Microgrids Contribute to Low-Carbon Future in Remote Communities
Source: · SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC · | October 24, 2017
Semakau Island, Signapore Source: Schneider Electric
Despite major investments that have been made in recent years, many northern and remote communities continue to rely on diesel generators to meet their energy needs. In Canada, off-grid communities, i.e. those that are not connected to integrated electric grids, are home to approximately 200,000 people in 292 remote or island communities, most of which are in the far North. Supplying electric power to these off-grid sites by means of diesel generators presents enormous technical, financial, environmental and social challenges impacting the growth of these communities. The Federal Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities programs aim to promote diverse projects across Canada to reduce the reliance on diesel fuel energy.
Electricity production on unconnected grids in Canada is a major contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Dependence on fuel for energy generation and transportation of fuel, both contribute to GHG emissions. To meet the goal of restricting the temperature rise to 1.5oC in one decade, CO2 emissions must fall by 45% (global targets) thereby making it essential to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels for energy generation.
Producing electricity using exclusively diesel generators also entails a significant cost. While some remote communities can be reached by road year-round, many lack this type of access. Communities, especially in Northern Canada, have a cold climate, making it difficult for electricity generation technology to operate. Also, many of Canada’s remote communities are small and they typically show a large variation between the peaks and troughs of electricity demand. Such variances decrease fuel efficiency and contribute to higher costs.
All these factors enable the emergence of new energy ecosystems, such as microgrids, which offer a way to tackle the energy issues. Energy cost optimization can be achieved through the microgrid control systems capability of using the best mix of resources such as energy storage, solar, CHP, thermal flexibility, and the participation of grid-balancing services. Renewable energy self-consumption and production can be obtained through the microgrid control capability to integrate affordable renewable energy-- reducing CO2 emissions, and lowering fuel costs. Energy accessibility can be obtained through scalable microgrids at a reasonable cost, when in a remote area or far from the main grid, because of microgrid’s self-sufficiency. Resilience can be achieved through the microgrid’s ability to island itself from the main grid and to be self-sufficient.
EcoStruxure Microgrid Operation Fuel Saver
EcoStruxure Microgrid Operation Fuel Saver efficiently and substantially minimizes the fuel consumption in a hybrid microgrid by maximizing renewable penetration. Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Microgrid Operation Fuel Saver (EMO Fuel Saver) facilitates the integration of more renewables in an existing diesel hybrid microgrid. The solution is an automated stand-alone controller that regulates the power flow with reliable control while maintaining a stable network operation in islanded microgrids. The product uses a microgrid controller, and an microgrid SCADA or local HMI minimize fuel consumption.
By integrating the standard functionalities of a microgrid controller for an islanded microgrid, EMO Fuel Saver balances local energy production with demand in real-time, maximizing the usage of local PV generation, and reaching a 100% auto-consumption ratio.
When evaluating which off-grid solution is best for your remote community needs, consider one that can be easily integrated with your existing network and has been tested for fuel saving, stability, intelligence, cybersecurity and is user friendly.
Benefits realized with EMO Fuel Saver:
Ability to maximize renewable energy penetration
Minimize the fuel consumption by releasing the Genset setpoints
Simple, robust and scalable to meet any building/facility layout and requirements
Compatible with new installations as well as existing microgrids
Pre-engineered sequence of operation allows for shorter commissioning time and reduced cost
User-friendly with easy operation and maintenance
Sustainable Powering of Off-Grid Regions (SPORE) Microgrid
Working together, Schneider Electric and ENGIE implemented the largest hybrid microgrid in Semakau Island, Singapore located in Southeast Asia. The microgrid serves as a test and demonstration site for power generation from local renewable energy sources, providing clean cooking solutions and green mobility to remote islands and villages across the region, and is powered by a multi-DER system integrating renewable resources like wind, solar and could embrace biomass production.
The solution provides an on-grid ready solution able to work alongside the national grid. The SPORE microgrid has also been designed to be scalable within an existing brownfield context or a greenfield environment such as isolated island villages. As most villages are powered by diesel generators, a scalable solution allows for a smooth transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy across the microgrid journey.
This first phase of the power generation asset installation of the SPORE microgrid on Semakau Island is a significant step towards the full operation of the first multi-DER, decentralized microgrid demonstration in the tropics.
Key technology innovation at the site include:
Smart Inverters - Schneider Electric’s smart inverters use the concept of "virtual synchronous generator" to address the common challenge of grid stability for off-grid microgrid, while achieving 100 % penetration of renewables. The smart inverters couple renewable energy resources like solar with power or energy storage devices to model the behavior of an actual genset. This results in a scalable, plug-and-play solution which ensures better grid stability at higher renewable penetration and the ability to parallel with other smart inverters or normal gensets in a microgrid.
Microgrid management systems - The SPORE microgrid management system comprises: Power Management System (PMS) for short-term and Energy Management System (EMS) for mid-term grid management:
PMS- The PMS ensures the stability of the grid on real-time basis by balancing production, storage and consumption. This solution maximizes the renewable penetration and ensures an efficient control of an off-grid network.
EMS- The EMS works on a mid-term or monthly basis to forecast energy demand and production to provide a reliable and affordable access to energy. It also manages intermittent renewable energy production due to changing weather patterns as well as the multifluid configuration of the microgrid.
Where Our Microgrid Solutions Excel
With our custom solutions, flexible approach and proven expertise, we deliver advanced microgrids that offer the advantages of grid independence – without forfeiting the benefits of being part of the central grid.
We recognize every client has different organizational goals and are at a different point in their new energy transformation journey. That’s why we offer a flexible microgrid design featuring a scalable set of grid components designed to efficiently manage your energy infrastructure, including distributed energy resources, storage, and load demand.
Contact our Microgrid Specialist at any time to ask questions, get a quote, or just to learn about available solutions so you can start your grid modernization plans, low carbon economy and clean energy generation.
Pratap Revuru
Director of Micro-Grid Solutions and Strategic Partnerships
Schneider Electric