Barcelona Supercomputing Center

During the visit to Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), it is possible to see the physical center and at the same time, to know the applications of the Supercomputer. BSC is in number 34th on the Top 500 Supercomputer worldwide, waiting for new updating and then for scaling positions in the Top 500 ranking.

One Supercomputing is one big computer, which performs high operational rates, this rates are measured by Flops (Floating-point Operations per Second), and normally, this supercomputers are made by high number of computers in different architectures with applications to engineering or science simulations.

In the case of BSC, the system is integrated by 36 PC's, and in each of this PC's, there are 84 PC's. The system is based in Point-to-Point communication in one Parallel Processing Architecture, that's mean, every PC must be connected to all rest PC's. This Parallel Architecture is defined for operating in less time. Then every PC must be connected to 3023 points (36 PC's • 84 PC's = 3024) by fiber optic and cupper cable connection with high latency (cupper cable for the communication between Switches and Pc's. See Figure 1: orange: Fiber Optic and yellow: cupper cable).

Figure 1_Barcelona Supercomputing Center_Source: Javier Sanchez Rios picture.

All the BSC infrastructure is dedicated to implement simulations of complex systems. 

As examples, BSC is working in the study of one simulating system which will be able to supply big Data Processing Centers (DPC) with Renewable Energies, and then reducing the environmental impact and the O&M cost, for sure, big Data Centers from Google, Amanzon, Facebook etc will be interested in this investigation. Just imagine the combination of different supplying systems by Renewable Energies (Geothermal, Wind Power, PV Solar, CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) etc,  which as result, it gives the possibility for supplying the Data Center by the minimum amount of greenhouse gas emissions and the minimal cost for raw material in the electric supplying and cooling of the complete system. 

Following with the investigation of BSC, one of this projects is the study of new Computers Architectures in PC's. 

At the same time, the investigation team is working in aerodynamics simulation systems applied to Automotive Industry, for reducing the energy consumption in vehicles (see Figure 2 picture A; top left).

Other application is weather forecasting systems and wind conditions in Wind Farms, calculating turbulent kinetic energy, for having forecasting production for next 24-48 hours, very valuated information to the Electric System Operator for managing the Intermittent Renewable Energy (see Figure 2 picture B; top right). 

One more case, and following with this simulation applications, the simulation in the hydrodynamic systems, for optimizing the ship design and then the reduction of energy (see Figure 2 picture C; bottom left).

The last example selected by me, systems for predicting the level of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere. This nitrogen dioxide is produced by natural way, but only around 1% of total which is in atmosphere, the rest, it is produced by combustion processes, in cities mostly by transport vehicles. The nitrogen dioxide is responsible for photochemical smog, being one issue for human health and being one of the most important issues for air pollution in city environment. In the Figure 2 picture D (bottom right) it is possible to see which the highest number of grams by cubic meter is following the main cities in south west Europe. Following clockwise motion from top right corner, it is possible to appreciate the situation of Marseille, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, in Strait of Gibraltar, even the line formed by the high level of wind between north and south Mediterranean coast. Following the Atlantic coast; Lisbon, Porto and in northern with Cantabrian cities, in the center peninsule, Madrid, showing where the highest level of nitrogen dioxide is in the city.

Figure 2_Examples of R&D simulations projects in BSC_Source: Barcelona Supercomputing Center youtube channel and website.

Connecting with the applications of the simulation processes developed by Supercomputing Centers, just think about possible applications in future systems for Smart Grid Operations with forecasting for weather conditions and Renewable Energies production systems, for Smart Cities managing simulations systems, Demand Response, and even Health Care Industry and other multiple applications, and even evacuation systems, one project of BSC, in case of emergency, what are the possibilities of people reaction in one big cities for avoiding possible chaotic situations, like this example, etc and etc. 
Even, such as interesting and funny information, Pringles potatoes are with this peculiar form for being able to manage easily in production line and increase the production,, in terms of reduction of time (by high speed in the production line), this form is one result of one computational study.

Of course, this simulations systems are able to help for developing systems reducing the investing risk impacts and making simulation test which are very dangerous to make by Field Test (imagine nuclear applications). 
But the most important issue presented for developing bigger Computer and Database systems is just the energy consumption in the performing.

Considering the case of the BSC, the system has a consumption of 1.08 MW/year, only considering the computer system, not considering the cooling system.

The computer systems needs to work at 24ºC (297.15 Kelvin degrees) and for sure, in summer in Barcelona, it is normal to overcome this temperature. Just as information, imagine the number one Supercomputing in the World, which is consuming already 18MW/year (only computer system).

