-8 weeks. Our maintenance free solution therefore unburdens the projectmanagement. Last but not least, the total cost of ownership is lower, this is driven by the low operational costs inherent to our solution.

How is your case innovative:

Our focus on energy transition on the construction site makes our solution innovative. On a construction site the free space is limited, therefore the local generation of sufficient renewable energy is difficult. That’s why we decided to focus on the nearby distribution grid as reliable energy source, this wil also be a renewable source in the short future.

Effective peak shaving makes sure the Green Box doesn’t burden the grid more than strictly necessary. The battery also allows us to disconnect from the grid in the event of a shortage (and high prices) while still powering the site.

Taking the above into account, it is our mission to accelerate the transition towards renewables in the construction industry, by using the near grid in the best possible way.

Visit us at Nordic Energy Storage (booth A3)!

Category:

Sustainability, Storing and switching of energy

Your company: EH Group Engineering

Name of the case: EH Fuel Cell Stacks

Description:

As the global economy moves towards a decarbonised future, hydrogen will become a key energy vector, across both stationary and mobile applications.  EH Group Engineering (EHG) aims to become a leading player in the emerging hydrogen economy.  This is via the commercialisation of a low temperature fuel cell (FC) based on a radical new design and the development of a transformative manufacturing technique that dramatically reduces costs.

Fuel cells are electro-chemical devices that convert the energy of hydrogen into electricity. EHG’s value proposition is to deliver medium-to-large scale energy power generators with a combined electrical and thermal efficiency of up to 85%, with minimal or no emissions.

What is the impact of your case:

Our product directly addresses the challenge of current unsustainable or pollutive technologies that power our economy, but that are unfit for purpose in our times.   For example, commercial vehicles both on land and water and public transport that require extended use, range and/or heavy payloads are primed for disruptive decarbonization that cannot be met by batteries alone (trucks, buses, trains, construction equipment, ferries, etc.).  These are just some of the markets that are poised to benefit from the widescale implementation of our innovative FC technology.

How is your case innovative:

Our value proposition is based on:

–                           An innovative FC technology, based on a wholly redesigned microstructure that delivers a power density of 1.5-2 times that of leading competitors’ FC products;

–                           A transformative assembly and production by process innovation which aims to radically reduce the price of FCs;

–                           FC stack technology that operates with a greatly simplified FC system and less parasitic loads (thereby cheaper and more efficient).

Category:

Storing and switching of energy, Future of energy

Your company: Mi Terro

Name of the case: Mi Terro

Description:

Mi Terro is a synthetic biology and advanced material company that powers big data to create home compostable, plastic-alternative biomaterials made from plant-based agricultural waste – this is a first-of-its-kind approach. We are excited to see such a significant leap forward in our ability to manipulate nature’s most diverse and abundant building blocks.

What is the impact of your case:

Thin-film describes the shroud of plastic at the edge of human experience. Globally, humans are estimated to use over 300 billion polybags and single-use, resealable sandwich and storage bags (SRPBs) every year. These bags are almost impossible to recycle — they end up in landfills or on the ground and in our ocean.

Mi Terro focuses particularly on thin films which have some of the lowest recycling rates of any plastic.

For every ton of material we produce, 5.1 tons of CO2 is generated; whereas PVA (fossil fuel-based plastic) generates 8.2 tons of CO2 for every ton of material produced. As a result, in comparison to PVA, we reduce 3.1 tons of CO2 for every ton of material produced.

In the next 10 years, we plan to upcycle 40 million tons of food/agricultural waste. Since 1 ton of food waste equals 2.5 ton of CO2 equivalent, we will reduce 100 million tons of CO2.

Currently, an estimated 50 million tons of PVA and 70 million tons of thin plastic film are produced every year. We plan to replace 20% of the world’s total PVA and 15% of the total plastic thin film in the next 10 years. Since the estimated carbon footprint of PVA is 8.2 CO2/ton and plastic thin film is 8.28 CO2/ton, we will reduce an additional (82+86.94) 168.94 million tons of CO2. Accumulatively, we will reduce 268.94 million tons of CO2 in the next 10 years.

How is your case innovative:

We are not turning agricultural waste into beverage or snack like other companies. Instead, we use A.I. to re-engineer protein compounds in low-value wastes and replace single-use plastic and paper materials while giving additional incomes to farmers all around the world.

