It’s no secret that renewable resources have continued to strengthen their foothold in the energy business over the past few years. According to the International Energy Agency’s latest marketing report, renewable power generation reached almost 22% globally, putting it on par with natural gas. And in the U.S., the Energy Information Administration’s Electric Power Monthly publication reported 14.3% of U.S. electricity generation comes from renewables. However, while wind and solar systems are gaining traction, John Kosowatz, senior editor at ASME.org (the American Society of Mechanical Engineer’s official website), explains that these sources produce power intermittently, which means “feeding it into the grid efficiently presents operational problems.” His suggested solution: batteries.
In a December article posted on ASME’s website, Kosowatz discusses the likelihood of lithium-ion batteries being used for large-scale energy storage. Although high costs and limited manufacturing capacity have previously kept utility companies from embracing the use of batteries for large-scale electrical storage, studies by Navigant Research show grid energy storage jumping significantly, from 538.4 MW this year to 20,800 MW by 2024. Another published report states that battery prices are expected to be competitive by 2018, a belief strongly tied to Tesla Motors’ “gigafactory.” Slated to open in Nevada in 2017, this factory would produce the type of batteries capable of harnessing and storing the energy generated by wind and solar systems.
Of course, as with any product in development, the technology may experience a few setbacks along the way. Several well-publicized incidents in recent years—including Sony’s consumer-laptop fires and Boeing’s grounding of its 787 Dreamliner fleet—have raised concerns over the safety of lithium-ion batteries.
Organizations such as AVL, the world’s largest independent company for the development, simulation and testing technology of powertrains for passenger cars, trucks, and large engines, are taking a new approach to assessing the thermal management of the battery packs and systems found in today’s electric vehicle. Using 3D FEA modeling, individual cell temperature patterns throughout the battery pack can be evaluated. This helps engineers determine the placement of temperature sensors and to simulate various cell geometries that can help ensure a safer, large-scale lithium-ion battery. See AVL’s previous Abaqus case study, “Keeping it Cool With Realistic Simulation."
What other ways do you see SIMULIA technology being applied to develop safer ways to harness and store renewable energy? Let us know in the comments!
