> “Wind and water: the perfect synergy”
With great ascents and high wind energy potential (Trade Winds), El Hierro proves to be a very suitable place for the implementation of a Wind-Hydro power station; it is also the first Wind-Hydro power station that will be providing close to 80% of the electricity demand of a totally isolated area.
The major advantage of such a combination is that the system can overcome the usual problems of discontinuity and power fluctuation caused by the intermittent characteristic of the wind resource. When the energy produced
by the wind farm exceeds the demand, the surplus is used to pump desalinated water in a reservoir situated 700 m above sea level.
Conversely, if the energy produced by the wind farm is insufficient to meet
the demand, the water stored in the upper reservoir is released through the turbines to a lower reservoir, converting the potential energy of the water
into electrical energy. In this way, thanks to the potential energy storage and the controllable power output of the hydro turbines, it is possible to establish a stable grid in terms of frequency and voltage, where the production matches the demand at any time.
As the water-energy binomial is an essential aspect of the sustainable development strategy of the island, the system also includes a water desalination plant, not only to fill the reservoirs and compensate for the evaporation losses but also to produce water for irrigation and domestic use.
It has been estimated that a maximum direct wind energy penetration into
the grid of 30 % could be achieved. Until now, no isolated island (weak grid) has had such a big direct wind contribution. Therefore, the island will be a study of grid stability issues and the results will contribute to defining the real limit of wind penetration. As well as the Canary Islands, all isolated islands,
in Europe and worldwide, could benefit from the results of this experience.
With great ascents and high wind energy potential (Trade Winds), El Hierro proves to be a very suitable place for the implementation of a Wind-Hydro power station; it is also the first Wind-Hydro power station that will be providing close to 80% of the electricity demand of a totally isolated area.
The major advantage of such a combination is that the system can overcome the usual problems of discontinuity and power fluctuation caused by the intermittent characteristic of the wind resource. When the energy produced
by the wind farm exceeds the demand, the surplus is used to pump desalinated water in a reservoir situated 700 m above sea level.
Conversely, if the energy produced by the wind farm is insufficient to meet
the demand, the water stored in the upper reservoir is released through the turbines to a lower reservoir, converting the potential energy of the water
into electrical energy. In this way, thanks to the potential energy storage and the controllable power output of the hydro turbines, it is possible to establish a stable grid in terms of frequency and voltage, where the production matches the demand at any time.
As the water-energy binomial is an essential aspect of the sustainable development strategy of the island, the system also includes a water desalination plant, not only to fill the reservoirs and compensate for the evaporation losses but also to produce water for irrigation and domestic use.
It has been estimated that a maximum direct wind energy penetration into
the grid of 30 % could be achieved. Until now, no isolated island (weak grid) has had such a big direct wind contribution. Therefore, the island will be a study of grid stability issues and the results will contribute to defining the real limit of wind penetration. As well as the Canary Islands, all isolated islands,
in Europe and worldwide, could benefit from the results of this experience.