Unlike current alternatives to microplastics, which are based on plant polysaccharides, such as cellulose and algae, Mi Terro’s plant protein materials do not rely on chemical cross-linking for their performance. This enables them to decompose quickly and completely in the natural environment. Our proprietary technology re-engineers agricultural waste into plastic-alternative biomaterials. Our biomaterial is monolayer, is 20-40% cheaper than other bio-based and fossil-based feedstocks at pilot level, home compostable, ocean degradable, heat sealable, excellent water and oxygen barrier, low thickness, and potentially edible. Not only can our technology apply to flexible and rigid packaging, but it can also be used as ingredient for pet food.

Our researchers successfully modified the peptide bond structures found on spent grain protein. Because all proteins are made of polypeptide chains, under the right conditions we can cause plant proteins to self-assemble just like spider silk and form strong biomaterials.

Proteins have a propensity for molecular self-organization and self-assembly, and plant proteins are abundant and can be sourced sustainably as by-products of the food industry.

There are some advantages of proteins, such as relative abundance, good film-forming ability, high nutritional value, and so on, which make proteins be used extensively for preparing biodegradable films. Compared to polysaccharides and lipids, protein-based polymers are the most useful, because of the excellent gas barrier properties.

Besides, the mechanical properties of protein-based films are also better than those of polysaccharide-based and lipid-based films.

Category:

Sustainability

Your company: Hitachi Energy Finland  Oy

Name of the case: One of Europe’s largest battery energy storage systems for TVO in Finland for balancing the grid and contributing for Finland’s goals of carbon neutrality 2035

Description:

The electrification of societies going forward, together with the growth of renewable energy, is crucially changing the dynamics of the energy system and highlights the importance of power electronics, energy storage and flexibility as part of energy system stability.  As intermittent and seasonal renewable energy increases, older fossil fuel power plants are closing, undermining the dynamic stability of the power system.  The high rotating mass of large power plants will have to be replaced by power electronics and, partly, battery back-up. Without new means, even the collapse of the entire power grid, a black-out, is a threat.

Hitachi Energy’s 90-megawatt battery energy storage system supports the stability of Finland’s energy network and will help the country meet its climate goals.

Battery energy storage system supports the entire grid, in a potential production disturbance in the Olkiluoto 3 plant unit, thus minimizing the effect of power fluctuations on the grid. The turnkey solution acts as a fast-start backup power source. TVO is building a third nuclear power plant unit on the island of Olkiluoto. Once commissioned about 30 percent of Finland´s electricity is expected to come from the island and support the transition of Finland’s electricity production towards carbon neutrality.

What is the impact of your case:

The green energy transition requires new technologies and new smart solutions to ensure energy system flexibility and reliability. It is also crucial for the competitiveness of industries that our future electricity system is stable and functional.

Maintaining the stability of the national grid is critical for the reliable supply of electricity to Finns and the competitiveness of the industries. Electricity will be the backbone of the energy system and is expected to double its share of total energy consumption by 2050.

A battery energy storage of this scale and the increase in low emission electricity generation is a major climate action and will contribute to Finland’s goal of carbon neutrality in 2035.

Together with TVO, Hitachi Energy is enabling the people of Finland to move towards a carbon-neutral future. The energy revolution requires pioneering technologies and new intelligent solutions to ensure system flexibility and reliability.

The battery energy storage will contribute to the balance of electricity production and consumption maintained by Fingrid and thus to the Finnish energy system as a whole in the event of a disturbances and imbalance in the power grid, contributing to the dynamic stability of the system. It will also contribute to ensuring the operation of the national grid in the event of a large amount of electricity falling out of the capacity of the grid It can also be used to adjust the frequency of the grid to balance electricity consumption and generation. Such flexibility will become more important as the share of renewable electricity in total energy consumption increases.

The solution will act as a very fast power reserve to help ensure the stability of the grid and correct the dynamic fluctuations in the grid caused by large power fluctuations.

How is your case innovative:

Battery energy storage is a significant contribution to the Finnish energy system and serves as a role model for large-scale energy storage as part of energy system stability across Europe, demonstrating practical means to balance system with the energy transition.

The decision by TVO  to take a bold step forward in adopting new technologies and using its own resources is a significant and responsible act.  It reduces the  need for alternative control methods, such as disconnecting industrial loads from the grid.

Link to the press release: https://www.hitachienergy.com/news/press-releases/2021/06/hitachi-abb-power-grids-to-supply-one-of-europe-s-largest-battery-energy-storage-systems-for-tvo-in-finland

Link to the Finnish press release: https://www.hitachienergy.com/ch/fr/news/press-releases/2021/06/fi-hitachi-abb-power-grids-toimittaa-euroopan-suurimpiin-kuuluvan-akkuenergiavaraston-teollisuuden-voimalle

Category:

Storing and switching of energy