Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
source, hydropower accounts for the dominant portion of electricity generated
from all renewable sources.
In many locations of the world, hydropower is complementary with wind power,
while the seasonal wind power distribution is higher in winter and spring but lower
in summer and fall, hydropower is lower in the dry seasons (winter and spring) but
higher in the wet seasons (summer and fall). Thus, the integration of wind and
hydropower systems can provide signifi cant technical, economic, and systematic
benefi ts for both systems. Taking a reservoir as a means of energy regulation,
“green” electricity can be produced with wind-hydro hybrid systems.
7.8.3 Wind-hydrogen system
Hydrogen is an energy carrier and can be produced from a variety of resources
such as water, fossil fuels, and biomass. As a fuel with a high energy density,
hydrogen can be stored, transported and then converted into electricity by means
of fuel cells at end users. It is widely recognized that wind power, solar power and
other renewable energy power generation systems can be integrated with the elec-
trolysis hydrogen production system to produce hydrogen fuel. The largest wind-
to-hydrogen power system in the UK has been applied to a building that is fuelled
solely by wind and “green” hydrogen power with the developed hydrogen mini-
grid system technology. In this system, electricity generated from a wind turbine
is mainly used to provide to the building and excess electricity is used to produce
hydrogen using a state-of-the-art high-pressure alkaline electrolyser [115].
7.8.4 Wind-diesel power generation system
Wind power can be combined with power produced by diesel engine-generator
systems to provide a stable supply of electricity. In response to the variations in
wind power generation and electricity consumption, diesel generator sets may
operate intermittently to reduce the consumption of the fuel. It was reported that a
viable wind-diesel stand-alone system can operate with an estimated 50-80% fuel
saving compared to power supply from diesel generation alone [116].
Wind-diesel hybrid power systems have been studied since 1995 in the US. Till
now, many new techniques have been developed and a large number of wind-
diesel power generation systems have been installed all over the world [117].
According to the proportion of wind use in the system, three different types of
wind-diesel systems can be distinguished: low, medium, and high penetration
wind-diesel systems. Presently, low penetration systems are used at the commer-
cial level, whereas solutions for high penetration wind-diesel systems are at the
demonstration level. The technology trends include the development of robust and
proven control strategies [ 41 ].
References
[1] Zervos, A., Wind power as a mainstream energy source. Proc. of the 2009
European Wind Energy Conf. , Marseille, March 2009.
[2] Nelson, V., Wind Energy - Renewable Energy and the Environment , CRC
Press, 2009.
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