Regarding the consumption of the Computer Centers, it is not possible to change the energy consumption in terms of internal operation, only changing the structure (computing architecture or new materials). There are different projects in course in the Center. 
One, is using graphene in substitution of silicon, graphene has more conductivity in terms of thermal and electrical properties and then reducing the consumption of energy in the CPU's performance. There is also very interesting application in the same line for PV cells and LED lighting.

At the same time, the Center is working in developing CPU's based in mobile phone CPU's structure. Mobile phone has suffered great development in terms of energy efficiency, because the systems work with batteries, and then the first limitation is the energy. The high investment in mobile phone technology gives the opportunity for taking the experience in this technology and implementing in the Supercomputing technology, reducing the energy consumption and then giving the possibility to increase the capacity of operation in the Supercomputer systems.

In terms of Energy Efficiency, it is very important to reduce the energy consumption of the HVAC systems, which is the responsible for keeping the necessary temperature for the optimal funtionality of CPU's. 

The cooling system in BSC is using air system for keeping optimal temperature working range at 24ºC in CPU's and, at the same time, water for cooling this air in one close looping process. Of course this systems is with high energy consumption.

In the case of BSC, there is no any implementation for supplying the center by any Renewable Energy, but of course there is possibilities. 
Geothermal Energy, Such as possible solution for this cooling system it will be one possible solution for reducing the needs for the HVAC. Geothermal systems are well implemented in Nordics countries, even there is one possibility for even capturing Carbon Dioxide for Fossil Fuel Power Plants in combination with geothermal power production. 

Also is able to consider the Bioclimatic Architecture for getting the most profit of the own building in terms of temperature, sun radiation etc.

As a conclusion, with the increasing number of Supercomputing and Data Centers, Energy Efficiency in this kind of infrastructure, will be every day more important, because the capacity of the computer is increasing, and then, the needs for cooling the complete systems. 
May be, for that reason, Dublin is one of the world leaders cities of Data Centers installed, which weather conditions are optimal for this infrastructure.

In the meanwhile Data Centers and Supercomputing Centers will increase in the next future, for the increasing of needs for simulation process and for the increasing number of internet necessities, in terms of capacity, for the high volume of information, Energy Efficiency, will play a big role in the development of this systems, if not the cost and the operation of the complete system will be untenable.

Figure 3_ Cooling system for BSC_Source: Javier Sanchez Rios picture

Customer Service Strategy

There is no doubt, Social Networks are changing the relation of the complete society worldwide, creating one closer communication between people. This phenomena is called for some professionals in the Social Network such as: "Collective Intelligence".

In present, it is well known, there is people permanently connected to any Social Network, and the trend, is even increasing in terms of users and the content. As examples, the Radio had 50 million listeners in 40 years, TV had 50 million spectators in 13 years, Internet had 50 million users in 4 years and Facebook had 50 million users in only 1 year.

Some studies gives information about these Social Networks are covering one hole in the human relations, which has been activated for thousands years. In relation, there is Scientifics studies about some drugs, in concrete heroin, the most danger drug. Heroin is activating some parts of the brain which no other substance is able to cover, only by some experiences, but this experiences are difficult to experiment. For that reason, and by scientifics experimentation, this drugs are really with high dependence, because are feeding one lack in the brain.

Social Networks are in similar situation, are feeding one necessity of human being, the necessity of interacting with other people to socialize. If it is analyzed the pyramid of Maxwell, the human being is searching to cover after basic physiological needs in this order: affiliation, recognition and in the top of pyramid; self-realization.

During hundred years, the human social activities have been developed in the center of the villages, almost in Western culture, the center of the village was the center of the social and economical activity, all news was communicated in this centers, normally one square and the most important market, after this conception, it appeared newspaper, TV etc, but of course not being interactive . Nowadays, the people had the same features, and of course, the same relation (that society had in the old market), which nowadays one company or business, is able to have with customers; reputation, after-sales service etc.

The message is, the concept of the old market in the cities, with its human relationship in terms of social and economical activities, are coming back. Social Networks are bringing back this concept, the only change is the interface, in the past was face to face relation and nowadays are by Social Networks.

Having in consideration this concept, it is necessary to understand the importance of the social interaction of society, being this, one feature innate of human being, which recently is increasing after the crisis creating more collaborative society, sharing knowledge and making properly administration of this knowledge (creating and making retransmission of it).

