Electricity and Heat Storage Options (JR104)

Electricity and Heat Storage Options (JR104)

Introduction

Storage of energy is receiving much attention, since the renewable energy contributions, particularly, from wind and solar sources are variable in nature. Wind and solar vary: on an average day by time of day; on monthly basis;  due to freak , unpredictable occurrences that remove the VRE from the grid  ; and cyclic occurrences that result in lower than normal output of wind and solar. To circumvent this variability of RE the grid needs to: have base load capacity that is usually run on coal or gas ; strengthening of the grid by means of addition of inductive and capacitive loads to counteract over and under voltages ; sensing devices to detect abnormal conditions l; and fast acting devices that mitigate these abnormal occurrences . Where de-carbonization is an objective fossil fuels are not a considerations and therefore storage technologies and systems are needed to store power in glut periods to supply the grid in lean supply periods. Batteries are the obvious answer, batteries are expensive. Battery development is ongoing and can be viewed at https://javedrashid.blogspot.com/2018/10/developments-in-battery-technology.html.

Storage of energy technologies other than battery is discussed in this article.  Energy storage is also an important factor in space heating applications.  Energy storage systems provide a wide array of technological approaches to managing our power supply in order to create a more resilient energy infrastructure and bring cost savings to utilities and consumers. These options can be divided them into six main categories:

·    Solid State Batteries- a range of electrochemical storage solutions, including advanced chemistry batteries and capacitors

·    Flow Batteries- batteries where the energy is stored directly in the electrolyte solution for longer cycle life, and quick response times

·    Flywheels - mechanical devices that harness rotational energy to deliver instantaneous electricity

·    Compressed Air Energy Storage - utilizing compressed air to create a potent energy reserve

·    Thermal - capturing heat and cold to create energy on demand

·    Pumped Hydro-Power - creating large-scale reservoirs of energy with water

The main drawback of solar power is that we’re yet to develop reliable, dense, and long-term storage for the energy that it generates. Our only realistic option at this time is batteries, but they’re quite expensive, use on rare or polluting materials, and have a limited capacity. The current research, however, might provide exactly the breakthrough that the industry needs — the new compound, a specialized fluid called solar thermal fuel, can store and release solar heat for up to 18 years.

Energy storage in the region can help grids maintain quality and reliability as well as optimising off-grid PV power self-consumption. Much of today’s focus is on batteries, although energy storage includes a wide range of technology families, from pumped hydro and flywheels to molten salts with concentrated solar power (CSP). Interest in batteries is mainly driven by cost reductions that have come about as a result of manufacturing volumes arising from vehicle electrification. The cost of batteries 10 years ago was a multiple of today, Even batteries can be broken down into a range of chemistries, including lead-acid, redox flow, sodium-sulphur and lithium-ion. In liberalised markets, batteries have been very successful in providing ancillary grid services

Thermal Energy Storage

Thermal energy storage (TES) is achieved with widely differing technologies. Depending on the specific technology, it allows excess thermal energy to be stored and used hours, days, or months later, at scales ranging from individual process, building, multiuser-building, district, town, or region. Usage examples are the balancing of energy demand between daytime and nighttime, storing summer heat for winter heating, or winter cold for summer air conditioning (Seasonal thermal energy storage). Storage media include water or ice-slush tanks, masses of native earth or bedrock accessed with heat exchangers by means of boreholes, deep aquifers contained between impermeable strata; shallow, lined pits filled with gravel and water and insulated at the top, as well as eutectic solutions and phase-change materials
Other sources of thermal energy for storage include heat or cold produced with heat pumps from off-peak, lower cost electric power, a practice called peak shaving; heat from combined heat and power (CHP) power plants; heat produced by renewable electrical energy that exceeds grid demand and waste heat from industrial processes. Heat storage, both seasonal and short term, is considered an important means for cheaply balancing high shares of variable renewable electricity production and integration of electricity and heating sectors in energy systems almost or completely fed by renewable energy

Solar energy storage

Most practical active solar heating systems provide storage from a few hours to a day's worth of energy collected. However, there are a growing number of facilities that use seasonal thermal energy storage (STES), enabling solar energy to be stored in summer for space heating use during winter. The in Alberta, Canada, has now achieved a year-round 97% solar heating fraction, a world record made possible only by incorporating STES.

The use of both latent heat and sensible heat are also possible with high temperature solar thermal input. Various eutectic mixtures of metals, such as Aluminum and Silicon (AlSi12) offer a high melting point suited to efficient steam generation, while high alumina cement-based materials offer good thermal storage capabilities

Molten-salt technology

Sensible heat of molten salt is also used for storing solar energy at a high temperature. Molten salts can be employed as a thermal energy storage method to retain thermal energy. Presently, this is a commercially used technology to store the heat collected by concentrated solar power (e.g., from a solar tower or solar trough). The heat can later be converted into superheated steam to power conventional steam turbines and generate electricity in bad weather or at night. It was demonstrated in the Solar Two project from 1995-1999. Estimates in 2006 predicted an annual efficiency of 99%, a reference to the energy retained by storing heat before turning it into electricity, versus converting heat directly into electricity. Various eutectic mixtures of different salts are used (e.g., sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate and calcium nitrate). Experience with such systems exists in non-solar applications in the chemical and metals industries as a heat-transport fluid.

The salt melts at 131°C (268 F). It is kept liquid at 288°C (550°F) in an insulated "cold" storage tank. The liquid salt is pumped through panels in a solar collector where the focused sun heats it to 566°C (1,051°F). It is then sent to a hot storage tank. With proper insulation of the tank the thermal energy can be usefully stored for up to a week.  When electricity is needed, the hot molten-salt is pumped to a conventional steam-generator to produce superheated steam for driving a conventional turbine/generator set as used in any coal or oil or nuclear power plant. A 100-megawatt turbine would need a tank of about 9.1 metres (30 ft) tall and 24 metres (79 ft) in diameter to drive it for four hours by this design.

Single tank with divider plate to hold both cold and hot molten salt, is under development  It is more economical by achieving 100% more heat storage per unit volume over the dual tanks system as the molten-salt storage tank is costly due to its complicated construction. Phase Change Material (PCMs) are also used in molten-salt energy storage

Several parabolic trough power plants in Spain ^] and solar power tower developer SolarReserve use this thermal energy storage concept. The Solana Generating Station in the U.S. can store 6 hours worth of generating capacity in molten salt. During the summer of 2013 the Gemasolar Thermosolar solar power-tower/molten-salt plant in Spain achieved a first by continuously producing electricity 24 hours per day for 36 days.

In terms of installed capacity, TES is arguably a more mature technology than batteries, with more than 22 GWh deployed worldwide compared to a total battery storage volume of just 6.6 GWh .The technology is also falling rapidly in cost, with current pricing at between €50 and €60 per MWh Furthermore, molten salt allows for a much higher volume of storage than batteries, with megawatt-level capacities and duration of up to 20 hours allowing for competitive round-the-clock operations with CSP. In contrast,  , lithium-ion battery systems rarely surpass four hours of storage today.

Heat storage in tanks or rock caverns 

A steam accumulator consists of an insulated steel pressure tank containing hot water and steam under pressure. As a heat storage device, it is used to mediate heat production by a variable or steady source from a variable demand for heat. Steam accumulators may take on a significance for energy storage in solar thermal energy projects.  

Large stores are widely used in Scandinavia to store heat for several days, to decouple heat and power production and to help meet peak demands. Inter seasonal storage in caverns has been investigated and appears to be economical.^[

Heat storage in hot rocks, concrete, pebbles etc

Water has one of the highest thermal capacities Heat capacity - 4.2 J/(cm³·K) whereas concrete has about one third of that. On the other hand, concrete can be heated to much higher temperatures – 1200°C by e.g. electrical heating and therefore has a much higher overall volumetric capacity. Thus in the example below, an insulated cube of about 2.8 m would appear to provide sufficient storage for a single house to meet 50% of heating demand. This could, in principle, be used to store surplus wind or PV heat due to the ability of electrical heating to reach high temperatures. At the neighborhood level, the Wiggenhausen-Süd solar development at Friedrichshafen has received international attention. This features a 12,000 m³ (420,000 cu ft) reinforced concrete thermal store linked to 4,300 m² (46,000 sq ft) of solar collectors, which will supply the 570 houses with around 50% of their heating and hot water. Siemens builds a 36 MWh thermal storage near Hamburg with 600°C basalt and 1.5 MW electric output. A similar system is scheduled for Sorø, Denmark, with 41-58% of the stored 18 MWh heat returned for the town's district heating, and 30-41% returned as electricity

Miscibility gap alloy (MGA) technology

Miscibility gap alloys   rely on the phase change of a metallic material   to store thermal energy Rather than pumping the liquid metal between tanks as in a molten-salt system, the metal is encapsulated in another metallic material that it cannot alloy with (immiscible). Depending on the two materials selected (the phase changing material and the encapsulating material) storage densities can be between 0.2 and 2 MJ/L.
A working fluid, typically water or steam, is used to transfer the heat into and out of the MGA. Thermal conductivity of MGAs is often higher (up to 400 W/m K) than competing technologies  which means quicker "charge" and "discharge" of the thermal storage is possible. The technology has not yet been implemented on a large scale.

