Monday, June 6, 2011

AEG Power Solutions’ rectifier solution selected for hybrid power plant of ENERTRAG

BELECKE, GERMANY: Energy technology and power electronics specialist AEG Power Solutions (AEG PS), wholly owned by 3W Power has been chosen to provide the rectifier solution for the hydrogen electrolyser of the hybrid power generation plant designed by ENERTRAG.

This project, officially launched by German Chancellor Angela Merkel on April 21, 2009 marks a technological breakthrough in wind power generation. Hydrogen in this process is used to store energy produced and re-inject it in the grid on requirement. “As a company involved in the renewable energy chain and technological leader in power control, conversion and energy management, AEG Power Solutions is very proud to be associated with this major step forward”, comments Dr Horst J.Kayser, Chief Executive Officer of AEG Power Solutions.

ENERTRAG is a leading German independent renewable power generation company, focusing mainly on wind power. With 460 installations and an annual production of 1.6 billion KWh, ENERTRAG has an unmatched expertise in wind power technology. With the Hybrid Power Generation project ENERTRAG is solving one of the crucial issues of renewable energies power generation plants: storing the energy produced and making it available when required.

“ENERTRAG’s innovation consists in a hybrid power plant, capable of storing energy – generated by wind mills or other sources, such as biomass – and re-injecting it into the grid on demand. A highly efficient electrolysis process in the power plant converts the part of energy which is not used into hydrogen. It is then stored and fed back into the grid, when required. In addition, the hydrogen will be made available on fuel stations for vehicles,” Werner Diwald, member of the Board of ENERTRAG, explains.

AEG Power Solutions rectifier will be part of the electrolysis process. Connected between the wind generator and the high efficiency electrolyser, the rectifier’s key role is to supply a tight regulated direct current to the electrolyser. The rectifier ensures high precision, high efficiency, reliable power delivery to the electrolyser with maximum power factor at its input. The technology platform used will be directly derived from power control systems used in the polysilicon manufacturing process.

“Our technological leadership in power control systems positioned us for providing a solution to this kind of megawatt, high efficiency application, but also the fact we are able to customize it completely to the specificity of electrolysis process”, explains Dr. Peter Wallmeier, Chief Technology Officer, AEG Power Solutions. “We all know that storage is the key challenge of renewable energy. Hydrogen as a storage solution is one of the paths currently explored, and it’s crucial for us to be part of this first experience as its very likely going to develop.”

The installation will be completed in September 2011.

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