Therefore, the communication of companies with customers also change. The companies must understand the needs of the customer, being this customer more and more important (see Figure 1). As example, following the Service Marketing main instructions, it has to be considered that for selling one Service, and even more one consulting Service, which is completely intangible, it is extremely necessary to take care about the image, the segmentation of customers and the customer loyalty, because the process of buying one Consulting Service, or one Service in general, it is a rational decision. Totally contrary of buying one product, which the irrational component is the most important, the emotion.

Figure 1_ The trend of the word "Customer" in the interest over time, from 2004 to nowadays in Google trend. Having a inflection point from end 2008 (crisis starting) giving support of the concept, the customer is day by day more important in business . Source: Google Trend

Following with Service concept, when it is bought one Service, the perception of risk is crucial, because is very difficult to change after contract it. Just thinking about risk in new possibilities of contracting a new Service, having in reference, one experience in the past, the customer is able to think "may be the new one is even worse". For that reason, is very important the Certification in the Service Business.

With this explanation, the idea is, in next future the value for selling Service, even in selling products, will be more important and will be implemented more day by day, because the products will bring more service, and this Service will bring the possibility to create "Loyalty", the most optimized Customer, the most profitable.

At the same time, in relation with Customer relationship, one study reveals the importance of customers in the new business Model of Utilities during the last DistribuTech in San Antonio (Tx), with one report 2014 State of the Consumer Report.

In this report, there is a clear mention of the disposal of customers to interact with Utilities, in that case with the interaction in the Utilities websites for being informed and staying in more close contact (even being part in a proactive perspective) and seeing by positive way the use of Renewable Energies.
All this information is exposing the needs to interact by different way compared the way it has been made so far, the companies, and not only Utilities, must interact with customers and make this customers parts of the companies, and of course, paying attention for staying updated in the new technologies and innovation and being creative because the ideas, companies and business models will change by exponential line.

The ways of making business, contact with customer etc, will change very quickly, and nobody knows which will be the way for do it in the next future, simply, it has to be invented. The companies which will achieve, it will be the companies which adapt more quicker to the new scenarios, not the companies best placed in the market, because this market will change every day faster (one example is Utility business model in the last 50 years). 
 

One interview to Salim Ismail, the CEO of Singularity University, exposed about the change of model. The business models, is based in the predictability, and the world is unpredictable. The democratization is going to be the future and the "crazy" entrepreneurs are going to be who will allow progress.

This will be one challenge, and it has to be taken like that, the companies must understand to change the communication with customers and to be proactive for offering one communication based in the interaction. 
The "Smart" technologies companies will give this opportunity, first by corporate Websites, Social Networks but also with applications in tablets, PC or Smart Phones. Not only creating tools or applications for helping to manage the Energy Efficiency in Homes, EV or PV rooftop system. Companies will be able to give possibilities to customer to create the innovation of the companies by the customer experiences, may be creating software applications open to development, like in some videogames the customer is creating new possibilities, why not create open applications for letting customer to create solutions, and not being Gamification Marketing, being real solutions of the customers, the real users of the product or service such as application developer by the interaction with apps. The companies will have to implement systems which not only offers solutions to customers created by companies, also will give possibilities to create solutions created by customers, because at the end, the customer will know better the applications than companies, staying in interaction with product or service and the day by day experiences.

Considering this interaction, this it will create one community, which will reinforce the brand, the affiliate of Maxwell pyramid, and then, the loyalty of the customer. Being customers the real "Brand Ambassadors" of the company. Even why not this company is creating the own Social Network for the community where there will be activities for customers, and then, creating community between the customers. This will be one new way to create the old market, but involving the brand such as common interaction, the only change is the channel, in the past was face to face and now by social Networks, and after why not, face to face between this customers by activities. 

With this implementation, the company has the opportunity to know the real needs of the customer, creating a long term and win-to-win (W2W) relation, proposing ideas which makes the customer feels part of the brand, and making this customers part of the community; affiliation, recognition and in the top of pyramid; self-realization.

For that, the companies will have to be consequential with its image, there is no possibility to give one image and after do the contrary. In the next future, the companies will have to be the complete responsible of its product or service, closing the 360º of the life cycle, it means. The companies will be the responsible for the complete business: production, recycling etc, and may be even more. For that, as example with recycling, will not be acceptable to send (after end of life cycle), products to other countries because there is no environmental restrictions or safety properly standards, because soon or later, this information come to light and will break the affiliation of the customer.

