Page 32 - Energize December 2022

TECHNICAL

Its main cornerstones are high energy
efficiency, outstanding operational
flexibility, and multi-fuel operation.

Smart power generation
optimises power system
reserves
SPG provides super-fast grid reserve
capacity on a national power system
level and while in standby mode, SPG
reserve capacity does not consume any
fuel, generate emissions or suffer from
Figure 3: Capacity vs peak demand models for a 100% RES show a massive investment in renewable wear and has a start-up time of two
generation capacity is required.
minutes. When large power plants are
not needed to provide reserve capacity
Furthermore, when comparing two alternative scenarios for New Mexico as shown in Figure over-and-above the capacity needed to
3, continuing to invest in inflexibility produces more undesirable consequences including a meet normal peak demand, the efficiency
CO 2 intensity of 518 g/kWh, compared to almost 0 g/kWh in a flexibility portfolio. of the whole power system increases. This
enables a more stable operational profile
Wärtsilä Solutions for a 100% renewable energy future for large power plants and the additional
Flexibility and hybrid solutions are critical components for leading this transition to a maintenance costs connected with cyclic
100% renewable energy future. Smart Power Generation plants provide the best means of operation are reduced.
support to the power system by offering the highest degree of flexibility, enabling major
savings, and creating an optimised response to rapid changes in intermittent generation. To Engine–solar PV hybrids
enable the transition for its customers, Wärtsilä also provides utility-scale hybrid solutions In 2017, solar represented one third of
of integrated energy storage and energy management systems, to achieve system stability all power generation capacity increase
and maximise renewable penetration using solar and wind generation. Wärtsilä’s existing globally with close to 100 GW added
engine solutions can use various gas and liquid fuels and are flexible to also function on as well as almost 50% of global new
synthetic biofuels and traditional biofuels. investments in clean energy. This proves
that it is dominating the renewables
Smart power generation market, far surpassing wind, hydro and
Smart power generation (SPG) engine power plants play a key role in providing the any form of thermal power generation.
operational and fuel flexibility for engine power plants needed to enable the transition to a Wärtsilä has introduced solar photo-
modern, reliable power system, for today’s emerging low carbon system. voltaic (PV) solutions, comprising of utility
It effectively absorbs current and future system load variations and provides dramatic scale solar PV plants, integrated with
savings. engine power plants with full EPC delivery
capabilities. The solar hybrid option is a
• SPG technology balances large input fluctuations of wind and solar combination of Wärtsilä’s engine based
• Allows baseload plants to be released from cyclic operation and provides high efficiency SPG power plant and a dedicated solar
base load, peaking, and load following power PV system operated in synchronicity. The
• Contributes to grid frequency regulation and system stability engines compensate for daylight loss by
• Improves the total efficiency of power systems ramping up the power immediately and
automatically, by a sizeable number of
megawatts per minute, if needed. These
kinds of internal combustion engines
represent the only technology capable of
such ultra-flexible operations. Wärtsilä
offers Lifecycle solutions for engines,
solar PV modules, integration, project
development and financing.
The environmental benefits of engine–
solar PV hybrids minimise fuel losses
and operations and maintenance costs.
A grid-connected 150 MW hybrid facility
Figure 4: Optimal path towards 100% renewable energy system for Philippines. comprising 100 MW of engines and 50

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