Electric thermal storage heaters  

Storage heaters are commonplace in European homes with time-of-use metering (traditionally using cheaper electricity at night time). They consist of high-density ceramic bricks or feolite blocks heated to a high temperature with electricity, and may or may not have good insulation and controls to release heat over a number of hours.

Ice-based technology

Several applications are being developed where ice is produced during off-peak periods and used for cooling at later time For example, air conditioning can be provided more economically by using low-cost electricity at night to freeze water into ice, then using the cooling capacity of ice in the afternoon to reduce the electricity needed to handle air conditioning demands. Thermal energy storage using ice makes use of the large heat of fusion of water. Historically, ice was transported from mountains to cities for use as a coolant. One metric ton of water (= one cubic meter) can store 334 million joules (MJ) or 317,000 BTUs (93kWh). A relatively small storage facility can hold enough ice to cool a large building for a day or a week.
In addition to using ice in direct cooling applications, it is also being used in heat pump based heating systems. In these applications the phase change energy provides a very significant layer of thermal capacity that is near the bottom range of temperature that water source heat pumps can operate in. This allows the system to ride out the heaviest heating load conditions and extends the time frame by which the source energy elements can contribute heat back into the system

Cryogenic energy storage

This uses liquefaction of air or nitrogen as an energy store.   Pilot cryogenic energy system that uses liquid air as the energy store, and low-grade waste heat to drive the thermal re-expansion of the air, has been operating at a power station in Slough, UK since 2010.

Hot silicon technology

Solid or molten silicon offers much higher storage temperatures than salts with consequent greater capacity and efficiency. It is being researched as a possible more energy efficient storage technology. Silicon is able to store more than 1MWh of energy per cubic metre at 1400 °C

Pumped-heat electricity storage

In pumped-heat electricity storage (PHES), a reversible heat-pump system is used to store energy as a temperature difference between two heat stores.

Isentropic

One system which was being developed by the now bankrupt UK Company Isentropic operates as follows. It comprises two insulated containers filled with crushed rock or gravel; a hot vessel storing thermal energy at high temperature and high pressure, and a cold vessel storing thermal energy at low temperature and low pressure. The vessels are connected at top and bottom by pipes and the whole system is filled with the inert gas argon.
During the charging cycle the system uses off-peak electricity to work as a heat pump. Argon at ambient temperature and pressure from the top of the cold store is compressed adiabatically to a pressure of 12 bar, heating it to around 500°C (900 °F). The compressed gas is transferred to the top of the hot vessel where it percolates down through the gravel, transferring its heat to the rock and cooling to ambient temperature. The cooled, but still pressurized, gas emerging at the bottom of the vessel is then expanded (again adiabatically) back down to 1 bar, which lowers its temperature to -150°C. The cold gas is then passed up through the cold vessel where it cools the rock while being warmed back to its initial condition.
The energy is recovered as electricity by reversing the cycle. The hot gas from the hot vessel is expanded to drive a generator and then supplied to the cold store. The cooled gas retrieved from the bottom of the cold store is compressed which heats the gas to ambient temperature. The gas is then transferred to the bottom of the hot vessel to be reheated.
The compression and expansion processes are provided by a specially designed reciprocating machine using sliding valves. Surplus heat generated by inefficiencies in the process is shed to the environment through heat exchangers during the discharging cycle  
The developer claims that a round trip efficiency of 72-80% is achievable.  This compares to >80% achievable with pumped hydro energy storage.  
Another proposed system uses turbomachinery and is capable of operating at much higher power levels. Use of Phase Change Material (PCMs) as heat storage material would enhance the performance further.

Endothermic/exothermic chemical reactions

One example of an experimental storage system based on chemical reaction energy is the salt hydrate technology. The system uses the reaction energy created when salts are hydrated or dehydrated. It works by storing heat in a container containing 50% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. Heat (e.g. from using a solar collector) is stored by evaporating the water in an endothermic reaction. When water is added again, heat is released in an exothermic reaction at 50 °C (120 °F). Current systems operate at 60% efficiency. The system is especially advantageous for seasonal thermal energy storage, because the dried salt can be stored at room temperature for prolonged times, without energy loss. The containers with the dehydrated salt can even be transported to a different location. The system has a higher energy density than heat stored in water and the capacity of the system can be designed to store energy from a few months to years.
In 2013 the Dutch technology developer TNO presented the results of the MERITS project to store heat in a salt container. The heat, which can be derived from a solar collector on a rooftop, expels the water contained in the salt. When the water is added again, the heat is released, with almost no energy losses. A container with a few cubic meters of salt could store enough of this thermo chemical energy to heat a house throughout the winter. In a temperate climate like that of the Netherlands, an average low-energy household requires about 6.7 GJ/winter. To store this energy in water (at a temperature difference of 70 °C), 23 m³ insulated water storage would be needed, exceeding the storage abilities of most households. Using salt hydrate technology with a storage density of about 1 GJ/m³, 4–8 m³ could be sufficient
As of 2016, researchers in several countries are conducting experiments to determine the best type of salt or salt mixture. Low pressure within the container seems favorable for the energy transport especially promising is organic salts, so called ionic liquids. Compared to lithium halide based sorbents they are less problematic in terms of limited global resources, and compared to most other halides and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) they are less corrosive and not negatively affected by CO₂ contaminations

Chemical storage

Swedish researchers have developed a new liquid that can store solar heat for almost two decades. “The energy in this isomer can now be stored for up to 18 years And when we come to extract the energy and use it, we get a warmth increase which is greater than we dared hope for.”

Solar fuels work similarly to a rechargeable battery that substitute’s sunlight and heat in lieu of electricity. The team’s compound is a molecule (norbornadiene) in a liquid form that researchers at the Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden have been developing for over a year. It’s composed mainly of carbon, with some hydrogen and nitrogen atoms thrown in. So, up to now, it’s a pretty standard organic compound.

What makes this fluid stand out is its interaction with sunlight. When exposed to sunlight, the bonds between the molecule’s atoms get rearranged and stabilize in an energized form — an isomer (called quadricyclane). This transforms heat energy from the sun into chemical energy that can be stored and released. The isomer itself is stable enough to last unaltered for up to 18 years (which is a lot), even at room temperatures.

When the energy is needed, the ‘charged’ fluid can be drawn through a catalyst that unpacks the molecule to its original form. The excess chemical energy is given off as heat.

A prototype rig using this new fuel is already undergoing tests on one of the university’s buildings, the team adds. The system is based on a circuit that pumps the fluid through transparent tubes under a concave reflector (this focuses sunlight on the fuel). The charged fuel is then pumped into storage. The whole installation acts much like a sunflower, tracking the Sun as it moves across the sky.

When the energy is needed, the fluid is filtered through the catalyst, warming it by 63 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). The team hopes that the heat can be used in various roles around the house — heating systems, dishwashers, anything and everything, really — before being pumped back to the roof once again.

“We have made many crucial advances recently, and today we have an emissions-free energy system which works all year around,”  

So far, the researchers have tested their fuel through 125 such cycles without observing any significant damage to the molecule. Furthermore, they report that one kilogram of the fuel can store 250 watt-hours of energy — which is double what a Tesla Powerwall can boast. However, they’re confident that there are still areas where the fuel can be improved. They hope to have the system generate at least 110 degrees Celsius (230 degrees Fahrenheit) more with further tweaks.

“There is a lot left to do. We have just got the system to work. Now we need to ensure everything is optimally designed,” says Moth-Poulsen. Moth-Poulsen thinks the technology could be available for commercial use within 10 years.

Pumped Hydro 

Pumped-storage   is a type of hydroelectric energy storage used by electric power systems for load balancing. The method stores energy in the form of gravitational potential energy of water, pumped from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation. Low-cost surplus off-peak electric power is typically used to run the pumps. During periods of high electrical demand, the stored water is released through turbines to produce electric power. Although the losses of the pumping process makes the plant a net consumer of energy overall, the system increases revenue by selling more electricity during periods of peak demand, when electricity prices are highest. The principles on which a pumped hydroelectric plant works can be explained as follows: It is an arrangement which stores electricity as gravitational potential energy. At times when electricity is plentiful and cheap — for instance, on a sunny day for solar energy — a pumped hydro plant uses it to move water up to higher elevation. When electricity is scarce — after dark, in the solar example — it drops the water down, passing it through a hydroelectric turbine to harvest the energy. 

Where possible pumped storage can also store energy, a low and high level reservoir works to store energy. During low price periods energy is used to pump water to the high level storage and during high price periods the water is released to provide power to the grid .Pumped hydro solutions is an mature technology widely used where ever the conditions allow this.

