Renewable Energy Systems, Electric Vehicles, and Smart Electricity Grids for a Carbon-Constrained World

Lawrence E. Jones, Ph.D.
December 20, 2008


Global warming is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. The general consensus is that unless concerted actions are taken to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) that are emitted in the upper atmosphere, the Earth’s climate will continue to change – resulting in increases in mean global temperature, more frequent extreme weather conditions, precipitation changes and reduced availability of fresh water. The realization that we must act now or face grave consequences has prompted the United States of America, Europe, and other global players to begin transitioning to a carbon-constrained energy future.


One solution to a low-carbon energy future is to increase the use of renewable energy sources (RES) such as wind and solar and also electric vehicles, all connected to smart electricity grids. The challenge is how to best integrate these non-conventional forms of energy and loads with the existing grids and eventually the emerging smart grids of the 21st century.


According to independent projections from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and other organizations such as the European, American and Canadian Wind Energy Associations (EWEA, AWEA, CanWEA), tremendous growth in wind and solar power worldwide is expected in coming decades. While the capacities of most existing renewable energy systems produce few megawatts (MW) of electricity, to meet the anticipated demand for more clean energy, the capacity of new RES must be several hundreds to thousands of MW. Integrating such large utility-scale wind and solar plants, along with electric vehicles presents unique challenges and opportunities. We will discuss some of these, the enabling information technology solutions to address them, and potential opportunities.


Wind and solar power are intermittent resources and as such make it difficult to operate the power grids to which they are connected. To successfully integrate RES, electric utilities must have reliable forecast information about the quantity and availability of the power output. Thus, forecasting systems are one of the primary requirements to achieving increased penetration of wind and solar energy. The second requirement is combining the forecast information with the real-time operational data in the utilities’ control centers for decision making – both in the front and back offices.


What has emerged as a third requirement is the need for a fully integrated renewable energy information system (REIS) that uses the information from smart sensors and other intelligent applications to optimize the utilization of the generation resources and grid assets for reduced environmental impact. While progress has been made on the first and second, not much work has been done on the third requirement. The need for REIS is based on the fact that utility operators have to assemble an avalanche of data from disparate sources in order to make informed decisions about the impacts of RES on grid operations and reliability. Operators need tools that will enhance their local and global situation awareness. Other users of REIS may include utility executives, managers and regulators. The executives and managers need decision dashboards to better manage their portfolio of RES and mitigate operational risks and uncertainty. REIS will also allow them to maximize their asset performance based on the opportunities in emissions markets. Finally, regulators will need REIS to monitor and determine renewable power plants are in compliance with environmental and reliability standards.


The market for REIS is in its wellspring phase as electric utilities are only now beginning to realize the scale of the challenges they expect to encounter with higher penetration of large RES. New operational paradigms are emerging that will require the development and use of advanced analytical tools and techniques. Some of these include: data mining and pattern recognition, faster and more accurate near real-time forecasting, ultra-fast simulators that correctly mimic the interaction between RES and smart electric grids.


It is inevitable that the transition to a carbon-constrained world will also involve using non-fossil based fuels for transportation. Transportation sector in most countries is major consumer of energy and is a big emitter of GHG. In the USA for example, the transportation sector accounts for more than 30% of the energy consumption. Acknowledging this, there is major push for sustained government and private sector investments to develop batteries and other technologies for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). So much so that recently, in approving several billions of dollars in loans to three US automobile manufacturers, the US government required that these companies as part of their restructuring include plans to begin manufacturing more environmentally and fuel efficient electric cars.


Research and demonstration projects in the US, the European Union (EU) and Australia have shown that PHEVs connected to the power grid can provide ancillary energy during peak hours. Electric cars and emerging battery storage technologies make the power from wind and solar dispatchable. However, for this to happen, utilities also need decision support systems that accurately model the electricity demand of new automotive load. Such a system would also need to constantly and reliably monitor and predict the available stored energy from fleets of geographically dispersed electric cars and other storage devices.


