project case study st. eustatius pv hybrid system (cuvalay)

Kickoff Projekt „Cobija, BO“

CARIBBEAN LARGEST PV-DIESEL HYBRID AND ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMST EUSTATIUS (PHASE I)

Eng. Fred Cuvalay CREF. Miami, USA Oct. 2016


Agenda

2

I.

II.

The Challenge and Options

The Preparation and decision

III. Execution

IV. Monitoring and Performance

V. The future


STUCO perspective

> Electric Power supply in St. Eustatius (Statia) is provided by STUCO, owned 100% by the Government of Statia and independently managed by a Managing Director under supervision of a Board of Commissioners

> Up to 2015, 100% depending on fossil fuel. (5.3 MVA diesel gensets capacity)

> More than 75% STUCO income was going for operational cost> 2015 Statia’s grid key facts:

• 1.6MW average demand• 2.3MW peak demand • 13.6GWh Energy demand • 3.6M diesel liters consum.

3Something needed to be done. Government?

I. The Challenge and Options


Dutch government Starting position

> The Netherlands Antilles split up in 2010

> Up to 2010 St Maarten subsidized electricity on St. Eustatius and Saba

> St. Eustatius and Saba split from the much larger St. Maarten electricity company

> Without subsidy, electricity prices would rise unacceptably on St. Eustatius and Saba.

> Dutch government promised support:• Financially healthy electricity

companies on St. Eustatius and Saba

• Consumer rates not higher than before split

4This meant diesel costs shall decrease.


http://www.google.nl/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiAosi_zaDPAhXBHxoKHUzFD0MQjRwIBw&url=http://caribisch-gebied-kaart.blogspot.com/2012/02/kaart-caribisch-gebied.html&psig=AFQjCNH3hkKFlwz8HXnWpHFgik-43dpNBQ&ust=1474552260135982


Dutch government Vision

> Task: Decrease operational costs for power production derived from high diesel costs

> Standing policy: No subsidy for fossil fuel

> Solution: Subsidy for investment in durable clean energy (no CO2 emissions)

> Durable options initially approached were wind and solar 5

But, is it a business case?


Time

Electricity Cost

TodaySource: SMA Solar Technology


Dutch Government, Driver for change

> The drivers for the Dutch government are political/social: new organisation of the Kingdom and electricity rates for Dutch citizens in St. Eustatius and Saba

> Still, there is a business case• At 2014 oil prices, the solar farm and battery system earns it self

back in approx. 6 years• At 2016 oil prices, the system earns it self back in approx. 11

years, while warranty on performance is much longer for most parts of the solar farm

• At 2018 oil prices, …… ? We don’t know. But we are safe if oil prices rise

> In other words:• Use low oil costs to finance durable investments NOW• Think who will be smiling last when oil price go up

6

How to decide better durable clean energy to decrease operational costs in Statia ?



Agenda

7

I.

II.



III. Execution


V. The future


Preparing tender for solar project

> After considering wind at first, solar was chosen due to the following reasons:

8RFP?

II. The Preparation and decision

> Wind:• High risk for hurricane as

located Hurricane belt• Assessment and project

execution larger in general compared to solar

• Market research showed few cases or difficulty to control at high penetration

• Grid connection costly/distance and transport to site poses

> Solar:• Costs going down more

drastically in the last years • Modular expansion possible,

possibility to add more PV and Energy Storage per phases

• Grid connection of PV array location less costly/closer to existing grid

• Low maintenance as compared to running diesel engines


Preparing RFP for solar project

> Feasibility study engaged May 2014• Size of the park 2 MWp Solar Park with minimum energy yield

3.2GWh first year• Solar penetration larger than 50%, therefore Energy Storage to

provide grid stability and load shifting needed• Technical capability of the industry to deliver• Financial justification

> RFP final March 2015• Consultants: Oxperts• Requirements, net energy supply to the grid• Minimum requirements for panels, batteries and inverters• Delivery time• Completeness of proposal

9Decision? Who?



Selecting the right proposal

> Criteria for selecting best proposal• Compliance with the tender procedure; functional and technical

requirements• Investment cost ($/kWh output)

• Experience of the bidder

• Design and landscaping

• Proposal quality and soundness

> Consortium awarded Sunshine Real State NV / EcoEnergy NV / SMA Sunbelt GmbH• Consortium with local and international experience. More than 80

hybrid projects worldwide (SMA Fuel Save Controller) and Energy Storage Solution

• Proven components and support from manufacturers SMA / Schletter / Suntech.

• Comprehensive proposal, clear sizing and yield projection

10How to move forward to Execution



Agenda

11

I.

II.



III. Execution


V. The future


Steps coordination

> EPC contract mid July 2015 > Payments must take place

per schedule> Support coordination of

receipt of materials> Support Immigration

process for specialist workforce

> Support for electricity and internet during construction

> Logistical support for reference to local services

> Construction began in October 2015, commissioned March 2016 12

Final System to be procured

III. Execution


Final System procured

13

SMA system solutions for hybrid applications

SMA System Technology• SMA Fuel Save Solution incorporates

theSMA Fuel Save Controller

• 72 SMA Sunny TriPower 25000-TL-30• 1 SMA Sunny Central Storage SCS

1000

Plant information• Installed PV power: 1,9 MWp• Installed battery power: 1 MW/580

kWh• Annual yield: 3,2 GWh• Diesel generator rating: 4 MVA• Annual Savings expected:1,900,000

Project• Location: St. Eustatius,

NL Antilles• Commissioning: March 2016

The island of St. Eustatius, located in the caribbean is fully powered by diesel generator. By integrating 1,9 MWp of PV power and 1 MW of batteries with SMA’s fuel save controller, the island is able to reduce its fossile fuel consumption by almost 30%. Currently PV+battery penetration as high as 88% has been observedAn expansion of the existing system is already planed and shall be installed in 2017.

Source: SMA project example

III. Execution


Some challenges> Logistics and planning

> Logistics and heavy equipment

> Purchasing Local materials

> Accommodation

> Work permits for EPC

> Long communication line from PV array to SMA FSC at Gensets Powerhouse

14System performance up to now?

III. Execution


Agenda

15

I.

II.



III. Execution


V. The future


Monitoring with SMA Fuel Save Controller

16Battery Monitoring?



Monitoring with SMA Fuel Save Controller

17KPI’s?



KPIs up to August

18How it looks, a typical day performance?


Fuel Savings (liters)Target_annual 840,0006 Avg_annual projection 906,684

66,684

About 10% above target


Shiny day

> Beautiful but rare!

19Typical day?



Typical day

> Battery at work!

20What about the future?


Energy Shifting: discharge at end of day

When PV at Max PV, gensets o to min. nominal genset load

Battery compenssates PV fluctuation


Frequency stability. Battery delivers or absorbs power.

21

Though solar power with large penetration fluctuates, the grid frequency is stable



Agenda

22

I.

II.



III. Execution


V. The future


Phase II (OVERVIEW)

> Additional• 2.25 MWp PV Grid Forming SMA PV Inverter• 5.1 MWh Battery Storage• Expected Renewable system share 40-46%

> Expected Diesel off-mode time (Black reflects 0 kW gensets load work)

23Area required? Impact?

V. The Future


Solar and agriculture coexistence on same area

24

V. The Future

Bright and fossil fuel independent future for Statia!


Thank you for your attention!

Jesus A. [email protected]

Tel: +1 916 316 7234

Fred [email protected]

Tel: +599 318 1393

Eelco Baak [email protected]

Tel +5999 684 5452

mailto:[email protected]




project case study st. eustatius pv hybrid system (cuvalay)

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