the role of microgeneration in ireland’s energy...

THE ROLE OF MICROGENERATION INIRELAND’S ENERGY FUTURE

Dublin Institute of Technology 13th November 2009

Survey of Microgeneration Technologies ~ Definitions and Potential

Keith Sunderland

Electrical Power Research Group

School of Electrical Engineering Systems


Overview

� Context for Microgeneration

� Range and operation of technologies

� Performance of technologies

� Role of microgeneration in domestic context

� Overview of microgeneration in Ireland to Date

� International Comparisons

� Alternatives to microgeneration: solar thermal/GSHP, energy efficiency and insulation

7 November 2009 2


Defining Microgeneration

� Heat generation: solar water heating, ground source heat pumps, air

source heat pumps, biomass stoves and boilers (e.g. wood and energy

crops e.g. willow)

� Electricity generation: Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, micro-wind

turbines, microhydro systems (in hilly areas or river valleys)

� Combined Heat and Power: MicroCHP (provides heat and electricity

together; many technologies can be used including gas, Stirling

engines, internal and external combustion engines, and fuel cells).

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The Context for Micro Generation in Ireland

� European Position

– Electrical energy from renewable sources (‘RES Directive’ – 2009/28/EC[1])

• Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources

(23rd April, 2009) – Ireland’s target being 15% by 2010

– Directive 2002/91/EC on Energy Performance of Buildings[2]

• Article 5

• Recast proposal

– Directive 2006/32/EC on Energy end-use efficiency and energy services

• EU Action Plan for Energy Efficiency

� Incentives?

– Reliance/Reliability/Cost/Sustainability ~ issues for current energy usage

– Environmental/Social Responsibilities

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� Policy Stakeholders– Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)

• Arrangements for Micro Generation (CER/06/190)[3]

• Demand Side Management and Smart Metering (CER/07/038)[4]

– ESB Networks

• Connection Protocol

• Compliancy issues concerning EN 50438[5]

– The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

• Energy White Paper (March ‘07): ”Delivering a Sustainable Energy future for Ireland”[6]

– Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI)

• “Your Guide to Connecting Micro-generation to the Electricity Network, 2009[7]


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� In 2007, renewables accounted for 5.1% of the energy inputs to generate

electricity with wind contributing 3.3% of total inputs. Wind accounted for 71% of

the renewable energy used for electricity generation

� Electricity generated from renewable energy accounted for 9.4% of gross

electricity consumption in 2007 – Ireland’s target being 15% for 2010!

� This implies a 74% growth of electricity generation from renewables is required

over the period 2008 - 2010

Energy in Ireland – Key Statiscs 2008[8]


Consumer Interface Equipment

Utility connection

Distribution Board

Domestic Micro Generation

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Utility connection

7 November 2009 8

Micro Generation Wind Generation

P[Elec]

1.61.41.21.00.80.60.4

1.4

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

00.2 Wind

Speed [m/s]

Power [W]WIND TURBINE CHARACTERISTIC


Micro Generation Wind Generation

� Micro Wind issues[9]:

� HAWT / VAWT

� HAWT ~ most common technology in Ireland

� Start generating electricity at c3m/s and depending on the machine will

reach rated output at between 8 and 12m/s.

� Power ratings from hundreds of Watts up to 11kW (3-phase).

� Domestic wind turbines are predominantly rated up to 2.5kW

(although the costs become preclusive with increased power

ratings due to civil and building works)

� If prevailing wind is constant, this could be an efficient, clean energy

solution

� Micro Wind issues:

� Performance Coefficient can range from 0.18 to 0.41 (speculatively based

on manufacturers data)

� Cost effectiveness

� Consensus and uniformity in technology parameters

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Wind Generation Market Status

� SEI Report (2008) on the energy in the Domestic Sector, suggests

that wind energy accounts for the electricity needs of over 647,000

homes[10]

� Planning issues can be significant, e.g. noise, shadow flicker, land

take, impact on flight paths and radar, access roads for installation

and maintenance.