Finally, a critical infrastructure for the low-carbon energy economy is an efficient delivery system (Transmission & Distribution networks) for electricity. Today, regulators, policy makers and utilities around the world are responding to the need for modernizing existing T&D grids by utilizing advanced information, communications and control technologies. These modernized so-called “smart” or “intelligent” grids, will facilitate greater electricity demand elasticity, and make integration of renewable and electric cars easier.


Operating smart grids with large wind and solar plants, fleets of PHEV, and energy storage devices will present unidentified problems for utilities. Developing solutions to resolve these problems will require in depth knowledge of the new kinds of interactions between utilities and their customers. Also required is an understanding of new utility business models as well as the regulatory environments in which they must operate.


The markets along the value-chains in a carbon-constrained energy economy are expected to exceed hundreds of billions of dollars within the next 5 years. In spite of the current global financial crisis, governments around the globe seem determined to stick to their commitments of investing directly or indirectly through policy measures in clean energy. Dealing with climate change and the economic crisis simultaneously has become a global imperative. This was evident from the sense of urgency expressed by world leaders at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change held on December 11 – 13, 2008, in Poland. Another strong positive signal has come from US President-Elect Barrack Obama who is expected to propose an economic stimulus package that will promote investments in wind, solar, energy storage, and smart electric grids. Collectively, these global actions will spur growth in clean technology sector.


To effectively integrate large amounts of renewable power generation with existing and emerging smart power grids, there will be increasing need for modern information, communications and control technologies. But these are not the only prerequisites. There must also be investments in education and training a new work force to carry out the millions of new jobs expected to be created. Work force development must be an integral part of every country’s long term goal in order to compete in the 21st century global economy.


Having skilled human capital is a competitive advantage, and the critical hinge-point for wide-scale deployment of renewable energy, building smart grids, efficient energy storage devices and other clean technologies. However the emerging work force demographics could pose a major problem. In especially North America, Western Europe and Japan, the energy sector is facing a looming crisis of an aging work force within the next 5-10 years. Fewer new and younger people are coming in to replace those leaving. This trend may continue in spite of any potential negative impacts of the current economic crisis on retirement savings. Therefore the recruitment, education and training of more young people in energy related fields must be accelerated.


Transitioning to a carbon-constrained energy future will result in transformation of markets and industries. Given the current pace of technology advances, this will happen much faster and have impact on scale bigger than previous industrial revolutions. The market opportunities for harnessing wind, solar and electric cars along with smart grids can be found all over the globe - from North America, to China, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the emerging economies in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Those who invest in human capital, business innovation, as well as clean technologies today will be the market leaders of tomorrow.


About the Author: Lawrence E. Jones is a contributor to the Smart Electric Newsletter. He has affiliations with academic, Think Tanks, and business institutions including: University of Washington, AREVA T&D Inc., E. E. W. Jones Electrical Engineering Foundation and LAUVICOM Group. He is also Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc… He received his PhD, Lic.Eng., and Civ.Ing. degrees from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.


Disclaimer: The views expressed in this document by the author are his and not necessarily those of the organizations with which he is affiliated.

Assessing the potential of nanoscopic meadows in driving electric cars

A report has highlighted that nanoscale meadows of grass and flowers could hold the key to increasing the amount of energy that can be stored in ultracapacitors, devices tipped to replace batteries in high-demand applications like electric cars.

The approach adopoted by Hao Zhang at the Research Institute of Chemical Defence in Beijing, China, and colleagues at Peking University is as follows: It is being said that this purpose can be served by creating nanoscale meadows of fuzzy flowers of manganese oxide (MnO), a material with a much greater capacity for ions than activated carbon.

The usually resistant MnO can be charged up to attract the ions it can store so well, and consequently the nano-meadow performs 10 times better than MnO alone. The nanomeadow's complex structure is resistant to the mechanical degradation that reduces the performance of ultracapacitors over time. The energy capacity of the new device drops by just three percent after 20,000 charge and discharge cycles, better than other high-capacity designs.

According to NewScientist.com, Mike Barnes at the University of Manchester, UK, says this is an interesting approach to improving ultracapacitor performance. But he points out that that a design ready for market needs to be even more resistant to physical degradation. In vehicles, ultracapacitors are charged during braking, which might happen about 60 times per hour in urban situations.