Connection with the sentence "and may be even more", and knowing this change will involved all industries, for example, automotive industry has one challenge with EV (Electric Vehicle) and FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle), because the EV implies some topics which the Automotive Industry never thougth, in this case, "give one integrate service for the complete new challenge".

In this integrate service will include applications in the Smart Phone for optimizing the charging of the EV.

The complete system for EV charger: (in house mostly long term charger = 8 hours full charged), solar PV rooftop systems integrates with other smart Home technologies (Air conditioned, or geothermal energy and security system). The producer of the EV will have to give applications which support one integrate system for managing all complete system, or at least the EV charger.

Such as one supposition, if this customer is recharging the EV during night, by energy produced from PV system during the day, covering with PV system the 70% of the battery load of the EV (in spring season).

If one day there is no production of solar PV energy by shadowing or cloudy day, (being the system related to one meteorological forecasting system). 
The owner of the EV is able to charge the complete battery of EV in the parking job center (after the jouney to the job the battery level is 30%), because the company has better price of the Electricity in the parking EV charger by one contract for employees (only using the long term charge, because for quick charge, the price is higher, and staying working minimum 8 hours, it is not relevance to use quick charge), then the EV is charged at the end of the work day and ready to start the journey to come back.

For tomorrow, the batteries will be charged in the house by the recommendation of the forecasting system which indicates that tomorrow will be a sunshine day, and knowing it is spring, the load will be already 70%, enough for making the journey to the job. Such as Safety reasons, the management EV Charger system estimate always a minimum charge in the EV of 30%, for the assurance for the jouney to the job center, one calculation for number of km (or milles) from house to job center.

With the experience information by the Smart Phone application system (in cloud data base) that in winter is only being able to complete maximum 40% of the load and in summer, during July and August , the complete 100% of the range of the EV charge. This information is including in the database with the reference of one deep study of the production of the PV system, the geographic location (by sun radiation) and the average consumption of Electricity in the house in every month by data (for considering solar hours, different in winter than summer) and historical weather conditions.

Figure 2_Example of PV systems. In the left side, the front of the building is installed PV panels for the electricity generation for the Building (Sto). In the right, one PV roof for supplying the cars of the vehicles of the industry_source: Javier Sanchez Rios.
* Consider Buildings with energetic certification, for example Leed (gold or platinum), where is included the EV chargers, it used to be in a preferent position in terms of value of the Real Estate Building Assets for selling or renting.

If the customer is not living in a sunshine country, the alternative will be by small wind energy or even with micro hydro power installed in the sewerage system in the neighbor community drain system (similar system is used in USA and first prototype in northern Spain). The system is collecting the water of raining and such as hydraulic system.

If the possibility is FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicles), in that case the system will change, because the hydrogen is very dangerous, high risk of explosions (highly flammable), and then, there will be no possibilities for managing in any house.
The hydrogen Fuel tank stocks in places with restrictions, in terms of security, similar to actual petrol stations but with its proper standards. Some implementations, one example in Barcelona Metropolitan Transport Company, are applying production of hydrogen by electrolysis process and supplied the production process by Renewable Energies.

The Hydrogen storage system presents complexity because the electric systems (switches, lighting etc) in the place of the storage must avoid any electric arc in the switching on/off or lighting on/off (for flammable features of the hydrogen). Even the warehouse is one cylindrical building, with one plastic cover on the top (roof), because in case of explosion the blast is going up, not expanding in circle avoiding bigger damages.

One example following with Hydrogen is; Schneider Electric & Areva have signed one contract for Hydrogen production by electrolysis for storage hydrogen in case of low demand in Wind Power Farms, why not in future this system is able to sell surplus production to FCV.

Making a conclusion of all exposed, please think about such as industry challenges. The new possibilities presented to automotive industry with EV & FCV in the next future. Because the challenge is not only regarding the vehicles, the automotive industry will have to give support to all involved EV & FCV. For example if customers want to know the level of batteries in the EV by the Smart Phones, the Automotive Industry will have to implement one communication systems which communicates the EV with charger, and both with Smart Phone.

In this case of situation, if the EV charger is installed in one new building, for sure the engineering studies are going to implement internet communication, mostly by cable (coaxial, fiber optic etc) or even wireless.
In existing buildings, the situation is more complicated. It will very expensive to implement one communication system from EV charger by conventional cable for internet communication, and even more wireless. Because, in the most of cases, the parking are underground (no wireless cover). May by, the communication by electric cables will be the solution for the communication between the EV and the EV charger (with one route). For that, it will be one solution in Power Line Communication (PLC), from underground floor to first floor, when the signal is arriving to first floor, then with one router for codifying the signal from PLC, after that, the system can use whatever wireless communication and being connected to whatever Smart Phone.

