POWER July 2014 - 13

of two large tanks that store electrolytes
containing iron and chromium-both
abundant, relatively low-cost materials
that are relatively environmentally benign.
During discharge, the electrolytes
are pumped through an electrochemical
reaction cell and power becomes available.
To store energy, the process is reversed.
EnerVault, however, has developed a new
electrolyte pumping system to improve the
efficiency of the charge/discharge cycle. In
its design, electrolytes flow through a " cascade "
of cell stacks, each holding electrolyte
with a progressively lower state of charge.
That allows an increase in energy density
compared to a conventional flow battery.
Development of the technology was
backed by $5 million in Department of
Energy (DOE) funding. The DOE says that
flow batteries could be an especially good
solution for small island grids such as Hawaii
or at military bases. Or, they could
be paired with renewables and used in a
microgrid that can continue to operate
during a power outage.
POWER Digest
Chile Banks on Renewable Capacity
Expansion, Energy Efficiency.
Chile in
mid-May released a $650 million investment
plan to reduce energy costs and
promote non-hydro renewable energy development
for the country that imports
about 60% of its primary energy resources.
The plan calls for a 30% cut in marginal
power costs on Chile's central grid, which
serves 90% of the country's citizens, by
2018. It also requires that 45% of power
capacity installed between 2014 and
2025 be from solar, wind, and geothermal
sources to put Chile closer to its target
of producing 20% of its energy from renewables.
The government also called for
energy savings of up to 20,000 GWh per
year. Experts have warned that Chile must
triple its 18 GW capacity within 15 years
to continue growing its economy (see
" Chile's Power Challenge: Reliable Energy
Supplies " in the September 2012 issue).
Chile's power mix is dominated by hydropower,
but droughts have left a country
that has no indigenous oil or natural gas
reserves energy-strapped. Beyond calling
on the state oil company to boost exploration,
the country also hopes to build a
liquefied natural gas import terminal in
the mineral-rich north.
Columbia Passes Renewable Energy
Law. Columbia in May passed a bill that
encourages investment in research and development
of clean technologies as well as
the use of renewables via tax incentives. The
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bill also calls for rural areas that are isolated
from the national grid to take up unconventional
renewable energy solutions.
Germany Approves Industrial Exemption
to EEG Fees. Germany's federal
government in early May approved a bill
that, if adopted in July, will become effective
in August and protect energy-intensive
industries from increases in a levy
to promote renewables under the 2008 Renewable
Energy Act (EEG). The EEG surged
to €0.0624/kWh in 2014-a 20% increase
that represents nearly a fifth of residential
electricity bills. Eligible companies will be
defined by guidelines set by the European
Union. They will pay 15% of the EEG fee,
though payment is limited to 4% of the
gross added value of the company (limited
to 0.5% for energy-intensive consumers
such as steel or aluminum plants).
Mexico's Energy Reform Efforts Inch
Forward. Mexico's efforts to pass secondary
legislation to finalize its energy reform
are grinding ahead slowly, and experts say
final passage of the bills could occur before
the end of June. The country's federal
congress and a majority of state congresses
in December passed the much-awaited
constitutional energy reform, which could
spark increased private participation in
power projects, lower electricity prices,
and transform the profile of the country's
ossified, state-dominated power sector.
Turkey Point Reactors Get Florida
State OK. Florida's state authorities have
granted Florida Power and Light (FPL)
approval to advance development of two
planned AP1000 units at the Turkey Point
Nuclear Power Plant, which already has
two 1970s-built reactors. FPL submitted
a construction and operating license application
for the new Units 6 and 7 to the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2009,
but it is still awaiting approval. In 2011,
the Florida Public Service Commission allowed
FPL to recover costs for the nuclear
investment via customer charges.
Westinghouse to Fuel Three Vattenfall
Reactors. Westinghouse Electric Co.
was selected in May by Vattenfall Nuclear
AB in Sweden to provide replacement nuclear
fuel deliveries and related engineering
services for three reactors: Forsmark 3,
Ringhals 3 and Ringhals 4. The contract includes
yearly deliveries of fuel for the three
reactors during a four-year period (2016 to
2019). Westinghouse will produce the fuel
at its facility in Västerås, Sweden. ■
-Sonal Patel is a POWER associate editor
(@POWERmagazine, @sonalcpatel)
http://www.powermag.com
POWER July 2014

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