Techno-economic Evaluation of Electric Energy Storage Options toImprove the Commerciality of Suncor’s Wind Farms

In recent years, many energy producers have developed wind farms in Alberta due to their economic
and environmental advantages. One of the most significant challenges of wind farms is that wind is an
intermittent resource that is uncontrollable and difficult to predict. As such, wind developers are
looking to develop electric energy storage (EES) systems to store energy when supply exceeds
demand, and to generate electricity from stored energy to meet demand when the wind is producing
insufficient electricity. Through this research project, Suncor and the intern will consider various EES
technology options and evaluate them in the context of Suncor’s operations in an attempt to identify
optimal electricity storage solutions to improve the commerciality of wind farms and their ability to
provide a consistent power supply. The project will involve market and technical analyses, followed by
selecting the most attractive technologies and running profit scenarios to evaluate the potential for
increasing revenues in the Alberta electricity market. Social and…TOBECONT’D.

Faculty Supervisor:

Irene Herremans

Student:

Partner:

Suncor Energy Inc (Calgary, AB)

Discipline:

Business

Sector:

Mining; Wholesale trade

University:

University of Calgary

Program: