The order was received from Høje Taastrup Fjernvarme and VEKS, who are currently constructing the 70,000 m3 PTES solution in Høje Taastrup, near Copenhagen. Aalborg CSP will deliver an advanced lid solution tailor-made for large-scale, low temperature energy storage projects. This PTES project is an example of flexible and efficient sector coupling of electricity and district heating. Sector coupling through energy storage is one of the main elements within the sustainable energy system of the future and thus a key element in reaching the global environmental, energy and climate targets of the next decades.
The two Danish utility companies, Høje Taastrup Fjernvarme and VEKS are currently establishing a 70,000 m3 PTES Integrated Energy Solution in Høje Taastrup near Copenhagen, Denmark – a project which will include the world’s most advanced PTES lid technology developed and patented for large-scale commercialization. The parties have recently signed a contract with the Danish renewable and energy storage specialist, Aalborg CSP, for design and delivery of a 11,000 m2 insulating lid. The purpose of the PTES lid is to minimise the heat loss inside the PTES. The lid solution from Aalborg CSP is based on the development of a durable technology, which ensures stable operation over the lifetime of the project.
The PTES in Høje Taastrup is a thermal storage functioning as a thermal battery with a capacity of 3,300 MWh. The thermal battery is charged by heat from the transmission grid and discharged to the district heating network when the demand for heating increases. The heat is stored, when the price on heating is low and is utilized later on, when the price for heating increases. The PTES project in Høje Taastrup is a great example of flexible and efficient sector coupling within the power and district heating sectors. Sector coupling is one of the main elements within the sustainable energy system of the future and is thus a key element in reaching the global environmental, energy and climate targets of 2050.
“It is the first time this type of storage is used in one of the very large district heating networks in Denmark” said Astrid Birnbaum, CEO, Høje Taastrup Fjernvarme A.m.b.a. “The project is a development project. To further optimise the durability and lifetime expectancy of the storage, we have worked with different types of technical solutions, when it comes to, among other things, material selection. We chose the new PTES lid solution from Aalborg CSP, as we believe that it is a reliable solution, which will help ensure a low heat loss.”
Finn Bruus, Team Leader, Projects at VEKS, added that the lid solution is ‘state of the art’, which the entire district heating supply and thus all district heating customers within the metropolitan area of Copenhagen will benefit from.
The aim of the PTES Integrated Energy System project in Høje Taastrup is to make the district heating supply more efficient and minimize the expensive peak load production. Besides reducing the peak loads that occur throughout the day within a district heating network, the storage will also add flexibility to the heat production for optimal utilization of the district heating.
With the unique solution from Aalborg CSP, Høje Taastrup and VEKS will benefit from a PTES solution with a lid that prevents accumulation of air, water and moisture inside the insulation in an efficient way. The PTES lid helps increase the efficiency and reliability of the storage and ensures long-term durability of the storage.
The purpose of the new design is to address and solve the problems and challenges as well as minimising the risks, which are typically experienced during the installation and operation of a PTES. This design improves the quality and reliability of PTES systems, contributes to lower heating bills for the consumers and adds flexibility to the energy system.
The PTES lid solution from Aalborg CSP differs from traditional PTES lids in a number of ways, which controls internal vapour, external rainfall, automatic ventilation and lid insulation. This ensure a reliable technology, a long lifetime and reduces the heat loss inside the storage.
These unique design features minimise the heat loss inside the PTES and is contributing to increased efficiency and reliability of the complete energy system. This is a key step in commercialising the PTES technology, where it is expected to see millions of m3 capacity of PTES Integrated Energy Solutions installed in Denmark as well as other European countries
A full-scale version of the new PTES lid design has been tested at Marstal Fjernvarme, where it has been included in the Integrated Energy System already counting Solar and Biomass. In Marstal, the new lid replaced the original PTES lid, which was of a previous design and damaged due to moisture accumulation inside the PTES lid construction. This recent replacement has resulted in a full-automatic operation with a minimum of maintenance and supervision. Likewise, the heat loss inside the PTES has been reduced, thereby increasing the efficiency.
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