Bricks

The principle used in the pumped storage hydro can be replicated with material other than water. The material that is raised to a higher elevation doesn't have to be water. Companies are currently creating gravitational systems that move gravel up the side of a hill and use the same underpinning principle - when energy is needed, the gravel is released and the weight drives a mechanical system that drives a turbine and generates electricity.

Renewable energy could reliably power the grid at peak times using an eco-friendly and cost-effective storage solution designed by Swiss start-up Energy Vault. The technology, which works by moving concrete bricks around, has more longevity than batteries and more versatility than pumped hydroelectricity — two major current methods for storing energy.

It offers a possible solution to one of the key problems of renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which need to be stored for later use, because they are produced intermittently.Energy Vault says the system delivers base load power cheaper than fossil fuels.

"The world needs rapidly scalable and sustainable energy storage solutions to meet one of the most urgent challenges — the need to decarbonise our energy generation," said Energy Vault co-founder and CEO Robert Piconi.

"In addition to the vital environmental benefits that it provides, the system's radical reduction in cost per kilowatt-hour and overall levelised cost of storage enables our customers to provide dispatchable and base load power cheaper than fossil fuels for the very first time."

Energy Vault announced it was making its technology commercially available in November, at the same time as it announced a partnership with Indian company Tata Power to build its first plant, a 35 megawatt-hour system, in 2019.

Energy Vault's autonomous system combines proprietary software and a six-arm crane to move blocks of concrete in response to changes in energy production and demand.

It works on the same principle as a pumped hydroelectric plant, which stores electricity as gravitational potential energy. At times when electricity is plentiful and cheap — for instance, on a sunny day for solar energy — a pumped hydro plant uses it to move water up to a higher elevation. When electricity is scarce — after dark, in the solar example — it drops the water down, passing it through a hydroelectric turbine to harvest the energy.

Energy Vault's system replicates that effect with 35-tonne bricks, stacking them into a tower when electricity is abundant and releasing them to generate energy.The system has advantages over hydro, because it doesn't require a specific topography and doesn't have the negative environmental impacts. Energy Vault says its system is also more efficient and cost-effective, offering savings of 50 per cent or more over existing solutions. The blocks are made with waste concrete, and the lifetime of one plant is upwards of 30 years.

It also avoids the pitfalls of chemical storage solutions like Tesla's Power wall, which degrade over time, requiring new batteries to be manufactured.

Pumped Compressed Air: Rocks off the UK’s coast could be used as long-term storage for renewable energy. The energy storage method involves pumping compressed air into local, porous sandstone formations, which can later be released to generate large quantities of electricity. Using such a technique on a large scale could store enough compressed air to cover the UK’s winter energy needs — when demand is highest such systems are is already in use in certain sites in Germany and the US. CAES involves using an electric motor to compress air and pump it at high pressure into porous geological layers when energy is plentiful. When supply can’t keep up with demand, this air is released to power turbines that generate electricity and feed it into the grid. In essence, CAES-type systems act as a compressed-air electrical battery.

Small pumped storage hydroelectric power plants:

The purpose of PWS up to now has been network storage, i.e. bulk storage of “surplus” energy on the grid to balance demands during peaks. The growth of renewable energy and the move to distributed generation, micro-grids and survival of sections of the grid have created a demand for smaller storage units, either to balance output or ensure security of supply.

Head (m)	Volume requirement (m3)	Approximate dimensions of reservoir
1000	366	100 m2 x 3,66 m
500	732	200 m2 x 3,66 m
250	1464	400 m2 x 3,66 m
100	3660	1000 m2 x 3,66 m
50	7320	1000 m2 x 7,32 m
20	18 300	2500 m2 x 7,32 m
Water volume requirements for various pressure head.

Small PWS in the range of tens of MW or even several hundred MW can be constructed above ground and using existing infrastructure. Items such as abandoned mines, quarries or even high rise buildings have been investigated as means to provide the necessary storage, and several projects are underway worldwide. Small PWS have been successfully combined with wind farms in island applications, but mainland sites are now being considered as well  

In addition to network storage of hundreds of MW used to balance the entire wind production for an area, small PWS systems are being considered as supplementary storage to wind and solar farms ranging in size from 15 to 300 MW. The amount of storage required varies with the operating regime of the plant, but typically small PWS plants range from 10 to 300 MW in size with storage ranging from one to four hours at full capacity.

It should be fairly obvious that hydropower, especially PWS, requires both a large amount of water and a high head. To generate 1 MWh of energy with the above system would require 366 m3 of water, which is roughly equivalent to a reservoir with 100 m² of surface area and a depth of 3,66 m.

Small PWS will not generally be associated with high heads of water, and it is clear that the volume of water required could be a limiting factor for small PWS systems. Where artificial upper reservoirs are anticipated, this could be a limiting factor. For a river or dam based hydropower system the flow rate will be determined by the flow rate available from the feeding river. For a PWS system the flow rate will be determined by the required power generation capacity and the turbine type. Pipe sizes will be determined by the required flow rate. The flow rate will be limited by the head and the pipe size. This severely limits the use of some existing infrastructure, such a mine shafts, as the ground level dam would be considerable in size, and underground storage would consist of tunnels which may require sealing.

Small PWS technology requirements are considerably simpler from the large reversible pump turbines used in large schemes, and in many cases, pump technology run in reverse can be used. One configuration uses two pumps in a dual configuration  Such a configuration has the advantage that pumping rates and generation rates could differ, a factor which is not possible with fixed speed or even variable speed pump/turbines. The pumping rate could be adjusted to match the amount of spare energy available. 

  Abandoned mines is an option which deserves consideration. Some have depths in excess of 500 m, and almost all have water accumulated in the underground workings. The use of abandoned mine shafts as PWS is suggested regularly   but no detailed study has been done to my knowledge. The biggest problem would be the mine head reservoir, as to store say 20 MWh with a mine depth of 500 m would require maybe 20 000 m³of water storage taking efficiency into account. In some cases the mine dump or slurry dam could be considered as an existing infrastructure to base the reservoir on but no detailed studies have been done. There are numerous studies and proposals in the literature on the use of abandoned mines for PWS systems and there are a few firm projects planning to use abandoned mines. The Kidston project in Australia is a typical example of an open cast mine planned for re-use as PWS . As envisaged, the plan was to develop a 330 MW pumped hydro project on the old Kidston gold mine, involving water transfer between two pits at different altitudes.  There is a 20 Gℓ dam, which was built to service the mine, 18 km away. The Kidston project owns piping between the dam and the mine and it has water rights of 4,6 Gℓ annually should there be a drought. The basic plan was to connect two dams which are located at approximately 190 m vertically from each other. The initial plan involved three 110 MW reversible pumps, which will pump water from below to the top dam when there is excess power, or generate electricity via water from the top dam entering the lower dam. There is already a 132 kV transmission line providing connection to the North Queensland grid and this will be enhanced with a further 275 kV line. There is also a planned 50 MW solar PV farm, and this will be the highest quality solar resource in Australia, with strong community support. A binding agreement with Ergon Energy has been announced for power uptake. The planning for the solar PV farm in the old tailings area, can now proceed with the certainty that the power produced is sold into the grid and there is the possibility of extending this solar PV farm to 150MW. The project is expected to cost 20 to 25% of a traditional pumped storage system.

There are similar plans to use abandoned open pit mines for combined solar/ PWS in other countries.

There are several proposals in different countries to use underground mines as the basis for PWS. Among the more ingenious use the existing mine cavities for both the upper and lower reservoirs, thus obviating the need for new reservoirs above ground level. This makes it possible for the pumped storage project to be completely contained within the existing mine cavities. An example is the Prosper-Haniel coal mine in Germany  The PWS is designed to generate about 200 MW with a storage capacity of 4 h. The upper reservoir is planned to hold 600 000 m³ of water, and the mine is about 600 m deep. The mining complex comprises 26 km of horizontal shafts, which would be used as the lower reservoir. The mine design has an added benefit from the air shafts, which will discharge hot air as the lower reservoir fills up, and heat will be recovered using heat exchangers.

Small PWS are quite common alongside major rivers, but are limited in capacity, firstly by the head available and land available for the upper reservoir.A concept, developed by the Australian national university and based on small scale PWS is pairs of reservoirs, typically 10 ha each, are separated by an altitude difference of between 300 and 700 m, in hilly terrain or ex-mines and away from rivers, and joined by a pipe with a pump/turbine. Water circulates between the upper and lower reservoirs in a closed loop to store and generate power.

Very little water is apparently required relative to conventional fossil fuel power stations. Estimated stations could be in size from 50 to 500 W and with a storage time of 4 to 20 h. Problems with initial filling and compensation for evaporation and leakage. Such a network of small scale PWS is claimed to be able to provide sufficient storage capacity to allow operation from 100% renewable energy sources.  The concept of combining wind power with pumped hydropower has been taken to the extreme by GE in the Gaildorf project, located in Germany’s Swabian-Franconian forest on the Limburger Berge uplands  The project will comprise four of GE’s new 3,4 MW 137 turbines and a 16 MW pumped storage hydro-electric power plant supplied under a separate agreement Germany are storing water for hydroelectricity inside wind turbine towers allowing the towers act like massive batteries once the wind stops blowing. It’s the first major example of the two technologies being physically integrated to supply reliable renewable energy.

