The AES Corporation : AES Combines Advanced Battery-Based Energy Storage with a Traditional Power Plant
05/03/2012| 12:05pm US/Eastern
Recommend:
New Hybrid Electric Power Generating Plant Serves Chile's Northern
Grid
AES Gener and AES Energy Storage today announced the commercial
operation of the second energy storage project in Northern Chile,
integrating 20MW of advanced battery-based energy storage with a 544MW
thermal power plant. The project is owned by AES Gener, the second
largest power generator in the country, and will operate through its
subsidiary, Empresa Eléctrica Angamos S.A. (Angamos). AES Energy
Storage, a leader in energy storage partnerships, marks another
commercial project to employ the company's advanced reserves product.
This project builds on the success of an initial partnership between the
two companies, both subsidiaries of the AES Corporation, to develop a
12MW energy storage system integrated with AES Gener's Norgener power
plant. Located at an electrical substation 172 kilometers from
Antofagasta, Chile, the Los Andes Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
has been delivering a similar reliability service since 2009.
"As one of the largest power generators in Chile, we're consistently
looking for ways to unlock value of our existing plants while
maintaining grid reliability and flexibility," said Felipe Ceron, CEO of
AES Gener. "Since 2009, we've been working with AES Energy Storage to
free up generating capacity at our Norgener plant by employing a
battery-based installation to meet the power system's obligations for
spinning reserve. That project has been in commercial operation for
nearly three years, and we're now applying the service on a larger scale
with Angamos."
Much like a hybrid electric vehicle incorporates a battery component to
improve efficiency; combining battery storage with a traditional power
plant allows the plant to more effectively use its own generated power
while continuing to provide essential spinning reserve services. The
advanced reserve capacity provided by the storage technology will enable
the Angamos plant to generate an additional 20MW of energy at virtually
all times throughout the year, which would otherwise be tied up to
maintain the plant's grid reliability responsibilities in the case of
unexpected transmission loss, the failure of a power generator, or
another accident that might otherwise necessitate reduced power to
customers. As a result, this newly available energy will increase power
generation from the Angamos plant by 4 percent.
"The Angamos BESS is a great example of how our advanced reserves
product helps utilities and power companies to get even more out of
their critical assets," said Chris Shelton, President of AES Energy
Storage. "This new unit will allow Northern Chile to improve grid
reliability, increase energy efficiency, and create a more sustainable
power system."
Designed, built and operational in just fifteen months, the energy
storage system provides superior speed and response to any system
reliability event such as loss of transmission, or loss of a power
generator. Fast response enables the power system operator to maintain
and restore the grid with less shedding of load from customers or other
disruptive actions. In 2011, the first 12MW project in Los Andes was
noted by the region's grid operator, CDEC-SING, as one of the best
performing reserve units in Northern Chile.
AES Energy Storage worked with AES Gener throughout the design,
development, and installation of the Angamos BESS. AES Energy Storage
worked with CDEC-SING, AES Gener and its partners to configure the
parameters of the advanced reserves product enabling the Angamos BESS to
meet the performance requirements of the electrical system operator and
respond autonomously within established parameters. The advanced
reserves product also features system monitoring, SCADA and integration
with other operational systems to ensure product performance and high
reliability.
The Angamos BESS is comprised of approximately one million advanced
lithium-ion battery cells, divided between ten 2MW battery containers,
and five 4MW power controls containers. A123 Systems supplied the energy
storage systems for the project. The power controls modules were
provided by ABB.
About AES Gener
AES Gener's principal business is the generation of electricity in the
long term, having achieved leadership in Chile based on its installed
capacity, diversification and integration of broad business
sustainability. At present, AES Gener has total installed capacity of
4,821 MW which includes hydroelectric, coal, natural gas, diesel and
biomass plants. In Chile, the Company operates in the Central
Interconnected System (SIC) and the Northern Interconnected System
(SING), accounting for 21% of the installed capacity in the country. AES
Gener also operates in Colombia, through AES Chivor, and Argentina,
through TermoAndes S.A. The Company is currently constructing new
generation plants (Ventanas IV and Alto Maipo) which will contribute
additional capacity of 800 MW to the Chilean electric market and also
holds environmental permits for new plants such as Cochrane, Guacolda V
and Los Robles. AES Gener has more than 1.100 employees. AES Gener is
owned 71% by AES Corp, an international power company with presence in
27 countries.
About AES Energy Storage
AES Energy Storage is a subsidiary of the AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), a
company that has served utility customers around the world for 30 years,
helping them to deliver safe, reliable power. The company is a leader in
commercial energy storage partnerships, which enable utilities, power
markets and renewable developers to manage projects from concept to
operation. The company's energy storage products unlock value from
existing power infrastructure liberating reserve capacity, enabling
renewable facilities to generate new revenue streams, improving
flexibility and reliability of the power system, and meeting peak power
demand. With 72MW online, AES Energy Storage has the largest fleet of
battery-based storage projects in commercial operation today. The
company has over 1,000MW in development with partners in the US and
abroad. To learn more, please visit www.aesenergystorage.com
or on Twitter @aes_es.
Safe Harbor Disclosure
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Securities Act of 1933 and of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
those related to future earnings, growth and financial and operating
performance. Forward-looking statements are not intended to be a
guarantee of future results, but instead constitute AES' current
expectations based on reasonable assumptions. Forecasted financial
information is based on certain material assumptions. These assumptions
include, but are not limited to, our accurate projections of future
interest rates, commodity price and foreign currency pricing, continued
normal levels of operating performance and electricity volume at our
distribution companies and operational performance at our generation
businesses consistent with historical levels, as well as achievements of
planned productivity improvements and incremental growth investments at
normalized investment levels and rates of return consistent with prior
experience.
Actual results could differ materially from those projected in our
forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and other
factors. Important factors that could affect actual results are
discussed in AES' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including, but not limited to, the risks discussed under Item 1A "Risk
Factors" in AES' 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Readers are encouraged
to read AES' filings to learn more about the risk factors associated
with AES' business. AES undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Any Stockholder who desires a copy of the Company's 2011 Annual Report
on Form 10-K dated on or about February 24, 2012 with the SEC may obtain
a copy (excluding Exhibits) without charge by addressing a request to
the Office of the Corporate Secretary, The AES Corporation, 4300 Wilson
Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203. Exhibits also may be requested,
but a charge equal to the reproduction cost thereof will be made. A copy
of the Form 10-K may be obtained by visiting the Company's website at www.aes.com.
Text 100
Kristin D?Ambrosio, 914-374-2147
Kristin.dambrosio@text100.com
© Business Wire 2012
Recommend :
