Smart Energy Storage Solutions

Energy Transition Solutions

Renewable Energy

100% Renewable by 2050
This week, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released a one-year progress report on their on-going investigation into Puerto Rico’s electrical infrastructure. The report suggests that the island should begin heavily investing in renewable energy, specifically in small-scale, distributed solar power.

Battery Energy Storage

The largest battery storage project in Brazil, a 30MW/60MWh system, was inaugurated last year and presents a significant milestone in the country's energy infrastructure. Here are the key details about this groundbreaking project:
1. Project Overview:
• Capacity and Inauguration: The system has a capacity of 30MW/60MWh and was inaugurated on the networks of transmission system operator (TSO) ISO CTEEP.
• Investment: The project required a total investment of US$27 million, with ISO CTEEP permitted by regulations to earn up to US$5 million in revenue from the asset each year.

2. Impact and Purpose:

• Increasing Hosting Capacity: The BESS will help increase hosting capacity to cope with an expected increase in demand on a congested network. This enables the TSO to defer investing in a more expensive traditional transmission line.
• Non-Wires Alternative: The project serves as a 'non-wires alternative' or storage-as-a-transmission asset, demonstrating innovative approaches to enhancing grid capacity and reliability.
• Reducing Fossil Fuel Reliance: It aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuel peaker plants, which are often polluting and expensive, despite their infrequent use.
3. Location:
• The plant is located at an ISO CTEEP substation in São Paulo.

 

CHP and Microgrid

CHP can be a key resource to use in a microgrid because it provides a reliable, continuous, and controllable baseload source of electricity and localized thermal energy. Until energy storage allows renewable energy sources to be cost-effectively and reliably available on a continuous basis, CHP will continue to be a valuable resource, allowing renewables to serve peak daytime loads and support utility grid operations.

A profitable partnership.

These mutually compatible technologies come together to be more efficient, more cost-effective, more profitable, and more useful than they are on their own. 

• A CHP system linked with a microgrid allows the customer to utilize electrical energy and the thermal energy (hot water, steam, or chilled water) produced by the microgrid's power generation system.
• Increases overall efficiency, especially in the consumption of fuel feeding the microgrid's power generator.
• Reduces net operating costs. CHP often forms the most economical anchor for a microgrid system.
• Energy provided by the CHP can help with load balancing or add to energy storage. Battery Storage can keep CHP running at the most efficient conditions

 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing Energy Management Systems (EMS)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing Energy Management Systems (EMS) for microgrids, Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). For microgrids, AI algorithms can predict power demand and renewable supply, allowing for dynamic adjustment of energy distribution to improve efficiency and stability. In VPPs, AI optimizes the orchestration of distributed energy resources, enhances demand response strategies, and streamlines energy trading in real-time markets. For BESS, AI applications extend beyond simple charge and discharge activities, employing predictive analytics to forecast energy prices and demand patterns, while also managing the health of the battery to prolong its lifespan and efficiency.

AI-driven EMS for microgrids can include predictive maintenance, where machine learning algorithms analyze operational data to predict equipment failures before they occur, minimizing downtime and maintenance costs. This is crucial for microgrids, which often operate in remote locations and rely on a high degree of autonomy.

In VPPs, AI can aggregate diverse energy resources such as solar panels, wind turbines, and small-scale generators. It can predict the best times to store energy or feed it into the grid, based on predictive models that analyze various factors such as weather patterns, consumption trends, and market prices. This enables VPPs to function like a single power plant, providing a reliable, distributed energy supply.

For BESS, AI leverages historical data and real-time inputs to make decisions on when to store energy and when to release it back into the grid to take advantage of fluctuating energy prices. This not only improves the profitability of BESS operations but also contributes to grid stability during peak demand times or when intermittent renewable energy sources are not generating power.

AI also contributes to the optimization of energy flows within a BESS, ensuring that batteries operate within optimal temperature and charging ranges, thereby extending their operational life and return on investment.

In all these applications, AI enhances the capabilities of EMS by providing deep insights, predictive capabilities, and automated control mechanisms that were previously impossible. As AI technology advances, its role in managing energy systems is set to become even more integral, facilitating a more sustainable, efficient, and resilient energy landscape.

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