PowerGenix signs deal with PowerEagle

PowerGenix has entered into a supply agreement with PowerEagle, a manufacturer of electric bicycles in China.

Under the agreement, PowerGenix will supply its nickel-zinc (NiZn) cells for pack fabrication into the entire product line offered by Veloteq, PowerEagle’s North American sales and distribution partner, beginning in 2009.

Veloteq acknowledged that PowerGenix’s NiZn batteries will enable the company “to achieve optimum performance while reducing power system size and weight.”

For its part, Veloteq investigated both nickel metal-hydride and lithium-ion technologies, but found that under deep discharge conditions only PowerGenix’s NiZn provided the high storage capacity that its power systems require while meeting Veloteq’s safety and reliability mandates.

As per the information available, PowerGenix’s power systems will be featured in both Veloteq’s “power-on-demand” models, powered exclusively by the electric motor, as well as “power-assist” models that require manual pedaling assisted by the electric motor.

PowerGenix batteries will also be incorporated in future product developments including an electric motorcycle that complies with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) standards.

PowerGenix’s batteries will allow Veloteq to increase the power output and range of their bikes while still achieving battery pack weight savings of 60 percent.

By providing more power and runtime in a smaller and lighter form factor, PowerGenix’s NiZn batteries allow ebike users to travel 40 miles on a single charge costing as little as three cents, five to six times less expensive compared with lead-acid batteries. In addition, charge time is cut down 75 percent to about 1 to 2 hours, providing enhanced mobility and longer travel ranges for ebike commuters, stated the company.

Johnson Controls-Saft bags $8.2 milion contract

The United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) has awarded Johnson Controls-Saft a contract as part of its broad battery technology research and development programme.

The contract is valued at $8.2 million.

The contract will focus on the development of lithium-ion battery systems for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and over the course of two years will seek to validate the commercial feasibility of lithium-ion technology for mass market PHEVs.

USABC, whose members are Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation, awarded Johnson Controls-Saft a similar contract in 2006 focused on lithium-ion battery systems for hybrid electric vehicles. It is one of several technology development consortia of USCAR, the United States Council for Automotive Research LLC.

According to USCAR, lithium-ion technology has the potential to dramatically change the personal transportation landscape for consumers. It can support multiple powertrain technologies, from PHEVs to fuel cell vehicles.

For its part, Johnson Controls-Saft is currently working on development of the complete PHEV system.

The system includes high energy capacity cells, battery management electronics, control software and an efficient thermal management system, all optimally packaged for safety and efficient integration into the vehicle.

Mary Ann Wright, who leads the Johnson Controls-Saft joint venture and is vice president and general manager for Johnson Controls hybrid battery business, said that specifically, key goals for this PHEV contract are to optimise cell and battery system design for 10-mile and 40-mile electric range vehicles.

Delphi sells its remaining 19.5 percent stake in EnerDel to Ener1

Ener1 has strengthened its position in the lithium-ion battery segment by acquiring exclusive ownership of EnerDel, including essential manufacturing and intellectual property assets from former JV partner Delphi Automotive Systems LLC.

Ener1 took the remaining 19.5 percent interest in EnerDel that it didn’t already own from venture partner Delphi, which has been in bankruptcy protection since 2005. Ener1 paid $8 million in cash and 2.9 million shares of Ener1 restricted common stock for the EnerDel stake.

Earlier this month, EnerDel indicated about its plans to expand its Indianapolis plant by the end of the year to start commercial production of 600-pound lithium-ion battery packs that will power a Norwegian-made all-electric car.

“We’re planning to expand rapidly. We’re scaling up to some big numbers,” said Charles Gassenheimer, chairman and chief executive of Ener1, had said, according to indystar.com.

EnerDel, which has a manufacturing facility near Indianapolis, has a contract to provide batteries to Norway’s Think Global over the next two years. In June, the companies announced the successful demonstration of an operational battery pack in a Think City electric vehicle.

