What is the connection between Freek de Jonge and a Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB)? There probably isn’t one. But the VRB was the reason for the trip that Carel de Vries from Courage, Jeroen de Veth from JDVEnsys and the undersigned made to Denmark.
Our host was Hugh Sharman, director of Incoteco, a company affiliated to VRB Power Systems Inc. in Richmond, Canada. VRB specializes in the marketing, sales and production of systems that use the patented VRB Energy Storage System (“VRB-ESS™”). VRB claims to have found an economically feasible way of storing and re-using electricity in stationary systems.
The key to the Fotonenboer (Photon Farmer) concept is the VRB-ESS™. This concept involves finding ways of storing energy generated on site by farmers or market gardeners (via solar cells, wind turbines etc.), in the form of an electrolyte: vanadium ions dissolved in battery acid (diluted sulphuric acid).
The idea of a VRB was first developed in Australia 30 years ago. Nowadays, the idea is protected by several patents, and various attempts have been made to bring the concept onto the market. But despite this, it is still proving difficult to gauge whether the idea will actually work in practice. We were therefore keen to see an installation in operation, which is why we travelled to Risø DTU, the prestigious National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy in Roskilde, Denmark. In June 2006, together with the Danish Energinet and the Danish Transmission System Operator (TSO), they invested in a 15 kW x 8 hr (120kWh) VRB-ESS™ system. It is currently being tested for the use of large-scale wind energy in conjunction with and independently from the Danish power grid. The entire installation costs € 100,000.
That morning, we found ourselves knocking at Risø’s door alongside four Spaniards, a big name in the field of Danish wind turbines and a top TSO man from Ireland. The million-dollar question was: does it actually work? The answer was an unequivocal yes! The VRB that we saw was a paragon of pure electrochemical technology, beautifully designed and with a life expectancy of ten years. The electrolyte, divided over two 6,500-litre tanks in this installation, is recyclable. After ten years, the system will need an overhaul. Encouraging.
More important questions: how efficient and reliable is the system? What are the losses? Every conversion from AC to DC and vice versa caused roughly 10 % loss in efficiency. In our concept, however, we are aiming to build a power grid on a farm with 12, 24 or preferably 40 Volt DC with as few conversions as possible. We would do this using a VRB backed up by a few clever systems. Ships and lorries have been using 24 Volt installations without problems for years. So we intend to construct a DC system so as to limit unnecessary losses. Once this has been realized, a full complement of power generating systems will make you totally autarkic. A distinct technological possibility, according to Hugh.
We are now so convinced that we are planning to carry out a pilot project. The plan is already being worked on. And the resources are being accumulated. We keep having a déjà-vu feeling about the ‘Greenhouse as Energy Source’ project. A new challenge.
Oh yes, I nearly forgot Freek de Jonge. Sauntering around Copenhagen on a warm summer’s evening, it’s difficult to avoid the main tourist harbour of Nyhavn. Which is where we bumped into Freek. Inimitably dressed ….complete with little red case. Hi Freek…..he was too engrossed in his telephone. VRB? He has probably never heard of it.
