FINAL WORKSHOP OF LIFE ZAESS PROJECT IN PAMPLONA
One of the conclusions of the conference was that, to make the leap from demonstration to commercial projects, the storage sector must overcome the current regulatory and legal barriers as well as continue a path of cost reduction.
A group of experts related to the energy storage sector met in Pamplona last Wednesday June 14, where the final Workshop of the European project LIFE ZAESS was held. The organizers were the project partners: Técnicas Reunidas (Coordinator) and CENER (National Centre of Renewable Energy).
During the first part of the morning, as well as reflecting on the suitability of storage systems to integrate renewable energy sources, the main results of the project were presented. The speakers were: Manuel Pérez and Miguel Sierra from Técnicas Reunidas, Mónica Aguado, Gabriel García and Raquel Garde, from CENER. One of the main conclusions of the project LIFE ZAESS outlined was that zinc-air flow battery technology must improve technically and economically to be competitive.
In the second part of the morning, the projects and the practical experiences of some of the major players in the national electric sector in the area of energy storage were explained, as well as the ability of energy storage to provide services to the network such as voltage or frequency regulation. The speakers were: Luis Manuel Santos Moro (Head of R&D from EDP), Pablo Fontela Martínez (Project Manager R&D from ENDESA), Unai Búrdalo García (R&D Dept. from REE-Red Eléctrica de España) and Eugenio Guelbenzu (Director of Innovation and Technology from Acciona Energía).
The cases presented confirmed the validity of the storage as a solution to different needs demanded by the grid nowadays, especially in regions with high penetration of renewables and/or weak networks. One of the conclusions of the conference was that, to make the leap from demonstration projects to commercial projects, the storage sector must have an appropriate legal and regulatory framework, also continuing in a line of cost reduction. Before the break of noon an interesting debate was held, analysing the issues raised among the conference attendees and speakers.
To end the day, attendees moved to CENER facilities in Sangüesa (Navarra) to visit the Microgrid ATENEA, geared to an industrial application, as well as the activities of the Renewable Energy Grid Integration Department (IRE) in the field of microgrids.