The four-turbine project stores energy by pumping water about 35 m up inside the turbine structure itself. Basins around each base will store another 45 mℓ. When the wind stops, water flows downhill to generate hydroelectric power. A man-made lake in the valley below collects water until turbines pump the water back up again. The reservoirs are connected by a polyethylene penstock. The pumped storage powerhouse is a standardised, modular design. The base of each wind turbine is to be used as a water reservoir, increasing tower height by 40 m and extending tip height to a record-breaking 246,5 m. The lower reservoir for the pumped storage plant lies in a nearby valley, 200 m below the wind turbines. The combined wind and hydro power plant will be able to provide balancing power for fast-response stabilisation of the grid, according to GE. This would be an additional source of earnings on top of normal participation in the wholesale electricity market.

During times of peak demand and high electricity prices, the hydro plant will be in production mode. When demand and prices are low, the hydro plant will be in pump mode, pumping and storing water in the upper reservoir for later use. The net effect will be to use the stored hydro capacity to balance the intermittent nature of wind power through the optimal use of energy at different times of the day.

The wind farm, will feature the tallest turbines in the world at 246,5 m. The wind turbine generators will sit at a hub height of 178 m, while the lower 40 m of each tower and its surrounding area will be utilised as active water reservoirs to store energy. At its full capacity, it would produce 13, 6 MW, along with another 16 MW from the hydroelectric plant.   

Off grid wind and solar systems rely mainly on battery storage to provide a usable reliable supply of electricity over the full day’s usage. The use of micro PWS systems for regulating domestic power for small off grid applications has been proposed in a paper by using a PWS with head of 15 m and separate pump and turbines, coupled with solar and wind generators, the system is capable of providing both long term and short term energy storage   The study showed that a net financial benefit resulted from altering the solar and wind power system into a solar-wind pump-storage power system  

Battery Storage Paves Way for a Renewable-powered Future

March 26, 2020 reve

Battery storage systems are emerging as one of the key solutions to effectively integrate high shares of solar and wind renewables in power systems worldwide. A recent analysis from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) illustrates how electricity storage technologies can be used for a variety of applications in the power sector, from e-mobility and behind-the-meter applications to utility-scale use cases.

Utility-scale batteries, for example, can enable a greater feed-in of renewables into the grid by storing excess generation and by firming renewable energy output. Furthermore, particularly when paired with renewable generators, batteries help provide reliable and cheaper electricity in isolated grids and to off-grid communities, which otherwise rely on expensive imported diesel fuel for electricity generation.

At present, utility-scale battery storage systems are mostly being deployed in Australia, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, the United States and other European countries. One of the larger systems in terms of capacity is the Tesla 100 MW?/ 129 MWh Li-ion battery storage project at Hornsdale Wind Farm in Australia. In the US-State of New York, a high-level demonstration project using a 4 MW?/?40 MWh battery storage system showed that the operator could reduce almost 400 hours of congestion in the power grid and save up to USD 2.03 million in fuel costs.

In addition, several island and off-grid communities have invested in large-scale battery storage to balance the grid and store excess renewable energy. In a mini-grid battery project in Martinique, the output of a solar PV farm is supported by a 2 MWh energy storage unit, ensuring that electricity is injected into the grid at a constant rate, avoiding the need for back-up generation. In Hawaii, almost 130 MWh of battery storage systems have been implemented to provide smoothening services for solar PV and wind energy.

Globally, energy storage deployment in emerging markets is expected to increase by over 40% each year until 2025.

Figure 1. Stationary battery storage’s energy capacity growth, 2017-2030

Currently, utility-scale stationary batteries dominate global energy storage. But by 2030, small-scale battery storage is expected to significantly increase, complementing utility-scale applications. 

The behind-the-meter (BTM) batteries are connected behind the utility meter of commercial, industrial or residential customers, primarily aiming at electricity bill savings. Installations of BTM batteries globally is on the rise. This increase has been driven by the falling costs of battery storage technology, due to the growing consumer market and the development of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs), along with the deployment of distributed renewable energy generation and the development of smart grids. In Germany, for example, 40% of recent rooftop solar PV applications have been installed with BTM batteries. Australia aims to reach one million BTM batteries installations by  2025, with 21 000 systems installed in the country in 2017. 

Figure 2. Services provided by BTM battery storage systems

Overall, total battery capacity in stationary applications could increase from a current estimate of 11 GWh to between 180 to 420 GWh, an increase of 17- to 38-fold.

Read IRENA’s full Innovation landscape briefs on Utility-scale batteries and Behind-the-Meter batteries. 

Find more information about enabling technologies in IRENA’s Innovation Landscape briefs: Enabling Technologies https://www.evwind.es/2020/03/26/battery-storage-paves-way-for-a-renewable-powered-future/74182

 

The rapid expansion of renewable electric generation capacity, and the retirement of coal and uncompetitive nuclear power stations, is creating electricity market volatility – dramatic time-of-day and seasonal swings in electric power rates. The dynamically evolving decentralized power generation market, combined with a lack of widespread commercial electrical storage capacity, is creating supply/demand mismatches that enable flexible electricity-using technologies to arbitrage value differentials. Advanced large-scale electrolysers offer the capability to utilize an electric generation plant’s curtailed or undervalued power to make hydrogen at highly attractive costs. Electrolysers enable utility companies to store low or zero value electricity in the form of hydrogen, often referred to as “power-to-gas”. In times of peak demand, the stored hydrogen can be used to generate clean electricity using fuel cells or gas turbine generators to meet demand without relying on added fossil plant generators. Hydrogen gas can be stored in tanks or injected directly into a natural gas grid to achieve the necessary storage capacity. Coupling hydrogen production with natural gas infrastructure could provide the necessary scale for utilities because natural gas grids can store vast amounts of fuel gas. Nel Hydrogen is a true market and commercialization leader in electrolysis technology, with a 90+ year history of providing reliable and safe hydrogen generation solutions for the industrial and power generation markets. Nel Hydrogen pioneered grid scale electrolysis, and it is rapidly gaining acceptance for emerging energy applications such as grid services and long duration shifting of energy resources

PARTING GIFT by ZEENAT IQBAL HAKIMJEE JR103MH08

PARTING GIFT by ZEENAT IQBAL HAKIMJEE  JR103MH08

Mark was born in London during the post war period, in the east end of London, which has been largely rebuilt since World War II when it suffered much damage from bombing. London at that time was crippled because of the depression which was an after math of the war. The birth of Mark brought relief to his parents – relief from a devastated world. You had to struggle to survive, as London was economically shattered also. It was hard to make ends meet. Even in those days Mark’s house was full of guests. Their family was known for its hospitality. One instance Mark remembered of his childhood was of his Mom’s spending the last of her saving’s to feed a less fortunate family. ‘Give and you receive’, she used to say. This image of his mother remained with Mark in his adult years.

She worked in a garments factory, which was a part of the textile industry that was established by France, an ally from the war. She brought home samples of dresses that fitted Mark’s sister, Elizabeth. ‘She’s such a Doll’, remarked a friend of Mom’s and she’d go pink in the cheek.

His father accepted building contracts, which were part of a rebuild London project. This is how they slowly became rich. He, as a building contractor, before putting up a building, used to first look at the site, choose the people who were going to work for him and plan a schedule of work so that he knew which people should be on the site at the right time. The bricklayers and the plasterer’s would often get in each other’s way. I’ll finish with the bricks in another couple of hours. ‘Oh! So you will, the last time you said a couple, you took eight’. He went off, leaving the bricklayer to finish, who was envious of his long break. He complained, ‘Boss, we both should get equal pay for the hours of work we put in. Mark’s father would tackle the situation, and he planned shifts, so that nobody would have any objection.

Then there was the time when Elizabeth contracted an infection after swimming in the pool. They gave her a Penicillin shot (which she was allergic to), but it was too late before they found out that she was allergic. She developed a rash, as if the infection were not enough. But they were a close knit family and that saw them out of such situations. Mark held her hand and teased, ‘your face looks like its full of Polka Dots’. ‘You’d know what it feels like if you had them’. Elizabeth, on the verge of tears, told him. Susan was born – in a communist setting. Later, she would question Mark about the gap between the haves and the have-nots. ‘Because, they deserve to be so’. He’d reply. Many other questions came to her mind, especially about religion, but her differences were not confirmed. Originally she remained a Christian. A product of the west, although she cherished faint memories of the large farms set up as collective units which were usually worked by 100 to 500 families, who reaped what they sowed. She was impressed and affected by the equal opportunity. And this would reflect, in her life, later on as would the prosperity of Hampstead heath, which is a large tract of countryside of London. (The latter as told by Mark to her). Her childhood memories would reflect in her adult life.

