Sustainable pathway for a clean energy future
Amnon Samid, an energy expert, Director General of AGS Technologies, founder and chairman of several companies worldwide, has working experience with utilities, government agencies, investment companies and start-ups. After 30 years in this business, Samid is currently looking at the broader strategic picture. “Clean energy technologies is what we need most not only for reducing global warming effects and impact on earth eco-systems, but for sustainable development, poverty reduction and for dismantling world terror, by reducing dependence on Fossil fuels”, says Samid. “I am most concerned by fossil fuel reserves controlled by hostile forces in the Middle East and South America…they even don’t know or don’t let us know how long could we expect continuous supply of crude oil”. The Peak Oil question is crucial, regardless of oil prices that are controlled by lunatic dangerous leaders and speculators. That is why Samid is supportive of a worldwide repeated survey executed by D&G Sciences with collaboration of CASE Western Reserve University www.PeakOilWhen.org. But as much as having the updated best estimate for this crucial question is a must, Samid believes that there is no reason why we should not start already developing the ultimate technology or family of technologies for 24/7 energy supply with no need for fossil fuel back-up. “No country has taken such a strategic decision yet”, Samid says with regret, “there are many sporadic innovations that are being transformed into viable commercial projects, mainly in Israel, the US and partly in Europe, but most of them are aimed for a high ROI with fast exit strategy. Hi-Tech successful technology and business people entering into the energy business lately is a blessing, but they brought with them – together with creativity and imagination – also the “exit philosophy” and are looking for marketing channels to push niche innovative technologies, which are not necessarily part of the ultimate solutions. …We need visionaries and marathon runners to achieve this goal”, Samid emphasizes.
How does Israel fit into this game?
“From my point of view”, says Amnon Samid, “without energy independence we cannot achieve national security. Israel has no oil or coal and very little natural gas resources. Israel’s energy supply is completely dependent on import. Israel is surrounded by Arab countries with only one open border: the Mediterranean Sea.
The Middle East is the main supplier of oil to the world, and most of suppliers are very hostile to Israel.
Could Israel be Energy Independent?
“With the right vision and government strategic decision – definitely yes, but it will take several years and require an international collaborative effort.”
What is required to make Israel, as well as other countries, Energy Independent?
“It seems like the “64 billion dollar question“; However, any serious policy maker MUST get ongoing – updated best possible answers to this question. There is no straight answer here. It seems that the best way to do it is by integrating a spectrum of opinions, using methodologies of choice for a fair integration of diverse opinions and refer to the integrated answer as the “best estimate”. Such estimate should be repeated often to evaluate trends and to incorporate the emerging new data. We at AGS are doing it using in-house innovations (BiPSA™).”
What are the main bottlenecks for implementing renewable energy solutions into the Grid?
“No matter what the solution or basket of solutions will be – one thing is for certain: Without a viable and cost effective energy storage solution – no renewable energy source will be able to replace fossil fuels. Utilities consider dispatchable plants to be of greatest operational value to their systems. Another bottleneck is the cost effective and reliable integration of renewable energy into the grid, with minimal impact on grid stability. Also, transferring high capacity of electricity from areas that are blessed with solar energy or wind and available land to populated areas that are lacking the sufficient solar energy and wind is also an interesting challenge.”
Can you point out a preferred solution for exploring the energy storage issue?
