再生エネルギー研究センターパンフレット（英語）

4/20

3←←←←↑→→↑H2 Energy Network Team－Research and Verification of Advanced Integration of Renewable Energy Sources－To realize high penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) into energy networks, adjusting the simultaneous balance of intermittent DER supply and energy demand is essential by using existing power plants and energy storage systems. The combination of appropriate DER according to each location is also important, because DERs are strongly depend on local conditions.Research Target　To reduce consumption of exhaustible energy resources (fossil fuel and others) and the CO2 emissions through utilization of renewable energy, the team will develop a renewable energy network to reasonably and effectively introduce renewable energy into the existing energy network. In particular, it studies smart control of power conditioners (PCS), utilization of energy-storage systems with hydrogen and batteries, and a technology of system integration for multiple distributed energy resources as technologies for achieving both stabilization of the output and maximization of the electric power generation in introducing naturally fluctuating electric power supplies (PV and wind power generations) into the existing energy network.　The team proposes a new energy supply model that builds a renewable energy network combining large-scale PV generation and electricity storage with hydrogen and batteries and that builds on the perspectives of electricity users through flexible demonstration facilities and our test platform.●Make smarter distributed energy resources (DERs) by using advanced power electronics equipment such as Power Conditioning System (PCS).●Optimize system integration by using information and communications technologies (ICTs) with meteorological data.●Produce hydrogen from renewable energy and develop technologies related to it. The team is developing a performance test method for elemental technologies such as distributed power sources, power storage systems, and users’ apparatuses and a technology for the integrated use of renewal energy in combination with power storage systems and heat utilization technologies in order to realize a renewable energy network. This will improve the power supply value and the economic value of renewable energy and promote various introduction plans such as 100% renewable energy use. The team is mainly engaged in the following research and development topics:●Comprehensive evaluation of a PV generation system: predicting the annual amount of power generation of various types of PV modules, PV inverter performance tests, field failure diagnosis of a mega solar, etc.●Production, storage, and use of hydrogen using renewable energy: a direct electrolysis technology from PV modules (a solid polymer-type water electrolyzer with a fuel-battery function), hydrogen storage by metal hydrides, compression, hydrogen-separation membranes, solar heat utilization and heat storage technologies, etc.●Power system coordination and upgrading technologies for distributed energy resources: the team will build user facilities to conduct performance tests of the distributed power sources and performance verifications of EMS that integrate them on an actual scale.●International standardization: It aims at rapid international standardization of the above development results through cooperation with international research institutes and the like.Solving problems regarding the stabilization and countermeasure costs for mass introduction of renewable energyChallenges to the mass introduction of distributed energy resources (DER) Generation cost of DER (¥/kWh)Generation cost of DER (¥/kWh)Amount of introduced DER (GW)Amount of introduced DER (GW)Cost reduction by technological improvements and mass productionConcerns over increasedexternal costs to smooth the output variabilityCosts of DERsCosts of DERsMeasures for smoothing the naturally fluctuating outputReinforcement of power transmission and distribution cablesReduced rate of operation at power plantsIntroduction of an energy storage systemIncreased control of the renewable energy outputFuture measuresIntroducing smarter system equipment and energy management systems (EMS)Suppressing the costs of measures to stabilize the naturally fluctuating output Grid parityCosts borne for measures against fluctuationsResearch OutlineTechnological items that the energy network team deal withDistributed power sources Energy Resources(DER)UtilityEnergy demandEnergy storage (storage batteries and hydrogen)Thermal utilization