Once during a shortage of wheat (in London – where they were to stay after marriage), she observed that those collective farmers never went hungry whereas England imported wheat every year – and it was expensive. Mark would tease her, ‘the average income of a Londoner affords him the necessities as well as the luxuries’. ‘Capitalist thinking, that’, she retorted. With her there would remain a distinction between a necessity and luxury. ‘If it’s not necessary, why do it’, was an opinion of hers on many matters.

During his school days Mark enjoyed playing Cricket, and kept himself up to date with the score board of County Cricket. ‘The night watchman just might level the score’. ‘Not if the weather does not permit’. His friends enjoyed the game too. In 1882 Australia beat England at the Oval in London and after the match the ‘Sporting Times’ invented the term ‘The Ashes’. The paper told its readers of the ‘Death of English Cricket.’ The Ashes (from a stump burnt during the England tour of Australia in 1883) are kept in an urn at the Museum at Lord’s. Mark took pride in showing his guests this urn.

A fortune teller once told Mark that after his marriage he would be blissfully happy, but then he somehow did not want to reveal something to Mark – something terribly sad. He further added that Mark would have to part from someone he deeply loved. He said that an evil spirit would be the cause of his parting from someone he deeply loved. He further asked Mark to practice religion. Mark was not religious.

Who could tell that after so many years, life would be different.

They were madly in love. Happiness glowed on their cheeks when they faced the colourful world. Mark and Susan were the children of prosperous parents. Life had been kind to them but God’s blessings were only bestowed on a few as would be proved later on. Kind as in material posse  

Mark was born in London during the post war period, in the east end of London, which has been largely rebuilt since World War II when it suffered much damage from bombing. London at that time was crippled because of the depression which was an after math of the war. The birth of Mark brought relief to his parents – relief from a devastated world. You had to struggle to survive, as London was economically shattered also. It was hard to make ends meet. Even in those days Mark’s house was full of guests. Their family was known for its hospitality. One instance Mark remembered of his childhood was of his Mom’s spending the last of her saving’s to feed a less fortunate family. ‘Give and you receive’, she used to say. This image of his mother remained with Mark in his adult years.

She worked in a garments factory, which was a part of the textile industry that was established by France, an ally from the war. She brought home samples of dresses that fitted Mark’s sister, Elizabeth. ‘She’s such a Doll’, remarked a friend of Mom’s and she’d go pink in the cheek.

His father accepted building contracts, which were part of a rebuild London project. This is how they slowly became rich. He, as a building contractor, before putting up a building, used to first look at the site, choose the people who were going to work for him and plan a schedule of work so that he knew which people should be on the site at the right time. The bricklayers and the plasterer’s would often get in each other’s way. I’ll finish with the bricks in another couple of hours. ‘Oh! So you will, the last time you said a couple, you took eight’. He went off, leaving the bricklayer to finish, who was envious of his long break. He complained, ‘Boss, we both should get equal pay for the hours of work we put in. Mark’s father would tackle the situation, and he planned shifts, so that no body would have any objection.

Then there was the time when Elizabeth contracted an infection after swimming in the pool. They gave her a Penicillin shot (which she was allergic to), but it was too late before they found out that she was allergic. She developed a rash, as if the infection were not enough. But they were a close knit family and that saw them out of such situations. Mark held her hand and teased, ‘your face looks like its full of Polka Dots’. ‘You’d know what it feels like if you had them’. Elizabeth, on the verge of tears, told him.

About the same time, in Stalin’s Russia, Susan was born – in a communist setting. Later, she would question Mark about the gap between the haves and the have-nots. ‘Because they deserve to be so’. He’d reply. Many other questions came to her mind, especially about religion, but her differences were not confirmed. Originally she remained a Christian. A product of the west, although she cherished faint memories of the large farms set up as collective units which were usually worked by 100 to 500 families, who reaped what they sowed. She was impressed and affected by the equal opportunity. And this would reflect, in her life, later on as would the prosperity of Hampstead heath, which is a large tract of countryside of London. (The latter as told by Mark to her). Her childhood memories would reflect in her adult life.

Once during a shortage of wheat (in London – where they were to stay after marriage), she observed that those collective farmers never went hungry whereas England imported wheat every year – and it was expensive. Mark would tease her, ‘the average income of a Londoner affords him the necessities as well as the luxuries’. ‘Capitalist thinking, that’, she retorted. With her there would remain a distinction between a necessity and luxury. ‘If it’s not necessary, why do it’, was an opinion of hers on many matters.

During his school days Mark enjoyed playing Cricket, and kept himself up to date with the score board of County Cricket. ‘The night watchman just might level the score’. ‘Not if the weather does not permit’. His friends enjoyed the game too. In 1882 Australia beat England at the Oval in London and after the match the ‘Sporting Times’ invented the term ‘The Ashes’. The paper told its readers of the ‘Death of English Cricket.’ The Ashes (from a stump burnt during the England tour of Australia in 1883) are kept in an urn at the Museum at Lord’s. Mark took pride in showing his guests this urn.

A fortune teller once told Mark that after his marriage he would be blissfully happy, but then he somehow did not want to reveal something to Mark – something terribly sad. He further added that Mark would have to part from someone he deeply loved. He said that an evil spirit would be the cause of his parting from someone he deeply loved. He further asked Mark to practice religion. Mark was not religious.

Who could tell that after so many years, life would be different.

They were madly in love. Happiness glowed on their cheeks when they faced the colourful world. Mark and Susan were the children of prosperous parents. Life had been kind to them but God’s blessings were only bestowed on a few as would be proved later on. Kind as in material possessions. Mark’s house was full of guests. It was there that in fact he met Susan. The first meeting was followed by a series of them. They decided to seal their relationship and with the consent of their parents they got engaged. Mark was a handsome boy. Girls did vie with each other for his attention. One such girl was his parents’ choice for his partner. Obviously she was his mother’s friend’s daughter. Very compatible, because she was in and out of their house very often and was almost a family member. Mark liked her – but the liking was never to turn into love.

Mark was a businessman; and his commitments kept him busy for the day. ‘The stocks of the company are experiencing a low’. He told a colleague. ‘The clients are not satisfied and are not ready to invest’. ‘We’ll have to work the nights’. But he spared some time every day for his beloved. Sometimes with flowers, sometimes over a meal, sometimes just to remind her that he loved the colour of her eyes, he always had time for such sentiments.

After a brief engagement they married. They went off on their honeymoon to Switzerland. Switzerland was an ideal place. A place without an army. A peaceful setting, detached from the morbid states engaged in war. Amongst so many people, from all around the world, the two of them saw only each other. Walking in the shadows of the Alps, hand in hand, they made a commitment never to let this end. ‘Wear your skis. I’ll race you’. ‘I’m too scared’. ‘Take the plunge’. ‘oo---oop---oops’. She was out of sight. Discovered in a pile of snow. ‘I thought I told you to watch it at the curve’. Seeing her red nose poke through the snow he stifled a giggle. Having made a special trip to separate them, guess who else was there. The same girl. She had not accepted defeat. She tried to blackmail him, by using his mother. Her befitting attitude towards his mother was a result of her long association with him. She was a good cook, unlike his mother and as they say, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. She once cooked a meal that was so tasty that they licked their fingers clean. Susan’s ego was offended.

But there was always Mark’s shoulder to lean on. He assured and reassured her. There was no need to worry. The ‘uninvited guest’ would never change his love for her. Other couples saw them as ideals for a perfect married life. His mother would tell him that marriage was not a bed of roses and not to be disappointed if anything went against his wishes. She went on, saying that Mark’s father had been short tempered at the start of their marriage and many times she kept quiet when he had an anger fit. Mark’s retort, ‘I know mom, I think I can handle it. You make it sound so difficult, when it is actually not’. ‘The situation would get out of control, otherwise’. She advised him, as any mother would her son.

Susan conceived a child in their first year of marriage. Their first child was not going to be planned. The gynaecologist examined her every month. A girl was a great help for the mother and they desired a girl as their first born. Frills, bows all in pink with linen to match, Susan visualised her daughter’s frocks and her room. Susan’s mother had good taste, which showed in Susan’s attire. She was nominated for the best dressed person at a party once.

It was the eight month of pregnancy. An ultra sound showed that it was a girl. Yet their elders were reluctant to make any baby clothes or other things for the baby before hand. They felt that others would be envious, and that was not a good sign.

‘I can’t wait to see her’. As he felt the baby turn in Susan’s belly. ‘Then you’ll say you’re pressed for time, because she is a handful’. ‘That will never happen’. ‘We’ll see’. She got the last word.

The name, what should the name be. Natasha was selected. Natasha was a Russian name. Susan’s parents had spent some years in Russia. Her father had held a good post in the Pakistan Embassy there. Her mother liked the name and had wanted to name her grandchild Natasha.