� Obstacles (such as high buildings) can reduce wind speeds

� Wind speed estimates for area topology (cognisant of turbulence

and shearing issues) must be established

� Must be a minimum distance from other buildings

� Integration into electrical supply network …?[11]

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System Losses

Reduction in demand supplied from network,

hence reduction in losses

Voltage Regulation

Injection of power reduces voltage drop or leads

to voltage rise which needs to be maintained with

network limits

Voltage Unbalance

Background voltage unbalance present

Unequal connection/operation of connected

generation, leading to voltage unbalance in

network

Reverse Power Flow

Both real and reactive power flow

Possibly leading to problems with protection and

transformer operation

Fault Levels

Unlikely to be significant increase in fault currents



Utility connection

Distribution Board

Micro Generation Solar PV

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n-type

Front Contact

Back Contact

LIGHT

p-type

LOAD

PV MODULE CHARACTERISTICModule

Current [A]

Module Voltage [V]

Max Power Range

Cloudy

Partially

Cloudy

Sunny

20151050

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5


Micro Generation Solar PV

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� Photovoltaics concerns the technology converting light directly into

electrical energy

� Two types:

� Wafer-based silicon; and

� Single crystal and polycrystalline wafer based (Si) is the most common material used in manufacture and accounted for c85% of total production in 2004

� Thin films

� Building orientation and angle of incidence is important

� The electricity is DC and is normally converted to AC for direct use

� The efficiency of PV is normally quoted between 13% to 18% -

being low in efficiency when compared with other clean energy

solutions

� Any potential shading can reduce benefit significantly

� At present even with grants, payback is long but can be reduced where

PV panels are replacing alternative expensive facades


Solar PV Market Status

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� The current use of solar technologies in Ireland is predominantly low

temperature application such as water heating and space heating which

do not requires direct sunlight.

� Electricity generation from solar technologies is not fully commercialised

or competitive and so this energy is predominantly applied to

navigational aids (road/water) in Ireland

� As of 2006, the installed photovoltaic capacity was 0.3 MW[12]

� The average global insolation values for Ireland range from

2.6kWh/m2/day[12]

� A surface area of 1m2 receives approximately 900 – 1000kWh of

solar energy per year[13]


Micro Generation Micro CHP

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Micro CHP

Exhaust 5-15%

Elec 30%

Heat 70%

Gass 100%

Utility connection

Micro-CHP fuels:

Gas

Oil

Biomass

Wood-Chip

Hydrogen (Fuel Cells)


Micro Generation Micro CHP

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� Micro-CHP (combined Heat and Power) involves a gas/Oil/Biomass/Wood-Chip

or Hydrogen fired (e.g. stirling) engine driving an electrical generator that allows

individual homes to generate a proportion of their own electricity supply, whilst

also supplying heat and hot water.

� It is not a clean energy solution but it is highly fuel efficient and has good carbon

displacement properties

� Definition:

� Micro-CHP, maximum capacity 50kWe

� Small-scale CHP, installed capacity below 1MWe

Market Application:

Market Micro Small Scale Large Scale

<50kWe ≥50kWe and ≤1MWe ≥1MWe

Industrial ×

Services × ×

Commercial × ×

District Heating ×

Domestic ×


Micro CHP Market Status

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� CHP in Europe is about 10% presently with Denmark leading the way at

50% and the Netherlands with 40%

� In Ireland CHP accounts for about 5% share of electricity generation –

mainly industrial 26% of sites but 88% of capacity

SEI, “CHP in Ireland”, February 2006[14]


Micro CHP Market Status

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� SEI Grant Support

� The Programme will provide the following grant levels depending on the

nature of the project and the technologies involved:

� Up to 40% funding for qualifying CHP feasibility studies;

� Up to 30% investment grant support to eligible small-scale (≥50kWe and <1MWe) fossil-fired CHP projects, limited to the maximum cost per kWe as

defined below:

http://www.sei.ie/Grants/CHP/Grant_Support/


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Domestic Micro Generation Utility Connection