“Currently there are no proper and economic feasible solutions. That is why I call upon governmental agencies to collaborate on developing such a solution. Local energy storage solutions are being developed and built in Spain, Italy and the US, but neither of them are candidates for becoming the ultimate solution, One approach that was neglected for many years is the concept of utilizing off-peak energy accumulation via compressed air. It has high thermodynamically and hence economical benefits. The accumulation of energy by means of compressed air energy storage (CAES) is a proven technology, but is being used only in a very few places. It consists of generating of compressed air during slack hours by means of motor compressor discharging into storage. During peak hours the air driven out from the storage is used as fuel for a gas turbine alternator. Usually CAES depends on fossil fuel for feeding the combustors, where the stored air must be heated before expanded through a turbine inorder to maximize the output of the turbine. This dependence on external energy sources decreases the effectiveness of CAES systems. There are several developments incorporating solar energy and CAES. The working fluid, which is the compressed air, could be heated at a recuperator by exhaust air from the low pressure gas turbine. Afterwards it is further heated at the solar radiation absorber up to 1000ºC or even higher and only then expanding through a high pressure turbine. That creates a more attractive way of effective transfer of heat energy from compressed air. There are also some innovative developments using a vortex tube as energy separator of the high pressure air from the storage, where it is separated into two flows – one cooled and dry (that is being used for cooling the air charging into the storage) and the other heated and moist. Afterwards they are mixed and delivered to the turbine. In that way, less external energy is required.”
Could CAES be viable also in Israel?
There are no abandoned mines in Israel suitable for storage of compressed air. However, preliminary geological and hydrological analysis as well as evaluation of fluid flow and heat transfer were done by the electric company in several aquifers. Several were found promising candidates, like Beeri, Caesaria and Givat Shmuel. But the work was not completed; Further confirmation is required by performing on site data and laboratory tests. Underground salt mines are non existent in Israel. Nevertheless, Mount Sodom, southeast of the Dead Sea is comprised of a large size unmined salt structure, 10 Km long, 2 Km wide and 5 Km deep. The Sodom formation was found to be suitable for development of a solution Cavern for storage of liquid hydrocarbons. The site may also be suitable, with respect to its water thickness, for a CAES reservoir. However, Mount Sodom is located in the most arid part of Judea desert; therefore the substantial quantities of water, that should be used for dissolving a cavern in the salt structure, would have to be conveyed from remote sources at comparatively high cost, unless the Red-Dead Sea canal will be established.”
In that case could it be a viable project?
“There are good prospects that a solution cavern similar to Huntorf plant in Germany could be developed in Mt Sodom.”
What are you suggesting?
“My vision is to develop synergetic partnerships with global companies, while we at Israel provide innovation and creativity. We are trying to initiate an international collaborative work plan. The purpose is to increase the effectiveness and attractiveness of the compressed air energy storage (CAES) concept, by developing a Combined Cycle CAES connected to solar power stations with possible backup of wind turbines and if not available – by natural gas. It is possible to store large volumes of high pressure air in several modes of storage including below ground facilities, like aquifers, solution-mined salt caverns, mined hard-rock caverns and depleted natural gas fields, as well as above ground storage – smaller in size, lower pressures and modular systems.”
What are the next steps?
- At the first phase of this work we prefer to use as much as possible off-the-shelf components. Nevertheless existing equipment will need to be modified inorder to enable optimal use of CAES. The main components that should be modified are the solar field and receiver that will enable achieving the highest temperature possible (above 1000ºC), the turbines & compressors should be redesigned for high pressures and temperatures and efficiencies, and naturally the control system is a challenging issue. Also is required a cooperation of an existing utility that will allow running the CAES in their dispatch model just to “get a feeling” on a realistic situation.
What is your vision regarding renewable energy?
“Integration of Renewable energy sources into the grid – is a huge challenge. Also transmission of large power blocks over long distances is challenging. But the benefits for security and sustainability of power supply are enormous. My vision is to establish ‘The Peace Smart Grid’, which could start in Israel and be applied globally. I think that deregulation & privatization and the unity we see in dealing with the current financial crisis – could lead to a global collaboration for implementing these ideas.”
Why Israel?
“Israel is blessed with creativity, advanced technology education, self defense need & experience and a combination of hi-tech and skilled people. Israel, as a Geography and Technologically focal point in the Middle East, connecting Asia – Africa – & Europe —— could start this global process, by first solving required technological issues (in collaboration with worldwide companies and organizations) and implementing it as a catalyst for regional development that will lead to peace with its rational neighbors, and defeat the evil forces in the Middle East.”