On the other hand, PLC is used in Automotive Industry for communication in the vehicle and then, for avoiding more cables in the wire harness of the Vehicle, using basiclyFlexRay, LIN (Local Interconnection Network) and CAN bus (Controller Area Network) developed by Robert Bosch GmbH, which nowadays is implemented in a lot of industrial implementations for its high reliability in industrial environments. See Figure 3 with one example of vehicle harness wire. But think about linking this PLC systems of the car with the PLC of the electric systems and then the possibility to the brand for receiving infomation about the performance in the car, like nowadays is working AMI systems, sending the information during the night, when the EV is charging and transmitting information to the database to the vendor: number of revolutions of the engine during the day, temperatures of performance etc, and then giving to this vendor more information for optimizing preventive maintenance and for staying in a better position for dealing with supplier (Procurement and Inverse Logistic).

Just imagine the communication infrastructure in existing buildings like big Supermarkets, Stadiums etc (in parkings with no wireless cover).

Figure 3_Sectioned Car 5 Series BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke) in Berlin Teknikmuseum_source: Javier Sanchez Rios

With all those inputs, the challenges presented by automotive industry are enormous. Automotive Industry, which so far there was no any implication in fuel availability. 
As may be will happen with hydrogen tanks, which the placed will be in emplacements similars that it is nowadays with petrol stations.
In case of EV, the long term charger will be implemented in every home or existing parkings buildings (outdoor & indoor), and it is well known the availability of charger points will play an important role in the EV implementaton. 
In relation with that, even Tesla, is implementing EV charges in highways (free of charger for Tesla customers)

Then, the Automotive Industry will have one great challence, because the customer, will want to know the state of the EV Bateries level (despite of the EV is placed: indoor or outdor parking, with wireless or not cover), and for getting this "Service", the Automotive Industry will need to implement new technological solutions which never face. Think about the other industries with other implementations...

Figure 4_ Tittle page from the book: El Vehículo Eléctrico, Desafíos Tecnológicos, Infraestructuras y Oportunidades de Negocio - (english: The Electric Vehicle, Technological Challenges, Infrastructure and Business Oportunities)_source: Javier Sanchez Rios.

References: 

1_El Vehículo Eléctrico, Desafíos Tecnológicos, Infraestructuras y Oportunidades de Negocio - (english: The Electric Vehicle, Technological Challenges, Infrastructure and Business Oportunities): Cetib (Col.legi Inginyers Tècnics Industrial de Barcelona), Circutor, STA (Sociedad Técnicos Automoción).

2_ Power Line Communication for Smart Grid, Smart Homes & Smart Cars. Edited by Krzysztof Iniewsky and Tracey Mozel 

  

Wind Power Over Production

It is well know the relevance of Wind Power production in Spain. In some cases, arriving close to 50% of the mix generation (see Figure 1).

As a example, the 28th January 2014, there was a pick of wind power yield, as it is possible to check in the Spanish TSO: Transmission System Operator  website (Red Eléctrica de España).


Figure 1_Wind Power Yield in the Spanish Electric System 28th January 2014// Source: REE

ACER (Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators), published some weeks ago an information which has to be considered.
This information is one study about the integration of Renewable Energies in the Electric System across Europe.
Taking a look in the case of Spain, whit high amount of Wind Power Generation. And being Wind Power, the most important of all Renewable Energies in terms of capacity and generation, comparing with other  Renewable Energies like PV Solar Power or CSP (Concentrated Solar Power).

In concrete, the study explains the amount of Energy, by in this case, Wind Power, it is necessary to manage by the TSO to the Electric System for over generation.

In other words, the amount of power which TSO must to manage for non being able to insert in the system, in consequences of the low demand. 

It is necessary to consider, this situation is happening normally during wind storms and low energy demand.

The study exposed that the Spanish Electric Systems "wasted" 8% of total Wind Power yield during the spring of 2013, in concrete 29th, 30th and 31st March 2013, days of holidays in Spain (see Figure  2).

Figure 2_Wind curtailment compared to demand in Spain, 25th to 31st March (MWh) Source: ACER

If it is compared this data with other countries, Spain has increased the negative progression respect other members of UE. 

