A major EU funded research study undertaken over the past 10 years has proven that the cost of producing electricity from coal or oil would double and the cost of electricity production from gas would increase by 30% if external costs such as damage to the environment and to health were taken into account. It is estimated that these costs amount up to 1-2 % of the EU's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), not including the cost of global warming. They have to be covered by society at large, since they are not included in the bills which electricity consumers pay. The EXTERNE project, which was undertaken by researchers from all EU Member States and the United States of America, was designed to quantify these socio-environmental costs of electricity production. It is the first research project ever to put plausible financial figures against damages resulting from different forms of electricity production (fossil, nuclear and renewable) for the entire EU.
Consideration for such findings enhances the case for alternatives to conventional generation. Demand side management is the major alternative. Energy Storage is a key element in demand side management planning. The VRB-ESS is characterized by having the lowest ecological impact of all energy storage technologies and is unlike most other conventional energy storage systems that rely on substances such as lead or cadmium. The electrolyte is a solution of vanadium mixed with a dilute sulphuric acid, with about the same acidity as in a conventional lead-acid battery. Unlike lead acid systems however the VRB electrolyte has an indefinite life span and is reusable.
A life-cycle assessment approach of the environmental impact of both Vanadium Redox and lead-acid batteries for use in stationary applications, indicates that the Vanadium Redox Battery contributes between 7-25% of emissions of key environmental impact components (CO2, SO2, CO, CH4, NOx) during its life cycle, when compared with lead-acid batteries.
Permitting of the VRB-ESS for Projects
VRB has developed a detailed Risk Management Plan (RMP) for its projects. Depending upon classification of the project, we expect to take 75 to 90 days for permit approvals. In some cases public review may be required which can delay this approval. The primary consideration in the permitting process is that of sulphuric acid use. Considerable reference material and knowledge of this substance's use exists in law and since the VRB-ESS produces no hazardous waste of any form, proper engineering design is considered an appropriate method of meeting environmental planning and siting requirements. This has been developed from work of a noted environmental planning company which the company contracted in California to develop a detailed review of potential concerns for the installation of VRB-ESS and to develop a process with timelines for gaining regulatory and planning approvals in the most sensitive counties in the USA When planning VRB-ESS projects "..many environmental review issues are either not applicable or conditionally applicable. For planning agency purposes, in many cases, an issue can be considered as "mitigated" or "no impact". For other regulatory purposes, because of the presence of a hazardous material i.e. sulfuric acid, several regulatory requirements apply; however, the requirements can be addressed in the engineering design. Of the 22 environmental issues that were identified, only two were considered the more notable constraints for the purposes of environmental siting considerations".
Land Use / Planning
Based on discussions with the select agencies and using the strictest of interpretations, the VRB facility may be characterized as an electric generation facility, simply because of the ability to provide support to the grid. However in many applications it will be considered as a UPS, which obviates the need for conditional use, permits.
Hazardous Materials / CalARP
The amount of sulfuric acid at the site triggers the requirements of the California Accidental Release Prevention Program (CalARP), which is required to be addressed in all California jurisdictions. Large VRB facilities are likely to be categorized as a "Program 2" facility and thus undergo public review/comment. The requirements of CalARP are prescriptive and involve a detailed evaluation of the potential release of sulfuric acid. This evaluation must be completed by VRB and reviewed/approved by the County. There are three program levels (1, 2, 3) in CalARP, each with different evaluation requirements and level of complexity; Program 1 is the simplest while Program 3 is the most complex. It is anticipated, based on the potential quantity of sulfuric acid and its use, that VRB's facility would be categorized as a Program 2 site. As Program 2, it is still necessary to undergo public review and comment, however the evaluation process is much less rigorous.
The RMP considers amongst others the following:
- EPA Risk Management Data Elements
- Safety Procedures
- Offsite Consequence Analysis: Worst-Case Scenario & Alternative Release Scenario
- Accident Investigation Procedures
- Prevention Program 2 or 3: Chemical and Process Data, Process Hazard Analysis, Details on Release Detection & Monitoring Devices and Standard operating Procedures (SOPs)
- External Events (Seismic)
- Response Plan
- Certifications
¹ "Environmental assessment of Vanadium Redox and Lead-acid Batteries for Stationary Energy Storage", C.J. Rydh, 21" International Power Sources Symposium 10-12 May 1999, Brighton, UK.
