Panama city energy storage safety assessment

What are the challenges facing Panama's energy sector?

Challenge: Planning will remain an important cross-cutting area for Panama’s energy sector, as planners must cope with rising variability and uncertainty from the envisaged high penetration of solar and wind generation through to 2050.

Are new energy storage systems safe?

Interest in storage safety considerations is substantially increasing, yet newer system designs can be quite different than prior versions in terms of risk mitigation. An uncontrolled release of energy is an inevitable and dangerous possibility with storing energy in any form.

How can Panama adapt its energy system?

To adapt Panama’s energy system to this evolving paradigm, a comprehensive plan is needed that considers a rapid growth in demand from the electrification of transport, including from the introduction of expanded metro lines, electric passenger vehicles and electric buses.

Does Panama need a cross-border electricity market?

In the absence of a cross-border electricity market, this interconnection was modelled assuming that Panama imports energy from Colombia at the high price of USD 200 per megawatt-hour (MWh). Because imports are likely the most expensive source of electricity, they will be required only if Panama’s internal generation mix is unable to meet demand.

What are the gaps in energy storage safety assessments?

One gap in current safety assessments is that validation tests are performed on new products under laboratory conditions, and do not reflect changes that can occur in service or as the product ages. Figure 4. Increasing safety certainty earlier in the energy storage development cycle. 8. Summary of Gaps

How much energy does Panama need?

Panama expects total energy demand to more than double between 2017 and 2030 (+113%), with peak demand growing from 1.6 GW to 3.5 GW. Panama is currently connected to Costa Rica via a 300 MW transmission line. A 400 MW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnector with Colombia is expected to be commissioned by 2022.