If it is taken in consideration 2010 and 2011, the Wind Energy yield "wasted" was only near 1%, and comparing with Italy which "wasted", in some cases near to 5% and averages of 2% in 2011 and more than 1% in 2012. 

At the same time, Germany, UK and Ireland, with results being high than the range of Spain.

Getting in deep about what really happened in Spain for explaining this abnormal situation. It is has to be understood that 2013 was very rainy year. Considering Spain as a country with dry weather, because northern areas have abundant rainfall, but the most of people in Spain lives in Mediterranean coast, where normally suffers dry weather.
 

In contrary, 2013 was a really rainy year in Spain, and in consequence, the hydropower resources was really great, non having the possibility to use storage pump during night. Similarly, the crisis was decreasing the demand of Electricity in Spain from 2008 year by year.

On the other hand, Spanish Electric System  (data updated at end 2013) has 108.148 MW of installed Power (all kind of Energy Production), 0.2% more than 2012, even having a Demand Decreasing. An example for that is, in 2013, the maximum power needed for the complete system was 40.227 MW (27th February 2013). Other point for considering is, those days , Spain is under cold and wind storm.

This means, less than half of the total power installed, even considering 20% of "Security Range" for whatever unusual event, is over capacity. It means, the Electric System does not need it. Then, with this information it is possible to conclude next, for Spanish Electric Systems is not needed around 48.000 to 50.000 MW Power Generation installed. Knowing the cost of that for the public entities and for private investors which made investments in Renewable Energies in time when in Spain was enabled Feed-in-Tariff, overall in Cogeneration plants which right now are not profitability (around 27.000 MW installed).
Looping the loop, 2013 was a year which was even installed Concentrated Solar Energy plants, increasing 15% (2.300 MW) of its capacity, and also, an increasing of 3.2 % of Photovoltaic (2.300 MW) and Wind Power which has been increased 0.8%.

Considering all this information it is easy to think about the issues presented in the Spanish Electric System for the future (see Electric SystemChallenges blog), decreasing demand with over capacity.

Regarding the ACER  information, the study proposed to reinforce the Spanish  interconnection between France, Morocco and Portugal for having more flexibility in cases like exposed. It means, to use the international interconnection to export in whatever case of over production, and then mitigate the possible Electric System collapse by overloading Power Lines and Trafos. See interconnection for 29th March 2013 as example in Figure 3, source:   Electricity Interconnection in South-Western Europe .

Having in consideration the yellow area of Figure 2 (wasting Wind Production), the Electric interconnection of Spain between France, Morocco and Portugal during this day, even having during night hours over production. It is well understood the system exported Electric production to France, but incomprehensibly the system imported Electric production from Portugal, and there was no active intereconnection between Spain and Morocco during night hours (see Figure 3  Hours 02-03 to 07-08). Even the systems imported electricity from Portugal in this critical night hours (of course being a little bit less than other hours).

Of course ACER is recommending it has to be more understanding between all European Electric interconnections and also with Morocco. Because, it is not possible to waste Electric production and at the same time, importing electricity from Portugal to Spain.

Figure 3_ Spanish Electric interconnection in real time jfor 28th January 2014: Source: Electricity Interconnection Wester-South Europe

Nevertheless, it has to be considered to apply the technological resources it has nowadays in the field. Wind Power, it will be able to success with more efficiency and then, overcome the most important disadvantage.

It is well known, the storage systems will be one of the most advantages systems for the Wind and Solar PV Energy achievement. With the feasebility to control the concrete moment to integrate the intermittent  energy. Which sometimes is not needed when is produced, the question is easy, are right now available this conventional storage systems, in terms of profitability. It seems in  some states the technology is taking off. 

But, it is the time for integrating in Renewable Energies investments this technologies, with the cost it represents. May be is necessary to wait more time for being possible to integrate this storage systems in Wind & PV Solar Power projects. Just waiting for more mature technology and then, to get lower cost generation. Because it is well known, the systems are well introduced in the field.

Last news informed about the progression in the new technologies in the storage systems. Researchers has developed a metal-free flow battery which performs also with vanadium flows batteries, reducing the use of the expensive metal and being free of precious metals. And of course, the time and investments will reduce the cost of this storage systems.

Similarly, Demand Response will play one important role, also in this Wind Power achievement. Just for growing the demand during night hours, with incentives for increasing the electricity demand in this hours. When the consumption is less, peak-off hours normally in residential and industrial consumptions (see Figure 4 of the 28th January 2014, peak-off from 2:00 h. to 6:00 h. /Spanish Case - Western Europe Area - latest sunset Europe compare with central and east Europe). Of course, Europe is a little bit in one emerging situation in this topic compared to US.

