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Alia2 project, an innovative R&D initiative focused on large-scale electric
power storage.
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Iberdrola on 25/01/2013
 
The initiative, which is part of the Company's commitment to innovation, is
backed by the Basque regional government 	*The consortium has already completed
the first stage of the project, which involved the design and manufacture of a
150-kW Storage System prototype based on lithium-ion 	*The aim of the ALIA2
project, in which the IBERDROLA subsidiary participates with CEGASA, OLDAR, IKOR
and ORONA, is to create a Storage System with several megawatts of capacity,
which will be the most powerful and reliable system available on the market
	*The infrastructure may be used by electric power generation and distribution
companies and in other sectors as an alternative in the event of a supply
failure in their facilities
IBERDROLA INGENIERÍA, together with the Basque companies Cegasa, Oldar, Ikor
and Orona, is carrying out the Alia2 project, an innovative R&D initiative
focused on large-scale electric power storage.
This consortium has successfully completed the first stage of the project, which
involved the design and construction of a system based on lithium-ion capable of
storing up to 150 kilowatts (kW).
The ultimate goal of this ambitious initiative, which was launched in 2010, is
to build a Storage System based on lithium-ion with a capacity of several
megawatts/hour that will be capable of delivering an amount of power five times
greater than the energy stored in only 10 minutes, and will be the most powerful
and reliable system available on the market when it comes into operation.
For the last three years, the Basque regional government, through the business
development agency (SPRI), has been backing this project with funding channelled
through research centres like IK4-CIDETEC and IK4-IKERLAN.
One innovative technological element of the ALIA2 project is the development of
the battery pack concept, with a built-in cooling system, in a modular system
where the lithium-ion cells are inserted as well as their corresponding
protection systems, achieving the required voltage level and capacity. A control
and protection module has also been created, which will be in charge of managing
the electrical modules and will act as an interface with other modules or with
the external grid system.
The new solution developed within the framework of this research will be highly
relevant for electric power generation and distribution companies. These
companies will be able to use this system in production plants using renewable
energy, substations and transformer stations to improve grid services, the
manageability of the energy produced and the synchronisation between production
and demand.
In addition, this system, which uses 100% Basque technology, will undoubtedly
also be extremely useful for other companies as a reliable alternative to
electricity supply in the event of a supply failure in their facilities, namely:
hospitals, trains, shopping centres, etc.
ALIA2, a project whose development is part of the IBERDROLA Group's firm
commitment to innovation, is now in the testing stage, including the prototype
and the auxiliary elements that will enable its integration into the electric
grid.
Research into energy storage technologies has been in full expansion in recent
years, particularly those based on lithium batteries. There are two driving
forces in this area: the development of electric mobility, an area where the
IBERDROLA Group is a global benchmark, and the integration of renewable energy
into the electric grid, where the Company, as a global leader in wind power, has
also played a key role.