SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS


SMART MICROGRID TECHNOLOGY FOR


EFFICIENT, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT


L


ocal, independent and smart – organisations and businesses are increasingly exploring


microgrids to gain greater control over their energy infrastructure, to help control energy spend, and make the best use of their own renewable assets. Combining on-site renewables with battery storage, as part of a microgrid, protects a site against disruptions in Grid supply, and offers the flexibility to optimise energy usage – whether generated on-site or drawn from the Grid. Such an approach can significantly reduce Scope 2 emissions through the management of clean energy alongside Grid supply. Central to an effective smart


microgrid – and crucial for more sustainable energy management – is a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). And if the BESS includes Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), it forms part of an energy management solution that offers resilience and flexibility, all while working towards greater sustainability. Unlike a traditional UPS, a modern BESS can offer sitewide protection in the event of disruption to Grid supply. A traditional UPS serves no function other than emergency back-up power to specific equipment. It will also be losing energy constantly, yet will be unused most of the time. By contrast, a modern BESS will have around 95%


lower losses and is a far more effective, efficient asset. Given these loss comparisons, even if a company has not invested in renewable assets, a BESS represents more affordable and more sustainable energy than the traditional solution. And, for these companies without on-site renewables, further reductions in emissions can come from smart management of a BESS. The carbon intensity of Grid power depends on


various factors, such as time of day, level of overall demand and weather conditions. Electricity is generally less carbon-intensive at night, and so a BESS as part of a microgrid means that lower


carbon Grid energy can be purchased and stored overnight, and then discharged during the day. Where companies and organisations have invested in on-site renewable assets, these are of little benefit without some form of storage, given the inherently inflexible nature of renewable generation. To maximise ROI, a BESS stores clean energy for use when needed. For the greatest cost- savings, this would be when Grid supply is at peak cost. Since this energy is generated on-site, unaffected by market volatility, the combination of BESS and renewables can help avoid the pressures


of fluctuating energy prices. Currently, with zero-rated VAT, renewable


infrastructure is exempt from business rates until April 2035 – all of which makes a sustainable approach to energy management a compelling investment.


INTELLIGENT SOFTWARE To meet the demands of cost-savings alongside sustainable energy, intelligent energy management software provides vital insights to manage multiple power flows across the microgrid and automatically prioritises assets and actions for optimised energy usage. Advanced algorithms and machine learning enable real-time decision-making, as well as trend-prediction to inform effective energy management, seamlessly switching between local and centralised power supply depending on the best option at any given time. Detailed site, grid and asset data means that


improvements and possible failure points can be more easily identified – helpful when scheduling planned maintenance – and monitoring and reporting can inform strategic load planning. The more technology and assets that can be connected to the microgrid control system, the more it will learn and improve, becoming more effective over time. This AI management of energy, working in tandem with the BESS and on-site renewable assets, has the capacity to


8ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Autumn 2023


Ensuring resilient, affordable, and sustainable energy supply is a balancing act for businesses and organisations throughout the UK, whether manufacturing or industry; academia or


healthcare; retail or property. With organisations looking for more sustainable energy management,


Solon Mardapittas, CEO at Powerstar, considers smart microgrid technologies –


where the benefits of battery storage can maximise


investment in renewables


transform the way that energy systems work. If a modern BESS solution is installed as part of a site’s energy infrastructure, it may be feasible to investigate a custom solution to evolve and design this into a microgrid. But, complex projects require the right technical expertise alongside cutting-edge technologies. There are a variety of different assets, power flows and customer priorities to consider. Using Digital Twin technology, Powerstar recreates entire sites and proposed power infrastructure systems in a digital space. This allows the system to be tested against a whole host of scenarios and differing internal and external factors, to ensure that it will operate as intended, prior to any installation on-site.


CLEAR BENEFITS Resilience, affordability and sustainability are pressing issues for all energy managers, whatever their sector, and more companies and organisations are taking advantage of on-site renewables to help achieve these aims. When these are combined into a smart microgrid with BESS, the benefits are clear: better asset management, more robust energy supply, lower energy spend, and enhanced sustainability.


Powerstar T: 0333 230 1327 www.powerstar.com


A modern BESS can offer sitewide protection in the event of disruption to Grid supply


www.essmag.co.uk


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