Figure 4_ Electricity demand tracking in real time, associated generation mix and CO2 emissions_Source: REE (www.ree.com)

The other technology which can help to reduce the "waste" of this electricity generated is EV Charger. Which is able to incorporate inside Demand Response management, and play a great role in the process of smooth the electric load curve. Increasing the demand during the night with the charging of EV, for that, of course, it is needed the implementation of the EV. And, at the same time, the EV Charger in the most of residential consumers. This will reduce the fluctuations and reduce cost of the Electric System operation.

Figure 5_ Inside the Nacelle of one Wind Turbine during Hannover Messe im 2004 where is possible to see the high number of poles in the generator_Source: Javier Sanchez Rios

Electric Systems Challenges

Some weeks ago, I read in a Spanish newspaper information coming from the president of one of the Top 5 Spanish Utilities, Mr. Ignacio Sánchez Galán. He talked about the possibility to transfer the incentives (Feed-in-Tariff), which the Spanish Government gives to the Renewable Energies producers (mostly Wind and PV Energy), to the investigation for getting a more profitable production in this Renewable Energy technologies and, at the same time, insert this Wind and Solar PV yield in the Pool at the same conditions than the rest of generation (being out of Feed-in-Tariff incentives).

This information was communicated to the European Union last 11th October in Brussels by the 10 CEO of the Top 10 Utilities in Europe which represents the 50% of the Electricity production and the 30% of the Renewable energy production in the EU, having more than 213 million customers. With this information, the Utilities wants to transmit that the Integration of Renewable Energies in the Electric System has economical and technical consequence.

From the technical point of view, Wind and Solar PV Energy is not fully controlled such as could be Hydraulic, thermal or other technologies (Utilization Factor), just by the nature of the wind and sun (not stable and shadowing respectively). 

Like in the most European countries,in Spain, the Renewable Energies have a priority to enter in the Electric Pool such as first option in the mix generation . It means, all the other generation must to enter in the mix after the clean energies. 
This process has consequences in the Operation of the Electric System, because the first to enter in the Pool, is the most intermittent yield (Wind and Solar PV Energy).

In line with what is mentioned in the previous paragraph, which has serious technical consequences, it is necessary to have the respective forecasting systems to predict the energy production for every Renewable Energy Tecnology (e.g.: Wind Power Forecasting systems; Sipreolico; Spain / Prediktor: Denmark / Eurowind: Germany) to align supply and demand. As a example, in Spain, the System Operator is controlling in some cases, even more than 20 % of the mix generation by Renewable Energies (mostly Wind Power).

Other point for having in consideration, is the quality of wave which generates this big amount of Electricity generated by Wind and Solar PV Energy, which at the end, is integrated in the Electric Systems. 
This amount of electricity can create consequence in the frequency stability of the Electric System, for not being 100% controlled, but also, it has to be considered that the instability in the system can be produced by the own characteristics of the AC Electric System (mostly used worldwide), which the demand must be adjusted to the production, simply because the AC is not possible to storage. 
The main point is, this frequency it will be the base of time (clock) of the microcontrollers of the electronics systems, which, some of them, are responsible for security control systems. As a example related directly with this issue; the Nuclear Plants could switch off for security reasons when the frequency is going down from the value of 49 Hz (in the case of being placed in Europe with the frequency reference in 50Hz). In this case, the Nuclear Plant falls down, therefore, if the Electric System needs this Nuclear Plant for any peak demand, it needs a long time for getting in an stable situation for producing again. This time can arrive even to 45 or 50 hours in some cases, and of course, creating a serious problem in moments of high peak demand.

If this is not enough, the future applications like EV charger will integrate a high number of harmonics in the Grid, which are overloading the capacity of the complete systems: Power lines, trafos and protections systems. 

Having in mind this issues exposed, the point is, the Utilities are responsible for the assurance of the electricity supply, and then supporting the issues which generates Renewable Energies in the complete Electric Systems, and the cost in the distribution assets, which of course are responsible Utilities.

Economically, and taking in advance the situation, which Onshore Wind Power is producing at 80€ MW/h, Offshore Wind at 180€ MW/h, and Solar PV at 400€ MW/h, there is a big difference between Wind and Solar technology. 
The possibility for inserting this technologies in the "ordinary" pool, staying out of the "special regime", named adopted in Spain for designation of non subsidiaries -out of Feed-in-Tariff, and take this economic resources to the investigation for optimizing economically and technically both technologies, and specially Solar PV, for the high Levelized Cost of Energy, is getting a conclusion for some professionals: the actual system is not working, because is increasing the cost of Electricity and reducing the competitiveness of the companies.

