34 LOADBANKS
State-of-the-art loadbank supplied to the University of Chester’s flagship Energy Centre
Crestchic, the world’s largest specialised loadbank manufacturer and rental company, has supplied the University of Chester with a nominally-rated 300 kVA restive/reactive loadbank. This has been installed at its research and development facility at the Energy Centre situated in Thornton Science Park in the UK. The contractors for the project, A+B Engineering, selected Crestchic for its specialist experience in this area, reports WIP.
O
ne of the most sophisticated units of its type, the new
loadbank forms an integral part of the University’s microgrid system, which is the first of its kind at a UK university Campus. The Energy Centre’s mission
is to provide an environment where SMEs can develop, analyse and demonstrate their new energy technologies. The Crestchic loadbank will
be used to replicate variable loads that might be expected to happen in the future when microgrid networks are predicted to transform the energy world. The loadbank pioneers new
algorithms for the load balancing of a microgrid as part of a control system provided by ABB. The system, which can be
“The Crestchic load- bank is a very exciting develop- ment which provides a platform for learning.” - Paul Vernon, Thornton Research
operated remotely, allows users to manage the microgrid, enabling the integration and optimum utilisation of multiple energy sources and storage units connected to the same local power network. Access to an advanced and
multi-vector micro-grid assists in product development, evaluation and demonstration of technologies including customer trials. ABB was selected to deploy
the control system for the state-of-the-art system which also includes a CHP unit, diesel
Worldwide Independent Power June 2018
generator, solar photovoltaic plant, and a new energy stor- age facility, as well as the Crestchic loadbank. The key aim of the microgrid
solution is to demonstrate how DER (distributed energy resource) technologies can work together to minimise fuel costs and emissions within an islanded grid. The Energy Centre
development was funded from the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) which contributed £6.8m as part of the LEP’s growth deal, along with £8m from the University to create a visionary facility for the development, testing and demonstration of current and future energy technologies. Paul Brickman, Sales and
Marketing Director at Crestchic said: “We are proud
to work with an institution that is so committed to the development and progress of the energy sector in the UK. The loadbank we have provided allows for vital work to be completed that will help cut emissions and drive innovation. This will also be a useful tool to fulfil the needs of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy.” Paul Vernon, Senior
Executive Director of Commercial Operations and CEO of Thornton Research Properties Limited at the University of Chester, said: “The Crestchic loadbank is a very exciting development which provides a platform for learning and is a great example of industry and academia working together to address real-world issues.”
crestchicloadbanks.com
www.gmp.uk.com
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