Energy future is decentralized

EREVITA Team, 11.11.2019 09:37:18

Cornish homes take part in trial to supply clean power to grid Hundreds of homes and businesses in Cornwall have started selling electricity to their local energy network and the national energy system in a pioneering move. The trial is the first time that traditional energy users – such as homes, hotels and businesses – have acted as suppliers in a microcosm of a full energy system. The trial harnessed together 100 Cornish homes, fitted with batteries and solar panels, to act as a mini virtual power plant for the local energy network, Western Power Distribution, and the UK’s energy system operator, National Grid. During sunny spells when homes generate more than enough electricity from solar panels they can store the power to use later, or supply the energy system with clean extra power. Advertisement The homes took part in the trial alongside 150 local businesses, which were prepared to adjust how much energy they used depending on the balance of energy supply and demand on the grid. If wind and solar power output dropped the companies could choose to use less electricity in exchange for a payment from National Grid, or if the local grid had more electricity than it needed the companies could ramp up their energy demand. National Grid already offers to pay firms that own utility-scale batteries to provide a similar service, but the trial is the first time that companies can take part in the same “local energy market” as the network operator. The market was designed by energy giant Centrica and modelled on the same system used to balance energy markets across Europe. The energy companies believe the trial could help create a nationwide chain of flexible smart grids built around clean energy. Pieter-Jan Mermans, a director at Centrica Business Solutions, described the trial as “a milestone moment for the energy network” after years of research. “Improving grid flexibility benefits everyone from generators to consumers, and these trials represent a major step forward. We are hugely grateful to the householders and businesses across Cornwall who have embraced this trial with open arms,” he said. Sign up to the daily Business Today email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk One local business, The Cornish Ice Company, is using its industrial freezers to act as a battery for the grid. The company can easily cut electricity to its freezers for short periods without affecting temperatures, meaning it can offer spare electricity to either the local grid or the national system operator. “Exploring the provision of flexibility through a local energy market is a first for us.” Colm Murphy, a senior manager at National Grid, said. “The potential is really exciting as we look to unlock more flexible energy resources in the market, and greater cost benefits to consumers,” he added.

EREVITA Team, 5.11.2019 15:50:55

Centrica Business Solutions, part of Centrica plc, a global energy and services company, invested in the development of a 4.99MW fuel cell facility in South Windsor, Connecticut. This fuel cell facility will deliver power to the local utility, Eversource Energy, under a 20-year purchase power agreement (PPA). Fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical reaction process that is clean, quiet and highly efficient with little to no harmful emissions. This project will provide enough clean energy to power over 4,200 homes per year. Centrica acquired the project (South Energy Investments LLC) in March 2019 from a leading Massachusetts-based fuel cell development team. This investment is a part of Centrica's Ambition 2030 which outlines 15 long-term goals to reduce the company's emissions, and enable customers to use energy more sustainably. The fuel cell manufacturer and long-term operations and maintenance provider for the project is Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc. Located less than two miles from the South Windsor project, Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc. is a leading fuel cell solutions company that designs, manufactures, and installs clean, efficient and reliable fuel cells. The project is currently under construction and is on track to be completed in early 2020. Connecticut is one of the nation's leaders in supporting fuel cell technologies and projects under development. The Connecticut fuel cell industry supports more than 2,800 direct, indirect and induced jobs and creates over $600 million annually in revenue and investment. "By building and expanding our technology framework through significant distributed generation projects like this, we open the door for new ways to help our customers transform their energy footprint into a source of true competitive advantage," said Stephen Prince, Head of Centrica Business Solutions North America. "We are excited to support the development team and work closely with Doosan Fuel Cell America."

EREVITA Team, 3.11.2019 08:47:50

Intersect Power and Direct Energy Business Sign Long-term Power Purchase Agreement on 250 MW Solar Project in California Intersect Power, a utility-scale renewable energy developer, and Direct Energy Business, part of Direct Energy, one of North America's largest energy and energy-related services providers, and a subsidiary of Centrica PLC, announced today that they have entered into a long-term solar power purchase agreement (PPA) for Intersect Power’s Athos Solar I 250 megawatt (MWAC) project. This agreement enables Direct Energy to contract with Direct Access (DA) customers and Community Choice Aggregations (CCAs) as they decarbonize their electricity supplies. Once completed, the combined 450 MWAC Athos Solar I and II project will be one of the largest solar installations in California. Located on more than 3,200 acres of land in the Desert Center area in Riverside County, the project will support over 500 jobs during construction in the county and generate enough clean electricity to power 136,500 homes and result in some 1 million tons of avoided CO2 emissions per year. “The team at Intersect Power is pleased to work with Direct Energy to deliver new in-state renewable energy generation options for California homes and businesses,” said Sheldon Kimber, CEO and co-founder of Intersect Power. “Together, we are creating a long-term agreement to benefit Southern Californian communities and help households reduce their environmental impact.” “This transaction demonstrates Direct Energy’s unique ability to create long-term renewable energy solutions that combine the strengths of customers, project developers, and energy service providers alike.” said David Brast, Senior Vice President, North America Power and Gas, Direct Energy Business. “Athos Solar I is an exciting project to be a part of. Intersect has developed several excellent projects and we are proud to collaborate with them. Direct Energy is looking forward to the project helping enable our customers to move to a lower carbon future.” The Athos I project is scheduled to begin construction in June 2020 and Athos II in October 2020.

EREVITA Team, 25.10.2019 18:35:44

Centrica is to absorb thousands of residential hot water tanks into its virtual power plant (VPP) to provide flexibility to the grid. The energy giant has secured approval from National Grid to use the tanks for firm frequency response (FFR) as part of a 2.5GW VPP it is establishing in the UK. The tanks will be provided through a partnership with Mixergy, a spin-off company from the University of Oxford which has previously received investment from Centrica Innovations. The first batch of 100 tanks have already been installed and will be capable of storing energy at times of high renewables, responding at times of stress whilst maintaining efficiency, cost and comfort. The tanks are set to help balance the grid through storing excess load on the grid and time shifting demand. Charles Cameron, chairman of Centrica Innovations, said: "The first batch of 100 hot water tanks, which are now in homes in the UK will, at times of stress, be capable of capturing energy at low market prices on sunny or windy days when there is an abundance of renewables on the network, all whilst maintaining efficiency, cost and comfort for our customers.

EREVITA Team, 25.10.2019 17:59:19

Danielle Rowley, the Shadow Minister for Climate Justice and Green Jobs, has visited the electric vehicle hub in Dundee, which is celebrating a year of generating energy and carbon savings. Centrica Business Solutions designed and built the EV Hub, introducing fast and rapid charging, powered by solar power generation and on-site battery storage. The city now has one of the most extensive charging infrastructures in the UK. Nine out of the top 10 most used rapid chargers in Scotland are located in Dundee. The city also boasts 102 ‘plug-in’ electric taxis and 30% of buses are now electric. In addition, Dundee City Council has the largest fleet of electric vehicles of any local authority in the UK, with 87 to date. Over the last 12 months there have been more than 24,000 charging sessions at the Princess Street site, saving approximately 256 tons of CO2. The solar produced has allowed a car to go to the moon and back 2.5 times.