From another point of view, from Renewable Energy producers and some customers, one point which is not in consideration from the Utilities, is the great investment in Electric Distribution and Transmission AC Power Systems made in the past, before crisis, when the Electricity demand was increasing year by year. 
Nowadays, this demand is even lower. In consequence the end consumer is paying a bill which includes this bad forecasting on demand made before crisis, as it happened in Spain, but also it is necessary to consider other cases, as a example the Australian Electric System is in the same roll, the demand is falling down but the bill for the end consumers is increasing every month by month.

Germany, one of the most important examples to follow regarding policy in Renewable Energies, which is still the worldwide number one in Photovoltaic MW installed and one reference in Wind Energy ,has approved the first coal-fired plant in eight years, this situation shows the change in the Energy Policy (also one example in New England, USA), which in the new Energy Policy, after the new government coalition, the new policy is eliminating the subsidiary for Wind Energy and keeping only the Feed-in-Tariff for Photovoltaic industry. This situation, it gives an idea about the situation of the Electricity price for the German consumers and companies which must pay the cost of Clean Energy. Even there is a possibility, in the next future, of the non increasing demand of electricity. But this, it seems not probable for German economy next year - very diversified economy with high value products and services and with records on exports, may be for getting the best worldwide Network of Commerce Chambers.

In the particular case of Spain, from the point of view of Renewable Energies producers, which erected projects with specific Feed-in-Tariff conditions defined by the previous Spanish Government, which right now, this conditions, are not implemented. 
The final consequence has been the modification of the law, breaking the security for the investors, receiving complaints from the most important investors of this Renewable Energy projects (e.g.: RREEF from Deutsche Bank and the last in the list; Eiser Infrastructure ltd with the Luxemburg subsidiary: Energia Solar Luxemburg). 

Moreover, Renewable Energy producers and End Customers, are claiming about the cost of Electricity, they demand one audit of the fixed cost of the Electric bill. 
In the Spanish Electric System, the bill of the Electricity is make by two sections; one variable (cost of Electricity production depending of supply and demand) and the fixed cost. Regarding the fixed cost, as it happens in some countries, the transmission of electricity is not a private business, in the most of cases, it is a company regulated by the State, which is also composed by private investors, having no competence, just for being one "strategic sector".

At the same time, the distribution, which is related directly to private companies, are responsible of the distribution of the Electricity. And this distribution, is included in the fixed part of the Electric bill, for using this infrastructure in terms of capacity.  

The question of this Renewable Energy producer and part of End Customers is, which is the value of the infrastructure of transmission and distribution of the Electricity which is included in the fixed section of the Electric bill?, who audit the real cost of this infrastructure? The customer must pay in the Electricity bill for using this infrastructure because is "the way" which use the Electricity for arriving from the production to the End Customer connection. The problem presents nowadays is, the demand is decreasing but the price of Electricity is increasing. The first consequence for that is, the reduction of competitiveness in the Spanish economy for the high price of Electricity, and on the other hand, one collateral issue, the increasing production of Coal Power Plant.

In conclusion, it is well known the Utilities gives the responsibility to the policy for the excessive cost of Feed-in-Tariff subsidiaries to Renewable Energies. But is well known, when there is a great production of Wind Power (in the case of Spain can arrive to an average of 20% of the total mix generation, and in some cases being almost 50% of the total production) the cost of the Electricity gets down, then, the Renewable Energies are not the responsible for increasing the Electricity price.

The claim of Renewable Energy producers (and also some part of the End Consumers) is why the price of the Electricity is increasing and the demand decreasing. Some reports talk about the Utilities will invest in AMI and Analysis of the grid for DR control systems in the next years, but I think the Electric System must review some points which are on the table in a short term. May be what exposed the President of one of the Top 5 Utilities in Spain is right, when he is saying to "relocate" the money of Feed-in-Tariff for the  Renewable Energies (PV and Thermo-solar) into the Research for getting this technology "mature" in terms of profitability. But on the other hand, the Utilities and Government must review the cost of transmission and distribution assets because it is not possible to pay more money for the Electricity when the demand is lower.

Bottom line: All parts must be opened to find one solution because is in risk the competitiveness of the economy.