The delivery time was near. She experienced contractions. The doctor and nurses were by her side. But God’s blessing escaped them. Susan’s life was in danger. On their knees they prayed – the parents. ‘Oh! God, save her – if they are our sins you hold against us, do not make her pay, please God, please’. Some complications developed. Could it be that the evil spirit had entered Susan’s body? The evil spirit that the fortune teller had warned Mark against. Could it be that the profound effort of giving birth and the effort of fighting the evil spirit broke down a weary and tired Susan and finally killed her? Mark awoke to religion as he had been advised by the fortune teller – better late than never. The doctor tried his utmost best to save both mother and child. It was touch and go. They all huddled together outside the operation theatre, looking at each other for strength. The doctor arrived, his face sullen. The message he was about to convey to them was obvious.

Susan breathed her last on a shocked Mark’s lap. The parting gift, Natasha, lay in the nurse’s hands. Caught between sorrow and happiness, he had to decide, to get over his sorrow for Natasha, Susan’s and his Natasha.

Even to this day holding Natasha’s finger he visits the grave, talks to her and gets her response. It seems like she tells him, do not give up, for Natasha. And little Natasha clasps her hands in prayer, taught to her by her father. In a whisper, she recites ----- in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Ghost. Amen. He walks away with the child, a smile on his face, ready to take on the world. And still in the race is the girl, who however much she tries will not change matters or should she try through Natasha. She would not give up. Mark was worth it. They do not make them quite like him nowadays.

 

 . Mark’s house was full of guests. It was there that in fact he met Susan. The first meeting was followed by a series of them. They decided to seal their relationship and with the consent of their parents they got engaged. Mark was a handsome boy. Girls did vie with each other for his attention. One such girl was his parents’ choice for his partner. Obviously she was his mother’s friend’s daughter. Very compatible, because she was in and out of their house very often and was almost a family member. Mark liked her – but the liking was never to turn into love.

Mark was a businessman; and his commitments kept him busy for the day. ‘The stocks of the company are experiencing a low’. He told a colleague. ‘The clients are not satisfied and are not ready to invest’. ‘We’ll have to work the nights’. But he spared some time every day for his beloved. Sometimes with flowers, sometimes over a meal, sometimes just to remind her that he loved the colour of her eyes, he always had time for such sentiments.

After a brief engagement they married. They went off on their honeymoon to Switzerland. Switzerland was an ideal place. A place without an army. A peaceful setting, detached from the morbid states engaged in war. Amongst so many people, from all around the world, the two of them saw only each other. Walking in the shadows of the Alps, hand in hand, they made a commitment never to let this end. ‘Wear your skis. I’ll race you’. ‘I’m too scared’. ‘Take the plunge’. ‘oo---oop---oops’. She was out of sight. Discovered in a pile of snow. ‘I thought I told you to watch it at the curve’. Seeing her red nose poke through the snow he stifled a giggle. Having made a special trip to separate them, guess who else was there. The same girl. She had not accepted defeat. She tried to blackmail him, by using his mother. Her befitting attitude towards his mother was a result of her long association with him. She was a good cook, unlike his mother and as they say, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. She once cooked a meal that was so tasty that they licked their fingers clean. Susan’s ego was offended.

But there was always Mark’s shoulder to lean on. He assured and reassured her. There was no need to worry. The ‘uninvited guest’ would never change his love for her. Other couples saw them as ideals for a perfect married life. His mother would tell him that marriage was not a bed of roses and not to be disappointed if anything went against his wishes. She went on, saying that Mark’s father had been short tempered at the start of their marriage and many times she kept quiet when he had an anger fit. Mark’s retort, ‘I know mom, I think I can handle it. You make it sound so difficult, when it is actually not’. ‘The situation would get out of control, otherwise’. She advised him, as any mother would her son.

Susan conceived a child in their first year of marriage. Their first child was not going to be planned. The gynaecologist examined her every month. A girl was a great help for the mother and they desired a girl as their first born. Frills, bows all in pink with linen to match, Susan visualised her daughter’s frocks and her room. Susan’s mother had good taste, which showed in Susan’s attire. She was nominated for the best dressed person at a party once.

It was the eight month of pregnancy. An ultra sound showed that it was a girl. Yet their elders were reluctant to make any baby clothes or other things for the baby before hand. They felt that others would be envious, and that was not a good sign.

‘I can’t wait to see her’. As he felt the baby turn in Susan’s belly. ‘Then you’ll say you’re pressed for time, because she is a handful’. ‘That will never happen’. ‘We’ll see’. She got the last word.

The name, what should the name be. Natasha was selected. Natasha was a Russian name. Susan’s parents had spent some years in Russia. Her father had held a good post in the Pakistan Embassy there. Her mother liked the name and had wanted to name her grandchild Natasha.

The delivery time was near. She experienced contractions. The doctor and nurses were by her side. But God’s blessing escaped them. Susan’s life was in danger. On their knees they prayed – the parents. ‘Oh! God, save her – if they are our sins you hold against us, do not make her pay, please God, please’. Some complications developed. Could it be that the evil spirit had entered Susan’s body? The evil spirit that the fortune teller had warned Mark against. Could it be that the profound effort of giving birth and the effort of fighting the evil spirit broke down a weary and tired Susan and finally killed her? Mark awoke to religion as he had been advised by the fortune teller – better late than never. The doctor tried his utmost best to save both mother and child. It was touch and go. They all huddled together outside the operation theatre, looking at each other for strength. The doctor arrived, his face sullen. The message he was about to convey to them was obvious.

Susan breathed her last on a shocked Mark’s lap. The parting gift, Natasha, lay in the nurse’s hands. Caught between sorrow and happiness, he had to decide, to get over his sorrow for Natasha, Susan’s and his Natasha.

Even to this day holding Natasha’s finger he visits the grave, talks to her and gets her response. It seems like she tells him, do not give up, for Natasha. And little Natasha clasps her hands in prayer, taught to her by her father. In a whisper, she recites ----- in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Ghost. Amen. He walks away with the child, a smile on his face, ready to take on the world. And still in the race is the girl, who however much she tries will not change matters or should she try through Natasha. She would not give up. Mark was worth it. They do not make them quite like him nowadays. 

Reanalyzing the Fall of Dhaka By Sajjad Shaukat (JR102SS09)

Reanalyzing the Fall of Dhaka  By Sajjad Shaukat (JR102SS09)

16th December is the day of tragic memory when Pakistan was dismembered and a new state of Bangladesh was created in 1971 as part of Indian conspiracy which still continues against the integration of Pakistan. However, this very day is known as the Fall of Dhaka.

India has a long-gone history of many centuries, based upon religious prejudice against the Muslims. In this respect, Indian intelligence agency RAW which was founded in 1968, has assumed a significant status as invisible actor in formulation of India’s domestic, regional and global policies, particularly directed against Pakistan.

Hindus give credit to Indira Gandhi who in the late 1970s gave RAW a new role to suit her ‘Indira Doctrine’ specifically asking it to undertake covert operations in neighboring countries, especially Pakistan which comprises majority of Muslims. RAW was given a green signal to mobilize all its resources by exploiting political turmoil in East Pakistan in 1971 which this agency had created through its agents who provided Bengalis with arms and ammunition for conducting guerrilla acts against the Pakistani defense forces.

Regarding the separation of East Pakistan, Indian RAW had unleashed a well-organized plan of psychological warfare, creation of polarization among the armed forces, propaganda by false allegations against West Pakistan, creation of differences between the political parties and religious sects of East and West Pakistan, control of media, manipulating linguistic, political and economic disputes in order to malign the Bengalis against Islamabad.

There is no doubt that one can note political, economic and social disparities almost in every Third World country. India, itself, contains these disparities on larger scale. In more than 10 states of India, separatist movements are at work. But, New Delhi which has not recognized the existence of Pakistan since partition and left no stone unturned in planting and manipulating differences between the people of East and West Pakistan.

However, RAW has a long history of sinister activities in the East Pakistan, backing secular areas of Hindu minority who had played an important role in motivating Bengali Muslims against West Pakistan. RAW’s well-paid agents had activated themselves in East Pakistan in the 1960’s so as to dismember Pakistan. For this aim, it took the responsibility of funding Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans’ general elections in 1970 and the members of his party, Awami League. It colluded with the pro-Indian persons and had paid full attention in training and arming the Mukti Bahnis (Terrorists). Playing with the bloodshed of Muslims, RAW succeeded in initiating a civil war in East Pakistan. However, huge quantity of arms started entering East Pakistan. Meanwhile, India welcomed the refugees from East Pakistan, providing them with every facility to provocate them against West Pakistan.

Majib was already in connivance with India for separation of East Pakistan. In this connection, Asoka Raina in his book, ‘Inside RAW: The Story of India’s Secret Service’, discloses, “Indian intelligence agencies were involved in erstwhile East Pakistan…its operatives were in touch with Sheikh Mujib as the possible ‘Father’ of a new nation-Bangladesh, who went to Agartala in 1965. The famous Agartala case was unearthed in 1967. In fact, the main purpose of raising RAW in 1968 was to organise covert operations in Bangladesh. Indian army officers and RAW officials used Bengali refugees to set up Mukti Bahini. Using this outfit as a cover, Indian military sneaked deep into East Pakistan…the story of Mukti Bahini and RAW’s role in its creation and training is now well-known.”