EnerDel plans a 49,000-square-foot expansion and remodeling of its plant at 8740 Hague Road, where batteries are produced, according to a state-filed building permit. Currently, EnerDel does battery research at the plant and produces limited numbers of lithium-ion batteries for testing and development in electric cars and gas-electric hybrid vehicles.

LTC’s lithium-ion batteries target motor sports industry

Lithium Technology Corporation and Hybrid Racing AG have entered into an agreement to market specialised lithium-ion batteries to power advanced vehicles for the motor sports industry.

The applications will include batteries for cars, boats and planes to be used in consumer and professional racing vehicles.

On the development, Dr. Klaus Brandt, president and chief technical officer, LTC reiterated company’s belief that racing plays a significant role in pioneering the use of new technologies, such as lithium ion batteries. The company manufactures a range of cells with two different types of lithium ion chemistries, iron-phosphate and nickel-cobalt.

After the successful integration of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) Apollo/HHF Hybrid Concept car (HHCC) made by Gumpert and operated by Heinz-Harald Frentzen, President of Hybrid Racing AG and ex-Formula One (F1) racer and 1997 vice world champion, the parties concluded that there is an immediate need for LTC’s unique and innovative products in the advanced motor sports world.

The first race car utilising LTC's advanced lithium ion battery, the HHCC, uses a 3.3 liter V8 bi-turbo petrol mill with a 100kW electric motor. The 9kWh GAIA® battery is made of 90 high power 27Ah connected in series and weighs about 150 kilograms.

The battery includes an advanced battery management system (BMS) that transmits performance data via satellite for monitoring and enhanced performance control to the technical team. The battery is charged prior to races and recoups energy from braking during the race, as in PHEV mode. The electric range of the vehicle is approximately 50 kilometers.

MMC partners SCE and PG&E for its electric vehicle

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) is gearing for testing and evaluation of the new i MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle) electric vehicle.

MMC has signed a letter of intent with Southern California Edison (SCE) to forge a unique collaboration for the vehicle. As a result, the small, four-passenger Mitsubishi i MiEVs will enter SCE’s prototype testing and evaluation programme.

Tohru Hashimoto, corporate general manager of the i MiEV Business Promotion Office of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation said the collaboration will provide a technical feedback on i MiEV vehicle and battery performance, as well as vehicle connection and integration into the electrical system.

MMC is to also partner with Pacific Gas and Electric Co to test its zero-emission electric car for use in the US. The company shared that the joint partnership with PG&E will yield valuable data and a greater appreciation of the practicality of an all-electric vehicle in California.

The i MiEV electric vehicle, which is based on Mitsubishi’s “i” gasoline-powered mini car on sale in Japan, adapts a zero-emissions state-of-the-art electric drivetrain.

For its part, SCE hopes to help Mitsubishi Motors gauge how electric vehicles will most effectively connect to the smart grid of the future and the next generation Edison SmartConnect advanced meters. In addition, the collaboration may explore future requirements for vehicle communication and connection, helping enable new customer values associated with home energy management and control. The collaboration also complements SCE’s existing work on plug-in hybrids and next-generation advanced batteries and their effective connection and control by Edison’s next-generation meters.

According to MMC, the company has been involved in testing of i MiEV has been occurring over the past two years with seven major utility companies in Japan. These programmes have quickened the pace and prompted Mitsubishi Motors to begin selling the electric vehicle in the Japan market. According to latimes.com, Mitsubishi will begin selling the i-MiEV in Japan starting in August 2009 for between $45,000 and $50,000, not including government incentives of more than $15,000. A non-electric version of the car retails in Japan for about $20,000.

As per the information available, the four-passenger vehicle is smaller than a Toyota Scion xD or Honda Fit, but larger than Mercedes’ Smart car. In the i MiEV vehicle, a durable 330-volt lithium-ion battery system is located under the floor deck and powers a permanent magnet electric motor. The battery, which can be charged in five to seven hours using 220-volt current, gives the i-MiEV a 75-mile range and a top speed of 81 mph.