� EN50438

� In 2004, CENELEC began to draft – very similar to G83 (UK

Standard)

� ESBN Document: “Conditions Governing Connection and

Operation of Microgeneration”

� Definition of Microgeneration:

� …source of electrical energy and all associated equipment, rated to

and including

� 25A at low voltage [230V], when the DSO network connection

is single-phase

� 16A at low voltage [230/400V], when the DSO network

connection is three-phase


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Micro CHP

Exhaust 5-15%

Elec 30%

Heat 70%

Gass 100%

Utility connection

Consumer Load

Distribution Board




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Utility connection

Consumer Load

Distribution Board


Utility Metering

Inverter & Interconnects

N

Earthing

Conductor

63A

Utility Metering

Supply Authority Main Fuse Unit

Main

Protective

Conductor

P

1

0

Main

Fuse MCB MCB

RCD

TEST

1

0

MCB MCB MCB

Consumer Distribution Board

20A6A

0

1

TEST

RCBO6A

I? n = 30mA

20A 20A

I? n = 30mA

40A

Main Earthing

Terminal

Main

Neutral Bar Supplementary

Neutral Bar

Earth Electrode

~

~

+

Technology

Connection

Isolation

Protection (electrical)

Isolation


Is the chosen technology <5.75kW

(1-ph) 0r 11kW (3-ph)

Interface REquirements?

~ EN50438??

Obtain interface test compliance

from manufacturer/supplier

Complete Notification Form (NC6) and

submit to ESBN (with interface compliance

certificate)

Installation (RECI/ECSSA to

ET101:2008 standards)

Microgeneration technology operational

Instlation can proceed if no instruction to the contrary is received within

20 days of submission to ESBN

Yes?

NO?

See separate guide on conection of

generation onto the Electricity Grid

Connection Standards

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The Irish Position

� Microgeneration Field Trial

– €2 million budget provision by DCENR

– Approximately 50 trials to be conducted nationwide

– Grant support to contribute to the initial start-up costs for the installation of microgeneration systems

– Ground work for consideration of a set of feed-in-tariff fro electricity produced through microgeneration

� Smart Metering

– EU Directive EC 2006/32 – Article 13

– CER desk-top study, 2007

– ESB Networks Pilot

• Two separate trials

– Customer behaviour Jul ‘09 – Dec ’09 / Jan – Dec ‘10)

– Scopes

• Fuel

• Prepayment

• Load Control

• Microgeneration

7 November 2009 22


The Irish Position

� Planning Exemptions[15]

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The Irish Position

� Feed-in-Tariff

– Interim offering which will expire at the end of 2010

– 9c/kWh roughly equivalent to forecast average wholesale price of electricity

in 2009

– Further to the9c/kWhr offering from ESBCS, a further 10c/kWh payment

from ESB will be available to a portion of the output from the first 4,000

microgenerators connecting in the next 3 years.

– The payment will be available to all microgenerators and not just ESB

Customer Supply customers. The 10c/kWh payment will apply to the first

3,000 kWh exported each year for the next 5 years.

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International Comparison

� Energy

– Micropower Europe is a broad-based grouping of companies and organizations

with an interest in the promotion of microgeneration.

• Set up to raise the profile of the EU microgeneration sector and to campaign

for improvements in the legislative and regulatory framework to support the

growth of this important industry.

• Commissioner Piebalgs (Energy Commissioner ) announced that microgeneration will be a key part of the EU’s future energy mix at the launch of Micropower Europe.

– Covenant of Mayors – committed to urban sustainable energy

� Microgeneration Promotion

– Germany

• Share of electricity produced from renewable energy sources has almost

doubled from 6.3 % in 2000 to 12.0 % in 2006.

– Success largely attributed to FiT

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International Comparison

� FiT[16,17, 18]

– Germany

• Anyone generating electricity from Solar PV, Wind or Hydro gets a guaranteed payment of four times the market rate – c€0.385 per unit – for 20 years!