Asoka further explained, “Indian sources including journalists have put on record how much RAW had established the network of a separatist movement through ‘cells’ within East Pakistan and military training camps in Indian territory adjoining East Pakistan…carrying out acts of sabotage against communication lines so that Indian forces simply marched in at the ‘right’ time. RAW agents provided valuable information as well as acting as an advance guard for conducting unconventional guerrilla acts against the Pakistani defense forces.”

It is mentionable that before the 1971 war, Mujibur Rahman had announced a separate national flag for East Pakistan in his six points which also included that currency of East Pakistan should be different along with a separate military.

His six points created prejudice among Bengali people especially against West Pakistan. The famous slogan, during his addresses and rallies was, “Punjabi dogs go back.” It was due to Mujib’s instigation that besides Punjabis, Bengalis had also tortured and killed Biharis, Pashtoons and Balochis, while their women were raped.

Now, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid and her ruling party Awami League have continuously been pursuing Indian directions by conducting anti-Pakistan campaign.

In connivance with New Delhi, Bangladesh government and Awami League have launched a massive media campaign in order to spread venom against Pakistan and its armed forces and against all those Bangladeshi nationals who were loyal to the state during 1971 crisis.

Since Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina Wajid came into power; India has been employing various tactics to entrap Bangladesh by exploiting her pro-Indian tilt to fulfill its strategic interests. In this context, Prime Minister Hasina Wajid has continuously been pursuing Indian directions by conducting anti-Pakistan campaign. Therefore, after passing of 42 years to the events of 1971, which resulted into the separation of East Pakistan, Abdul Qadir, the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) was hanged because of his loyalty to Pakistan. Executions of Mujadid and Chaudry of JI were also part of the same scheme. Regarding all these executions, international community raised doubts and noted flawed proceedings.

People of Pakistan have shared moments of happiness and sorrows with the people of Bangladesh. The tragedy of dismemberment of East Pakistan was aimed at creating a compliant country through Indian trained and financed terrorists (Mukti Bahini) who had killed thousands of Pakistanis in cold blooded activities. In this connection, while addressing a ceremony during his Bangladesh tour, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi openly stated on June 7, 2015 that Indian forces helped Mukti Bahini to turn East Pakistan into Bangladesh. He elaborated that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had played an active role in separating Bangladesh from Pakistan, and he had also come to Delhi in 1971 to participate in the Satyagraha Movement, launched by Jana Sangh as a volunteer to garner support for the Mukti Bahini members.

At present, India Prime Minister Modi is trying to implement the same job in Balochistan where RAW is supplying arms to the separatist elements and is encouraging the anti-Pakistan Baloch leaders like Brahamdagh Bugti to continue opposing the federation of Pakistan.

Nevertheless, Indian leadership by manipulating the concerns of Bangladesh Army over the raising of “Jatiyo Rakhi Bahini” (National vanguards) in 1972, once again created volatility in Bangladesh by patronizing the killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. The supplementary purpose of the incident was to make 1974 tripartite agreement dormant, as by the agreement Sheikh Mujib, the father of Bangladesh had wished cordial relations among Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, declaring “Bangladesh knows how to forgive and forget.”

To further keep the people of Bangladesh in desolation, fueling the hatred and creating, Sheikh Hassina Wajid incorporated extremism in the society and the Bangladesh politics. Since then through devious judicial trials, she has been executing elderly opposing politicians, and as an extension of her personal and political vindictive posture by exploiting the fateful 1971 event to further the Indian interests. Turmoil, so shaped continues to haunt people of Bangladesh, as she is refusing olive branch offered by people of Pakistan.

Ironically, Awami League’s purported nationalism is based on fabricated figures about the killing of three million Bengali people in 1971. Sheikh Mujib uttered this figure during an interview with the British broadcaster David Frost. It was not authenticated by independent researchers or international institutions. During the conflict, only two division of Pakistan’s Army with limited small weapons was deployed in East Pakistan and it has no motivation to kill so many people in such a short conflict being fought in unfavorable operational situation.

Nonetheless, genocide committed by Indian trained terrorists in East Pakistan cannot be ruled out. Awami League’s delusions, under Sheikh Hasina’s are expected to create grave problems for Bangladesh. The growing discontent in the country over authoritarian and vindictive rule of Awami League vis-à-vis antagonistic approach towards Pakistan is causing a division in Bangladeshi society.

A regards the so-called genocide of the Bengali people, a famous Bengali journalist Sarmila Bose authored a book, “Dead Reckoning: Memories of the 1971 Bangladesh War” after thorough investigation. She terms the number, a gigantic rumor, while Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report considers even 26,000 as an exaggerated figure. Richard Sisson and Leo E. Rose in book titled “War and Secession: Pakistan, India and the Creation of Bangladesh” and Gary Bass in his book “The Blood Telegram” clearly admit that figures about so-called genocide were Indian purported.

At present, the situation is turning bleak as foreign investments are evaporating and unemployment is multiplying. The growing socio-economic degeneration is causing discontent suiting the terrorist outfits like the Islamic State group (Also known as Daesh, ISIS, ISIL) ISIS (Daesh) and their financers to take full advantage to recruit the combat terrorists and train them in contiguous Indian area for further insertion in various regions. Its fallouts in Bangladesh are evident. Western media has reported about presence of ISIS in Bangladesh. The ISIS militants attacked on the Holey Artisan Bakery (Restaurant) in the diplomatic district of Dhaka on July 2, 2017 and killed at least 20 hostages and two police officers. It includes nine Italians, seven Japanese and one American.  ISIS claimed responsibility for terror attack on the restaurant. But, without any investigation, Home Minister of Bangladesh Asaduzzaman Khan blamed home-grown Islamist terrorists and Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI for the restaurant assault by adding, “There is no IS or al-Qaeda presence in Bangladesh…the hostage-takers were all home-grown terrorists and not members of IS or any other international Islamist outfits.” His statement was contrary to the country’s top officials who have claimed that ISIS exists in Bangladesh. Earlier, ISI has accepted responsibility for a number of past attacks in Bangladesh. On July 7, 2016, terrorists killed two policemen and a woman in an attack at Eid congregation near Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh. The incident came, a day after the ISI video on social media in which, three Bangladeshi youths appeared, threatening more attacks in the country, as the sources of Bangladesh disclosed. It also proves that Bangladesh’s home-grown militants have connections with the ISIL. However, availing the opportunity of the Dhaka restaurant attack, Indian media also began a campaign, accusing ISI.

In the recent past, two foreigners were shot, while a Shia gathering was targeted in the country. Extremist groups like Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh have established affinities with ISIS and are very active these days. Some of the Western countries even advised their citizen not to travel to the country.

It is optimistically suggested to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other leaders of Awami League that without indulging into a blame game, creation of Bangladesh may be acknowledged as one of the most tragic chapters in the history of Pakistan—tragedies test the resilience of the nations to survive and progress. Living in past sends the message of hopelessness, leadership must rise to the occasion and guide the nation towards integration and prosperity.

Pakistan’s eagerness in fostering good relations with Bangladesh can be gauged from huge investments in Bangladesh by Pakistani traders.

Bengalis must know that in the backdrop of Modi’s statement, role of India in dismemberment of Pakistan through state sponsored terrorism (Insertion of Mukti Bahni) and Indian support to separatist elements in Pakistan’s province of Baluchistan have already been exposed, as Islamabad has recently presented solid evidence to the UN and in this respect.

Besides, world must take notice of Indian interventionist and hegemonic policies vis-à-vis her neighbors. India occupied Sikkim, subdued Bhutan, sponsored terrorism in Sri Lanka and is now teasing Nepal.

While rectifying the historical record regarding the events of 1971, government of Bangladesh must mention that two Divisions of army (20000, which latter grew to 34000) operating in adverse environment has no motivation to go on civilian killing spree. It must know that if total number of troops was 34000, then how come the much publicized figure of 93,000 troops is true?

People of Bangladesh may identify their real enemies—India and Awami League which are creating conditions for further breakup of Pakistan and has made Pakistanis and Bengalis to fight with each other. Now, they are again active to promote pro-Indian feelings through Awami League and Sheikh Hasina’s government and gag the opposition, so that it can be turned into a fully compliant state.

And as part of old anti-Pakistan campaign, Awami League conceals facts about the Indian conspiracy behind the separation of Pakistan.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Refocus on the Tragedy of Peshawar School Attack by Sajjad Shaukat(JR101SS08)

Refocus on the Tragedy of Peshawar School Attack by Sajjad Shaukat(JR101SS08)

On December 16, 2014, in one of the bloodiest-ever terror attacks in Pakistan, six Taliban militants mercilessly killed at least 141 people, including 132 children and nine staff members of the Army Public School and College in Peshawar, They also burnt a lady teacher alive. After eight hours operation, Pak Army’s commandos cleared the school area, and six militants were killed.

On the same day, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the ghastly act at the Peshawar school.

