Masters Theses

Keywords and Phrases

MATLAB

Abstract

"Renewable energies, such as wind and solar, are a growing piece of global energy consumption. The chief motivation to develop renewable energy is two-fold: reducing carbon dioxide emissions and reducing dependence on diminishing fossil fuel supplies. Energy storage is critical to the growth of renewable energy because it allows for renewably-generated electricity to be consumed at times when renewable sources are unavailable, and it also enhances power quality (maintaining voltage and frequency) on an electric grid which becomes increasingly unstable as more renewable energy is added. There are numerous means of storing energy with different advantages, but none has emerged as the clear solution of choice for renewable energy storage.

This thesis attempts to explore the current and developing state of energy storage and how it can be efficiently implemented with crystalline silicon solar photovotlaics, which has a minimum expected lifetime of 25 years assumed in this thesis. A method of uniformly comparing vastly different energy storage technologies using empirical data was proposed. Energy storage technologies were compared based on both economic valuation over the system life and cradle-to-gate pollution rates for systems with electrochemical batteries.

For stationary, non-space-constrained settings, lead-acid batteries proved to be the most economicaleaf Carbon-enhanced lead-acid batteries were competitive, showing promise as an energy storage technology. Lithium-ion batteries showed the lowest pollution rate of electrochemical batteries examined, but both lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries produce comparable carbon dioxide to coal-derived electricity."--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Smith, Joseph D.

Committee Member(s)

Ludlow, Douglas K.
Long, Suzanna, 1961-

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Chemical Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2014

Pagination

xii, 96 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 92-95).

Rights

© 2014 Brian Andrew Peterson, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Energy storage -- AnalysisRenewable energy sourcesPhotovoltaic power generationPhotovoltaic power systemsSolar cellsSilicon crystalsSolar batteries

Thesis Number

T 10469

Electronic OCLC #

882485080

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