teaser ogres

Who we are?

Sink Float Solutions is a European company, created in 2014 by Christophe Stevens, inventor, in order to promote the development of a new energy storage system (OGRES) to solve the intermittency problem or renewable energies with an economically viable cost. Since 2013, several persons were involved in the project and contributed to increase its maturity (technical experts and funding). After several years of research, conceptualization and patents applications, the technology is ready for a demonstration.

Ocean Gravitational Energy Storage (OGRES)

Why is it important to reduce the cost of energy storage?

In 2015, several storage solutions exist, but they are still too expensive to be combined to large scale wind or solar farms. For that reason, when there is no wind or no sun, the electricity consumer is usually served by thermal power stations. Those power plants usually burn fossil fuels (gas, coal), and then the development of renewable energies contribute to global warming.

Why the conventional storage solutions are and will remain expensive?

Conventional storage solutions tackle economical and technological barriers. The cost of batteries depend on the cost of raw materials (lead, lithium, etc), and their life time is limited (3 to 10 years). The cost of pumped-storage hydroelectricity, depend of the topographic environment, and the best locations are already installed. The other solutions are even more expensive (flywheel, compressed air, hydrogen, capacitors) Those economical barriers can be demonstrated by using physical and chemical laws.

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The OGRES energy storage technology solves the intermittency issue of wind and solar farms at an unbeatable price.

We offer a solution 5 to 20 times cheaper than the most competitive conventional storage systems (batteries and pumped-storage hydroelectricity).

This technology works like a big battery, settled near the cosat line and connected to the grid with a submarine electric cable.

Simplicity: our technology uses the gravitational potential energy by using important

elevation differences between the sea surface and the seabed.

During the reloading phase, the system raises concrete weights one by one with a simple lifting hoist cable device with an electric motor on a barge. And during the energy production stage, the system descends the weights one by one and run an electric generator.

The system is reloaded, the weights hang near the sea surface.

The system is unloaded, the weights are on the seabed.

Generator mode, When there is no wind, the system releases the weights and produces electricity for the consumer.

Motor mode, When there is a lot of wind, the excess of electricity is used to reload the system, the hoist raises the weights one by one.

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By taking into account the floats, the anchoring cables, the barge, the hoist lifting system with a 13,000 feet cable, the control system and the submarine power cable, the total investment cost will vary from $ 30 to $ 90 /kWh depending on the location (distance to shore, depth), storage time (quantity of weight for each barge), and the maturity level of the system (prototype vs. Industrial development).

A solution robust, easy and fast to implement because using well known

components already existing (industrial maturity for many decades). The suppliers can offer

a warranty (10 to 20 years lifespan). The material availability is unlimited and generate poor

contamination: mainly steel cables, cement, iron, reinforced concrete and 10 kg of PVC for

each ton of floating capacity, which correspond lifting bag high quality standard required

notably by oil and gas offshore industry.

An economical advantage easy to demonstrate: Like pumped storage hydroelectricity (PSH), our system uses the gravitational potential energy, but instead of transferring water between two reservoirs with an average elevation difference of 600 feet, we propose to transfer solid weights (concrete) by using 6,000 to 25,000 feet elevation differences (available in the Ocean). By using such elevation differences, it is possible to store the same quantity of energy in one ton of concrete than in one ton of battery.

Example: With 13,000 feet depth (which is the average depth of the sea), it is possible to store 10 kWh with one ton of concrete (less than $ 100). This figure can be easily demonstrated with the potential energy formula (Epot = MxGxH). By comparison, the most competitive battery (Tesla) will be sold for $ 3500 for the same energy storage capacity. In other words, for 10 kWh of storage capacity, the concrete weight will be 30 times cheaper and with a lifespan at least 2 times higher.

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600 feet

12,000 feet

Turbine pump

Viable also for small scale barges: Despite some fixed cost respect to power (submarine power cable implementation and ROV operations), our system is economicaly viable from 1 to 10 MW according to location characteristics. In the most favorable situation, it is equivalent of a diesel generator. In the worst situation (distance > 250 km) our system is competitive for power higher than 20 MW. est compétitif pour des puissances de 20 MW et au delà, which is much lower than a thermal power plant (gas, coal).