The tragic loss of the lives of innocent children moved the entire world deeply. Every Pakistani said that shame on these terrorists who considered innocent children as their enemies, and martyred them through brutal tactics.

The then Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Raheel Sharif, including leaders of various political and religious parties strongly condemned the heinous attack at the Peshawar school. PTI Chief Imran Khan called off the December 18 (2014) countrywide shutdown, and also decided to cooperate with the government against terrorism.

However, after that inhuman gruesome tragedy, question arose as to what measures required to eliminate terrorism from the country.

In this context, the former Army Chief Gen. Raheel accompanied by DG ISI rushed to Kabul on December 17, 2014. Resources suggested that during his meeting with his Afghan counterpart, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the ISAF commander, he presented evidence of the Peshawar massacre’s linkage with TTP sanctuaries in Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nuristan. He also asked the extradition of the ex-TTP chief of Mullah Fazlluah, and handing over to Pakistan.

In fact, Afghanistan has become a hub of anti-Pakistan activities from where external intelligence agencies, especially Indian RAW are sending logistic support to Baloch separatist elements and TTP insurgents in Pakistan. In the past years, particularly TTP’s militants and its affiliated banned groups conducted many terror-activities in various regions of the country as part of the scheme to create chaotic situation in the country. RAW also used TTP terrorists in relation to the attack at the Peshawar School.

In that backdrop, there arose the need of immediate execution of outstanding cases of death penalty to terrorists. In this respect, ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif revoked the ban on capital punishment in terrorism cases. The nation also expected that politicians should show no politics on the blood of innocent children. For the purpose, leaders of all the top political parties including PTI Chief Imran Khan attended a meeting of the parliamentary parties convened by Prime Minister Sharif after the deadly attack at a school in Peshawar. Setting aside his differences, Imran Khan ended PTI’s 126-day sit-in at Islamabad to give a clear message that the whole nation stands united against terrorism. However, all the leaders unanimously decided to form a parliamentary committee to chalk out a “Plan of Action” in seven days which would be approved by the political and military leadership. In this connection, on January 2, 2015, besides the chiefs of almost all the political parties and military top officials agreed on a draft of legislative measures which paved the way for establishment of special military trial courts. It was unanimously agreed that the 20 points National Action Plan (NAP) enunciated in the All Parties Conference (APC) Resolution of December 24, 2014 was being acted upon—the bill as 22nd (Constitutional) Amendment was enforced soon after its approval from the parliament. Special military courts were established and the ruthless terrorists facing death penalty had been hanged.

In this regard, the role of the Armed Forces is appreciating in uprooting the terrorists from their so-called safe havens. But, inability and evident reluctance on the part of political leadership remained a major contributing factor affecting the implementation of NAP in its true spirit. In this respect, in January 2015, apex committees were formed to expedite the implementation of the NAP. 15 committees and sub-committees were set up; however, no plausible developments were witnessed. Ironically, the inability on the part of the then government was covered with mere verbal statements in relation to NAP implementation.

Unfortunately, during the regime of P.M. Nawaz Sharif, a full-scaled activation of National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) remained in limbo even after seven years of its creation. Lack of allocation of resources for NACTA in the annual budget of 2014-2015, non framing of service rules for the authority etc. made NACTA a real midsummer night dream. Interestingly, NACTA’s budget stands at Rs. 92 million a year of which Rs.63 million went into the salaries of the staff. What kind of an effective role will be registered by the authority and who may be blamed for such state of affairs also remained a question.

Focusing on Madrassa reforms, the previous government had to come out with an authentic and final figure about the number of Madrassas, existing in the country. Reforming their syllabus and controlling their finances seemed a wishful thinking due to non-implementation of the plan.

As regards the performance of judiciary, over the past five years, estimated 14,115 persons in terrorism-related cases were acquitted and 10,387 were granted bail, only about one and half hundred hanged.

Notably, people of Pakistan want the perpetrators to be punished and expect from their elected representatives to ensure that justice and judicial reforms are not delayed. Speedy trials in military courts ensured that justice is neither delayed nor denied. Country is going through extraordinary circumstances and extraordinary decisions are the need of the hour.

Military courts saw execution of some very hardcore terrorists that helped to a great extent to break their organizational network. Cases are disposed of in weeks and months without long delays by the military courts as compared to civil courts. Delays suits militants as our jails itself are considered safe havens for them. By virtue of being a security institution, and fighting war against terrorism itself, no other institution understands the convicts and charges against them better than Army does. Army is well trained to hold military courts and carryout trials as part of Pakistan Army Act-1952.

Previous governments brought some reforms in improving police; prosecution, protection of witnesses and certain judicial restructuring, however, certain major steps have not been taken like it could not strengthen the civil legal system and judicial process enough to deal with terrorism. Courts need to be fully protected to avert danger of repercussions from such perilous elements and organizations. Life of civil judicial persons/judges is undeniably in danger when dealing with extremists. Hence, the decisions of the judges are likely to be influenced, at times, in favour of accuse. Undoubtedly, military courts lessen the pressure and risk factor on the lives of civil judicial elements.

At a number of occasions, terrorists who were involved in serious crimes and convicted by military courts were acquitted by different civil courts. Setting them free means, those terrorists can easily flee. One needs to reckon the efforts with which such dangerous elements are grabbed and tried in military courts. Therefore, a constitutional amendment also requires in this regard.

Many military operation and war in history failed in the culminating stage or post-conflict phase due to the inability of the politico-economic tool to take over and establish the political writ of the state.

Since ill-gotten money provides oxygen to the terrorist networks and other mafias working against the interest of the state, it appears that the previous civilian leaders and lack political will to block the supply of illicit money to the terrorist networks, despite the fact that no government can defeat terrorism without plugging the illicit money to the terror networks. During the previous government, in all the provinces, there were strong politicians, government cronies who had become ‘untouchables’ for anti-graft drive. It became a challenge for the ex-prime minister to allow the state institutions to bring all corrupt to book whether they belong to the ruling party or to the opposition.

Some former federal ministries were taking steps in the right direction, but the pace was quite slow. Interior ministry’s prepared rules and regulations for International Non-governmental Organizations (INGOs), local NGOs, policy draft over arms licenses etc. remained non-implemented. Civil society had been raising concerns over the slow pace of implementation and narrow scope of the Plan’s progress.  Now, P.M Imran Khan’s government’s moves such as anti-corruption drive, registration of the NGOs etc. are good developments to eliminate terrorism from the country.

Lamentably, the extremist organizations, their sympathizers and supporters are still finding time and opportunities to mischievously target Law Enforcing Agencies and people of Pakistan. Ironically, after TTP, a newer and more formidable menace in shape of ISIS is raising its head in the region. Recent terror attacks by these outfits in various regions of Pakistan, especially in the Balochistan province might be cited as example.

In this connection, realizing the task to fully implement the NAP and to supplement the gains of the military operations Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad, the present government is taking steps. But, still some political entities are creating controversy about the NAP which is essential part of Pakistan’s war against terrorism, as it has co-relationship with the military operations Zarb-i-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad which have broken the backbone of the militants. In order to conceal their corruption, they are criticizing the NAP.

These hostile entities should know that corruption is the essence of terrorism. Therefore, people want that this menace must be eliminated from the country as part of overall war against terrorism.

Addressing the participants on the event of commemorating the Defence Day, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on September 6, 2017, “Pakistan has done enough in’ the war on terror and now it is time for the world to do more…Pakistan has made numerous sacrifices fighting terrorism but today the country is being accused of not doing enough to eradicate the menace.” On September 6, 2018, he ensured to root out extremism and terrorism once and for all.

Nevertheless, in order to dismantle the terror-financing networks, elimination of corruption is an important part of Pakistan’s National Action Plan, devised to counter extremism in the country following the Peshawar school massacre of children. Similarly, reforming the religious seminaries is also its key part.

Threat of hybrid war will continue to loom large on Pakistan’s horizon, if the key pillars of state cannot work in synchronized. Our fault lines of provincialism, sectarianism, ethnicity and gap between the haves and have-nots are real and only a unifying regimen and political dispensation accommodating all stakeholders can make us walk through this minefield of challenges.

As a matter of fact, operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is the unifying factor in this hybrid war and developing the contours of a politico-economic and legal dispensation are essential for the success of this operation.

All pillars of national power, the executive (civil-military), legislature, judiciary and the media, have to work in synchronized to achieve the ends of the policy of war against terror. Now, when the Pakistani civil-military leadership has been able to achieve consensus on operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, we cannot fritter away the fruits of our labor and the sacrifices, rendered by thousands of soldiers and almost a 70,000 civilians.

In these terms, military courts have been instrumental in helping the state in providing a legal backup to military operations, their efficacy is well established. Military courts are not something unique to Pakistan; all states use such legal framework in emergencies.

Nonetheless, tragic memory of the Peshawar School Attack will remain fresh in the minds of people, as mass murder of children is a manifestation of the most barbaric face of the Taliban insurgency led by TTP.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com