ZENN Motor’s plans buoyed by certification of EEStor’s technology

ZENN Motor Company’s goal of developing zero emission vehicles including highway capable electric vehicles has received a major fillip with its strategic partner EEStor gaining the third party verified permittivity milestone.

ZENN, which is also an equity investor in EEStor (3.8 percent) with the option of increasing its position upon EEStor’s announcing third-party permittivity test results, is already gearing up for the commercialisation of EEStor's energy storage technology.

The company is targeting the launch of the cityZENN, powered by EEStor, in the fall of 2009.

The cityZENN is planned to be a fully certified, highway capable vehicle with a top speed of 125 kph/ 80 MPH and a range or 400 kilometres/250 miles. Powered by EEStor, the cityZENN will be rechargeable in less than five minutes, feature operating costs 1/10th of a typical internal combustion engine vehicle and be 100 percent emission-free.

ZENN also plans to expand its low-speed product line-up for the 2009 model year with a four-passenger and a utility low-speed vehicle.

The company has exclusive rights to EEStor’s technology in the following markets: All new vehicles up to 1400 kg (curb weight), net of battery weight; All retrofit conversions of existing internal combustion vehicles to electric; All golf carts and small to mid-sized utility vehicles

ABAT ready for showing its expertise during Beijing Summer Olympics

Advanced Battery Technologies’ (ABAT) intelligent battery management system is ready for the forthcoming 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

The power management system will be used at the National Aquatic Center. It has been developed and derived from ABAT’s Intelligent Battery Management System (IBMS).

The development, according to the six-year old company, validates that its technology is for multiple uses.

ABAT develops, manufactures, and distributes rechargeable polymer lithium-ion (PLI) battery cells for use in rechargeable PLI batteries for electric automobiles, motorcycles, mine-use lamps, notebook computers, walkie-talkies and other electronic devices

Zhiguo Fu, CEO and chairman, ABAT said that a project of this magnitude authenticates the utility and functionality of company’s Polymer Lithium Ion batteries for electric vehicles.

Its intellectual property polymer lithium ion battery employs stack technique. Its structure is multi-stack parallel connection rolling type. This technique has gained patent rights from State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic of China.

ABAT says various tests done for the product show that it is practically superior to liquid-lithium ion battery that is now widely used in the market.

ABAT has a New York office, with its executive offices and manufacturing facilities in China. Last year, the company had opened an office in Beijing to develop nano-based batteries for electric cars.

Xcel Energy Selects GridPoint SmartGrid Platform for its SmartGridCity

Xcel Energy have selected the GridPoint SmartGrid Platform™ for its SmartGridCity™ in Boulder, Colo. The platform applies information technology to the electric grid to provide utilities with an intelligent network of distributed energy resources that controls load, stores energy and produces power.

Xcel Energy's advanced, smart grid system – estimated to be a $100 million effort when fully implemented over the next few years – will provide customers with a portfolio of smart grid technologies designed to provide environmental, financial and operational benefits. Xcel Energy's Smart Grid Consortium, bringing together leading technologists, engineering firms, business leaders and IT experts, will provide guidance, products and services needed to bring Xcel Energy's smart grid vision to life. Consortium members include Accenture, Current Group, GridPoint, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories and Ventyx.

"GridPoint provides an intelligent platform to aggregate and control a variety of energy resources in the home or business," said Michael Carlson, CIO of Xcel Energy. "We'll be able to test and confirm capabilities to meet the individual needs of our customers while also deploying new capabilities for balancing supply and demand in a clean and efficient manner."