– France

• The government doubled the base feed-in tariff from €0.15 to €0.30 /kWh with an added 50% tax credit for the cost of the installation

– Spain

• Initially the Feed in tariff of €0.42 encouraged rapid market growth. This has been normalised to c €0.32 so as to achieve a steadier rate of growth

– Italy

• Introduced in 2006, ranging from €0.445 to €0.449/kWh with funding of up to 80% of capital costs

– United Kingdom….

• 36.5p/kWh for small solar photovoltaic systems up to 4kW and 28p/kWh for systems up to 10kW.

• 23.0p/kWh for small wind turbines between 1.5kW and 15kW.

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Utility connection

Ground Heat Exchanger


CondensorEvaporator

Heat Distribution

System

Compressor

Heat Pump



CondensorEvaporator

Heat Distribution

System

Compressor

Heat Pump

Heating & Micro-Generation: Ground Source Heat Pumps

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Utility connection

Pump

Hot Water Taps

From

Central Heating

Evacuated Tube PV

Solar Thermal� Using a thermal store offers

the following key benefits:– Mains pressure hot water tank

from an open-vented low-pressure tank (via brazed plate heat exchanger)

– Can accept heat from secondary sources such as wood stove or gas burners

Heating & Micro-Generation: Solar Thermal

School of Electrical Engineering Systems Micro-Generation:

Broader Comparisons

7 November 2009 29

Domestic Efficiency Measures – estimated costs and savings[19]


Barriers to Micro-Generation

� With regard to Microgeneration, terminology ‘trial’ is preclusive

– Implies that technologies are not-tested equipment and that consumers may

be in effect ‘gambling’

� Poor awareness of the benefits of micro generation technologies

• Poor market dissemination

– Funding of 30% for mini CHP and 40% for qualifying CHP feasibility studies is currently available

– Microgeneration Scheme

� Improved forecasting for load and generation

� Carbon incentives

� VAT rates – incentives provided in other countries

� Network inertia

– Momentum of adoption of principals in terms of infrastructure/supply chain

� Technical Issues

� FiT…. Normalisation towards European standards?

7 November 2009 30


Barriers to Micro-Generation

Energy Saving Trust: Potential for Micro generation Study and analysis, November 2005 http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file27558.pdf[20]

Barrier importance vs. mitigation action timescales.

7 November 2009 31


REFERENCES

1. DIRECTIVE 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources

2. DIRECTIVE 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of buildings, December 2002

3. Arrangements for Micro Generation (CER/06/190)

4. Demand Side Management and Smart Metering (CER/07/038)

5. CENELEC EN 50438 Requirements for the connection of micro-generators in parallel with

public low-voltage distribution networks

6. Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, “Towards a Sustainable

Energy Future for Ireland”, 2006

7. “Your Guide to Connecting Micro-generation to the Electricity Network, 2009

8. Energy in Ireland – Key Statiscs 2008 (SEI Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit)

9. Domestic Energy Supply Technology Review: Current Status and Future Potential, Energy

Policy Research in Domestic Building (DIT)

10. Energy in the Domestic Sector, 2008 Report

11. “Cost and Benefits of Embedded Generation in Ireland”, Report prepared for SEI by PB

Power, September 2004

12. T.E. Agency. Solar Energy Resource report 2007

13. S.E. Ireland. Irish Solar Energy Facts, 2003

14. SEI, “CHP in Ireland”, February 2006

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REFERENCES

15. The Idiots Guide to Renewable Energy Electricity? What you NEED to know!, John Quinn

16. http://www.microgenerationforums.co.uk/uk-feed-in-tariff-microgeneration.html

17. http://www.pv-

tech.org/news/_a/uk_set_to_approve_feed_in_tariff_for_renewable_micro_generation/

18. http://www.greenbuildingpress.co.uk/article.php?article_id=268

19. Integration and Optimisation of Renewables for UK dwellings, Dr. Tony Sun (Barrats Homes

20. Energy Saving Trust: Potential for Micro generation Study and analysis, November 2005

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