FEA


FEAT RE ATURE


ENERG MANAGEMEN


ENERGYMANAGEMEN T Storing Energy in a smart city Dr Alex M dapi A


Dr. AlexMardapittas, tte


lo and battery techtechnologies are revolutionising theway inwhich energy is being distributed


s,Managing Di ctor of Powerstar, discusses how new forms of energy storage re


naging Director of Powerstar, discusses how new lutio isin


th


s countries around the world strive for growing energy independence,


innovative technologies, particularly in the electrical sector, with the increasing importance of energy storage and batteries, are set to revolutionise how energy is distributed. Potentially this advancement could become the catalyst to change the geopolitical landscape of the world.We have already seen the


,


demanding fewer resources and energy storage, nations year and with investment in dropped below $40 a barrel devastation caused to OPEC


natural gas.


Asmore cities across the world start to develop infrastructures an dmore products and serv


rvices become integrated, the


definition of a Smart City continues to adapt. In the UK a Smart City is best described by Government Department of Business, Innovation and Skills that states it is, “A process by which cities become more ‘liveable’ and are able to respond quicker to new challenges. It brings


and digital technologies to f together hard infrastructure


, social capital uel sustainable


economic development and provide an attractive environment for all. ”


Fromthis definition it is clear that a


Smart City is not, asmanymight have you believe, simply about digital connectivity or the ‘Internet of Things’ butmuchmore. Crucially, a Smart City incorporates hard infrastructure, including; systems that control the flow of traffic, water recycling schemes and refuse collectionmonitors, amongstmany other things. A Smart City will also respondmore quickly to new challenges and improve th e way we live ; nergy to n local


homes and businesses withi this includes the supply of e


communities . MICROGRIDS MICROGRIDS – SMAR SMART ENERG SUPPLY RT ENERGY SUPPL LY


A specific advancement in the area of energymanagement in Smart Cities is through the proliferation ofmicrogrids. As the name suggests amicrogrid is a smaller version of the national energy grid, the main difference being that themicrogrid is powered by energy sources, including renewable, thatmatch power with local demand rather than national demand. Energy storage systems, such as the Powerstar Virtue, that capture energy and store it for later use, are emerging as technologies that can increase the local management of the futuremicrogrid.


10 10 SU SUMMER 201 ER 2016 | ENERG MANAGEMEN ENERGY MANAGEMENT


MICROGRIDS - RENEWABL BENEF By having electricity already stored, users connected within themicrogrid can save by switching to the supply at any time they wish, as well as ensuring a constant and reliable energy supply.


MICROGRIDS RENEWABLE BENEFIITS Figure 1: Figure 1: The microgrids he microgrids smart energy supply smart energy supply


This is becoming increasingly important as electricity grids around the world look towards replacing non-renewable power with renewable energy sources; in the UK alone all coal-fired power stations will be closed by 2025, which will have significant impact on our ability to generate electricity. There is a need therefore tomake th e volatile nature of renewable generation sources – solar and wind for example generate little power if the sun doesn’t shine or wind doesn’t blow - reliable. Energy storage systems have already been recognised by Governmentministers as an enabling technology to aid renewable energy reliability,with the Chancellor George Osborne soon to offer his recommendations on howthe technology can be used to benefit the country’s energy supply . Commercial applications of energy storage systems are already providing paybacks above those of renewable projects


gy oj when oil prices


to batteries earlier this


such as oil and will be


in ich is b in


ewforms of energy storage strib te


- even with Feed In Tariffs (FIT) subsidies). With FIT subsidies having been reduced in February and due to be again in April, there is perhaps currently no better opportunity for renewable proj


integratedmicrogrid solution, in which energy is harnessed and provided to th e final user through energy storage, before FIT payments vanish completely.


Alongside this, energy storage systems provide a further income with its ability to support frequency and supply of the microgrid system. This is done through national grid led incentives such as EDR (Electricity Demand Reduction), FFR (Firm Frequency Response) and STOR (Short TermOperating Reserves).


Within the integratedmicrogrid systemi t will also become easier to predict the availability of power by using energy storage systems, allowing companies to access the stored power to avoid times of high tariffs and Triad charges, that are continuing to rise year on year.


Businesses can also programme energy storage systems to take control of specific energy demands, such as production lines or lighting systems thatmay be


consuming high amounts of electricity at certain times of the da y.


Additional benefits include eliminating the use of inverters on renewable installations, which help reduce costs and improve return on investment and by providing full facility Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) for up to two hours during any electricity loss on the grid, it allows the need for a separate UPS systems to be negate d .


SMART Figure 2: Figure 2: The Powerstar Virtue he Powerstar Virtue,, tthat captures energy and


hat captures energy and stores itstores it for later usefor later use


SMAR SOLUT RT SOLUTIION


Energy storage systems have emerged as one of the best solutions to address the growing concern that energy grids around the world are struggling to cope with the surge in demand for electricity, which te. In the UK peak


demand on the grid i continues to accelera


six-fold by 2050.


Imperial College London’s Energy Futures Lab has estimated that energy storage technologies could generate savings of £10bn a year by 2050 in the UK alone and the Department of Energy & Climat e Change has stated that energy storage technology has the potential to enhance energy flexibility across the UK.


Powerstar www.powerstar.com


www.powerstar.com T: 01142 576200


/ ENERGYMANAGEMENT ENERGYMANAGEMENT s expected to increase Storing Energy in a smart c yti ojects to become part of an


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