Assumption: The cost include investment, lifespan, O&M. Wind: investment ) 1 million dollar / MWp, capacity factor 25%, Storage: capacity 24 hours, barge power = 0,7x nameplate wind farm power, energy losses due to storage = 20%, barge investment = 0,5 million dollar / MWp, weights = 30 $/kWh and 10 years lifetime, O&M < 5% capital/yr. Submarine electric cable: investment = 160 k$/mile + 5 k$/mile/MW.

150 miles

10 miles

4 MWp = 2 wind turbines

This example shows that our storage system, combined with wind turbine farms can serve the

consumer with a competitive price, and without using the public grid, including for small markets (2 wind turbines for 1,000 inhabitants), and for important distances between the wind farme and the storage barges. Islands simulations show even more competitive situation (for examble: Hawaii, Reunion island, Dominican Republic, etc.)

Source: Google Earth

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Depth: 6,000 to 12,000 feet

Levelized cost ($/MWh)

Distance: 10 to 150 mile

Electricity market price in France

Total flexibility

The ratio capacity/power (MWh/MW) can be adapted to every need: from 3 hours (nuclear power) to 12 hours (solar) and to 24, 48 hours (wind turbines). The « power » components (the barge, MW) and the «energy storage capacity » (the weights, MWh) are completely separated. .The number of weights for each barge, can be adapted to each situation and even be modified after the first investment. The system can also be sold and relocated somewhere else to adapt to the market evolutions, because the transport cost (towing) and electric cable implementation are low. The deployment potential is unlimited, unless the eligible sites for pumped-storage

hydroelectricity.

An outstanding energy efficiency (70 to 90%), because the energy losses are low (hydrodynamic friction due to the vertical movement of weights) => 3 to 15 miles/hour.

Many technical solutions will make possible to operate the system even with rough sea conditions and without increasing the costs.

The weights hanging and releasing operations can be done by using smooth lanyards* for each phase: generator/motor mode and up/down storage position. This allows to use ROV (conventional submarine robot), also for hundreds of tons weights.


* Lanyard = smooth lifting accessory.

The economical performance presented in this document, was calculated for low power barge (1 MWp) and small weights (50 tons). Important scale economies are possible by using bigger weights and barge because their wind and flow exposure (surface) increase slower than the storage capacity (volume). Important economies can also be done by accepting operating rates below 100%, for example, when the weather conditions are exceptional. In such situations, backup should be available in order to supply the consumer. Diesel generators with a low capacity factor (1 to 5%) can be used with a very small economical and environmental impact. An economical calculation could be done for each situation.


WIND

FLOW

50 tons

50 m3

5 mph

In upper position, the weights and their main floats are stored several tens of meters beneath the sea surface. At such a depth, the current flow generated by the wind is strongly reduced. Thus it is possible to reduce the cost of anchoring cable for which length (proportional to depth) is expensive.

Upper storage position

12,000 feet

18,000 feet

Lower storage position

Seabed


The main float will follow the weights during the descent phase, in order to avoid to rise on the surface and be in contact with the wind and the surface current flow. Its volume (and then its floating capacity) will decrease expontentially with the depth, with the pressure increasing.

Pression x Volume = Constant 40 meters: 72 Psi => 50 m3 (100%) 400 meters: 495 Psi => 6 m3 (12%) 4000 meters: 5800 Psi => 0,1 m3 (1%)

With 4000 meters depth, and a 8 km/h speed (5mph), a 50 tons weight can generate or absorb 1 MegaWatt of power during 30 minutes. Each weight of 50 tons can store 500 kWh of energy.