The platform's modular, scaleable and upgradeable architecture enables Xcel Energy to deploy proven technologies (e.g. load control devices and advanced batteries) while creating a practical path for integrating new technologies (e.g. plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cells). Xcel Energy will be evaluating a variety of technology and system capabilities from GridPoint in conjunction with its SmartGridCity™ in Boulder, including, but not limited to:

Advanced Demand Management – Measuring, controlling and verifying select loads (e.g. electric water heaters, pool pumps, home appliances) as well as adjusting thermostats within a few degrees

Supply Management – Providing capacity and energy by discharging power to the electric grid from advanced batteries (including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) or distributed solar systems during peak periods as well as recharging batteries from solar systems or the electric grid during off peak times

Solar PV Integration – "Plug-n-play" integration and operation of residential and light commercial solar energy systems, paving the way for the commercial success of renewable energy

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) Smart Charging – Charging PHEVs during off-peak periods, regardless of when consumers plug in PHEVs, which enables Xcel Energy to offer consumers significantly reduced rates for off-peak charging

Single Interface for Control – GridPoint Control Console, a single Web-based interface located in the utility control room, provides Xcel Energy with the ability to easily control distributed energy resources, thereby providing the equivalent performance of central station generation. The console also provides an interface to Xcel Energy’s enterprise systems including CIS, rates, billing, OMS, etc.

Online Energy Management – GridPoint Customer Portal, a password protected Web portal, enables Xcel Energy’s customers to reduce energy consumption according to their individual preferences. The portal also provides easy to understand environmental data based on an individual customer’s conservation efforts

Instant Backup Power – Providing customers with instant backup power through advanced batteries

Performance Monitoring and Customer Support – GridPoint Operations Center, the intelligent hub of the platform, provides remote performance monitoring of distributed energy resources and alerts GridPoint customer services representatives to preemptively address maintenance needs

"Xcel Energy's vision for the Smart Grid and commitment to implementation demonstrate its leadership in the electric utility industry," said Peter L. Corsell, President and CEO, GridPoint. "We are very excited to be working with such an innovative utility."

To learn more about Xcel Energy’s SmartGridCity™, please see www.xcelenergy.com/smartgrid, which provides educational materials and graphics illustrating Xcel Energy’s Smart Grid vision. .

EPRI Joins Ford-SCE Analysis of Plug-In Hybrids on Grid

The Electric Power Research Institute and Ford have released details of a 3 year project focused on integrating plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the grid.

EPRI will form a collaborative of utilities in the New York-New Jersey area that will test Ford Escape PHEVs. Subsequent trials will be conducted with customers of the participating utilities.
Ford, which is also working with Southern California Edison (SCE), is the first automotive manufacturer to partner with the utility industry to facilitate advancing PHEVs. The new EPRI-Ford program will build on the ongoing Ford-SCE partnership and help determine regional differences in how the operation of PHEVs will impact the electric grid system.

"This partnership represents a concerted effort by the transportation and electric sectors to work together in advancing PHEV technology," said Mark Duvall, EPRI's program manager for Electric Transportation. "This effort should accelerate the pace of PHEV development while enabling the utility industry to prepare for the introduction of these vehicles."

Ford has designed and is building 20 Escape PHEVs for testing in the Los Angeles area under the Ford-SCE partnership. With this new EPRI-Ford agreement, Ford is able to expand the evaluation and demonstration program to include other utilities.

"EPRI brings our collaborative efforts related to the potential of plug-in electric vehicle technology to a new level," said Nancy Gioia, director of Sustainable Mobility Technologies at Ford. "PHEVs have great promise, but still face significant obstacles to commercialization, including battery costs and charging strategies. Ultimately such vehicles must provide real value to consumers."
The evaluation and demonstration trials should provide solid technical information on PHEVs that will enable the development of common standards among utilities to accommodate the vehicles.

"Expanding on the work Ford and SCE are doing can help move the automotive and utility industries closer in addressing the challenges of our transportation future," said Ed Kjaer, director of Electric Transportation at SCE.

PHEVs are part of a family of electric-drive technologies that could play an important role in achieving national objectives of energy security and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. They could also lower fuel costs and lead to more cost-effective use of the nation's electricity grid, particularly during off-peak hours.

EPRI, Ford and SCE's research and analysis on the Ford PHEVs will include data from four primary areas: battery technology, vehicle systems, customer usage, and grid infrastructure. The analysis will also explore possible stationary and secondary usages for advanced batteries.
The combined expertise of the partners in this project, Ford, EPRI and SCE, is designed to advance a greater understanding of a vehicle, home and grid energy system.

Source; EPRI