This report describes the creation and use of a database for energy storage technologies which was developed in conjunction with Netbeheer Nederland and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences. This database can be used to make comparisons between a selection of storage technologies and will provide a method for ranking energy storage technology suitability based on the desired application requirements. In addition, this document describes the creation of the energy storage label which contains detailed characteristics for specific storage systems. The layout of the storage labels enables the analysis of different storage technologies in a comprehensive, understandable and comparative manner. A sampling of storage technology labels are stored in an excel spreadsheet and are also compiled in Appendix I of this report; the storage technologies represented here were found to be well suited to enable flexibility in energy supply and to potentially provide support for renewable energy integration [37] [36]. The data in the labels is presented on a series of graphs to allow comparisons of the technologies. Finally, the use and limitations of energy storage technologies are discussed. The results of this research can be used to support the Dutch enewable Energy Transition by providing important information regarding energy storage in both technically detailed and general terms. This information can be useful for energy market parties in order to analyze the role of storage in future energy scenarios and to develop appropriate strategies to ensure energy supply.
MULTIFILE
This paper presents five design prototypes for cool urban water environments developed in the 'Really cooling water bodies in cities' (REALCOOL) project. The REALCOOL prototypes address an urgent need: urban water bodies, such as ponds or canals, are often assumed to cool down their surroundings during days with heat stress, whereas recent research shows that this is not always the case and that urban water bodies may actually have warming effects too. There are, however, indications that shading, vaporising water, and proper ventilation can keep water bodies and their surroundings cooler. Yet, it is necessary to explore how these strategies can be optimally combined and how the resulting design guidelines can be communicated to design professionals. The REALCOOL prototypes communicate the spatial layout and biometeorological effects of such combinations and assist design decisions dealing with urban water environments. The micrometeorological simulations with Envimet showed that the prototypes led to local reductions on daytime PET from 1 °C to 7 °C, upon introducing shade. Water mist and fountains were also cooling solutions. The important role of ventilation was confirmed. The paper discusses and concludes about the use of the prototypes as tools for urban design practice.
The increase in renewable energy sources will require an increase in the operational flexibility of the grid, due to the intermittent nature of these sources. This can be achieved for the gas and the electricity grid, which are integrated by means of power-to-gas and vice versa, by applying gas and other energy storages. Because renewables are applied on a decentralized scale level and syngas and biogas are produced at relatively low pressures, we study the application of a decentralized (bio)gas storage system combined withMicro Turbine Technology (MTT), Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) and Thermal Energy Storage (TES) units, which are designed to optimize energy efficiency.In this study we answer the following research questions:a. What is the techno-economical feasibilty of applying a decentralized (bio)gas storage with a MTT/CAES/TES system to balance the integrated renewable energy network?b. How should the decentralized (bio)gas storage with MTT/CAES/TES system be designed, so that the energy efficient application in such networks is optimized?Note that:c. We verify the calculations for the small scale MTT unit with measurements on our proof-of-principle set-up of part of the system that includes two MTTs in parallel.Based on wind speed, irradiance patterns and electricity and heat demand patterns for a case of 100 households, we found the optimum dimensions for the decentralized (bio)gas storage based on guaranteed supply. We concluded that a decentralized (bio)gas storage of 85 000 Nm3 was needed to provide the heat demand. LNG was the most energy efficient storage technology for such dimensions.The use of (bio)gas directly in a CHP (P/Q ratio = 2/3) that was mainly heat driven, resulted in a continuous overproduction of electricity due to the dominant heat demand of the 100 households in the Netherlands.This does not leave any room for the increase in the application of PV and wind generators, nor is there a purpose for electricity storage.For that reason we will further investigate the application of a decentralized (bio)gas storage with MTT/CAES/TES as a solution to balance a renewable integrated network. Using an MTT in the system offers a more useful P/Q ratio for households of 1/5.
Climate change is increasing the challenges for water management worldwide. Extreme weather conditions, such as droughts and heavy rainfall, are increasingly limiting the availability of water, especially for agriculture. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) offer potential solutions. They help to collect and infiltrate rainwater and thus play an important role in climate adaptation.Green infrastructure, such as rain gardens (sunken plant beds) and wadis (sunken grass fields for temporary storage of rainwater), help to restore the urban water balance. They reduce rainwater runoff, stabilize groundwater levels and solve problems with soil moisture and temperature. Despite these advantages, there is still much ignorance in practice about the possibilities of NBS. To remedy this, freely accessible knowledge modules are being developed that can help governments and future employees to better understand the application of these solutions. This research, called GINA (Green Infrastructure in Urban Areas), aims to create more sustainable and climate-resilient cities by developing and sharing knowledge about NBS, and supports local governments and students in effectively deploying these green infrastructures.
Surface Active Agents, or surfactants, are chemicals which provide a surface (interface) activity when dispersed in liquids. They have different purposes, can be used as herbicides, anti-foaming agents, adhesives, cleaning agents and softeners. For cleaning purposes, their function is to alter (decrease) liquid surface tension. In this function they are ubiquitous in both industrial processes (cleaning of production equipment, storage vats, packaging lines, and cooking units either during the manufacturing process) and domestic applications. ProtoNeat proposes an alternative way to decrease water surface tension without adding chemicals (surfactants). This can be done by charging the water (producing protonically charged water) [2], i.e. positive and negative Bjerrum-defect like charges [3, 4]. This phenomenon was experimentally observed by Fuchs et al [5] in anolyte and catholyte when doing high voltage electrolysis of highly pure water during the so-called ‘floating water bridge’ experiment. The work done by the authors, when working with this “bridge”, showed that, in case of positive excess charge, the hydronium ions migrate to the surface [8] thereby significantly lowering the surface tension [9,10]. However, for how long this effect can be maintained and how effective it is to produce such water is still unknown. ProtoNeat wants to tackle these two questions and investigate whether a continuous production of protonically charged water as an environmentally friendly and sustainable cleaning agent is possible.
Electrohydrodynamic Atomization (EHDA), also known as Electrospray (ES), is a technology which uses strong electric fields to manipulate liquid atomization. Among many other areas, electrospray is used as an important tool for biomedical application (droplet encapsulation), water technology (thermal desalination and metal recovery) and material sciences (nanofibers and nano spheres fabrication, metal recovery, selective membranes and batteries). A complete review about the particularities of this tool and its application was recently published (2018), as an especial edition of the Journal of Aerosol Sciences. One of the main known bottlenecks of this technique, it is the fact that the necessary strong electric fields create a risk for electric discharges. Such discharges destabilize the process but can also be an explosion risk depending on the application. The goal of this project is to develop a reliable tool to prevent discharges in electrospray applications.