Halfway, (after 15 minutes) the two hooks will cross, and guide systems including conventional submarine robotics will avoid giratory movements and improve the accuracy of the dropping/hanging operations. Numerous variants, not presented in this document, will ease the control of horizontal and vertical weights movements, the position of the barge, will improve the hydrodynamic design by reducing the cost and improving the lifespan, Automation et each phase, maintenance cost improvements, ensure a constant or variable power as a function of the need in real time.

For more information Video

Website: www.sinkfloatsolutions.com

Depth - 40 m

Depth - 40 m

- 120 m - 120 m

Depth -2000 m (6,000 feet)

http://www.sinkfloatsolutions.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzdQAnDJjfg






Billions dollars markets

Despite their high cost (> 200 $/kWh), their poor energy efficiency (65 to 70%) et their

environmental impact, pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH) is the only solution to have

been developed on an industrial scale for transmission system grid. More than 120 GWe PSH

were implemented in the world (tens of billions of dollars investment), often for being

combined to nuclear power plants. However their cost remain too high for them to be

developed together with renewable intermitent energies (solar and wind) because those

require much more than 3 hours of storage capacity.

The huge cost reduction of our storage system make 100% renewable energy mixes can be

competitive in numerous markets.

The market share will not be taken only on other conventional storage solutions (PHS,

batteries), but also on thermal power plants (coal, gas).

Example for a 100 MWp wind turbine farm For a 100 MWp wind turbine farm, with a 25% capacity factor (220 GWh/year) and with a 24 hours storage capacity, and a storage (barge) power equivalent to 70% of the nameplate wind farm, 70 MW of barge and 600 MWh of weights would be necessary, which represent a 75 millions dollars turnover for the storage solution (barge and weights) and 120 millions dollars for the wind turbines.

Example for the german market In 2014, in the world, 140 Gwe of renewable new capacities were implemented, which represent 400 MW every day. In a country like Germany (less than 3% of electricity world market), where renewable share of electricity mix is reaching a critical point regarding the intermittency challenge, le development of OGRES storage technology would generate a 7 billions dollars turnover every year.

Germany

Stage 1 : To guarantee an exclusivity to our future sharehoder

Since 2014, several patent were applied for regarding all variants allowing to use the principle of OGRES. The first conclusions of the search reports confirm the results of our anteriority studies, by considering as new all the claims. Complementary patent applications were carried out regarding technical solutions allowing to improve the costs.

Stage 2: To provide proofs to our future customers.

Because of the huge cost reduction by comparison with conventional solutions and despite the simplicity of OGRES, it is essential to do a demonstration. The next step is ongoing: Assembling a full prototype big enough to validate performance criteria with 2 main objectives:

1) Cost validation: Components and assembly (proof = invoices) 2) Working validation: including with rough sea conditions. (proof = video of several cycles with incrasing rough sea conditions and performance

records: weight changing dead time, energy efficiency, mechanical constraints, etc)

Stage 3: energy transition acceleration

OGRES technology marketing can be done by selling patent rights and/or royalties on geographic perimeters and/or project wind/solar farms. Or by delivering turnkey solutions (barges, weights) to customer. The industrialization stage can be fast because all components are standards and can be manufactured by existing industrial plants. Assembly can be done by shipbuliding facilities in many places. Each component (gear reducer, motor/generator, ROV, lifting bags and other floating omponents, polyester or steel cables, etc) are available on brochure by many suppliers and offer an important reliability since they are used for many decades.


In order to validate the operations in rough sea conditions, the prototypes will have a minimal size but will make possible to overcome scale extrapolation calculation and thus ease the proof understanding. Complementary trials will be carried out with high capacity lanyards and rental material (high capacity barges, heavy duty conventional ROV’s) in order to validate the critical functions with high capacity scale (> 50 MWe/barge) and by using standard components certified for the grid.

The project


Christophe STEVENS, CEO Email: [email protected] Franz SANCHEZ C, CFO Email: [email protected]

Pour plus d’information, n’hésitez pas à nous joindre directement par email.

Merci pour votre attention.

For more information, you can contact us by email.

Thank you for your attention.

Website: www. sinkfloatsolutions.com

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

teaser ogres

Engineering