Over the past 15 years, we have seen accelerated growth in renewable energy – and a steady decline in the frequency response and system inertia of global utility grids. As more thermal generators are decommissioned, and more renewables connect to the grid, reliability and resistance are getting worse. Without new solutions to address the significant decline in grid reliability, this problem will only accelerate.
Alberta gives context to the size of the problem. The province has seen its frequency response capability decline by 35% over the last 10 years – and further accelerated decline by up to 10% a year is expected as Alberta incorporates more renewables into their grid. This is resulting in knock-on effects such as a de-rating of the BC-Alberta intertie that is meant to ensure adequate access to a means of frequency response. De-rating has directly contributed to the price of power in Alberta doubling – and nearly tripling – over the last 2-3 years. This same decline is seen around the world in electrical grids transitioning to renewables.
Atlas Power Technologies is developing a high-power fast responding energy storage system to ensure electrical grid reliability, while supporting renewable energy growth on power grids.
To meet the needs for a high-power, fast-responding electrical system, Atlas Power is engineering and commercializing supercapacitors into a complete energy storage system for utilities and electrical grids. This grid-scale supercapacitor energy storage system is integral as a growing percentage of our electricity is produced by intermittent renewables.
The Atlas system will facilitate power grid stabilization, power backup and peak demand power shaving. It will also reduce the strain on electrical grids due to the connection and use of fast EV chargers and EV charging infrastructure.
This NorthX-funded project supports the engineering of Atlas supercapacitors into a grid-scale energy storage system, and field testing of this system at a Voltarix 18.4MW solar farm.
