Weekly Brief

Innovative DER Technology Trends Unpacking Value-Added Utility Offerings

Utilities Tech Outlook | Friday, August 23, 2019

DER's increasing penetration into the grid entails a wealth of benefits and opportunities for the power system and its participants. They offer consumers with potential lower costs, higher reliability of service, excellent quality of power, greater energy efficiency, and sustainable energy.  

FREMONT, CA: In the latest years, Renewable Energy Sources (RES) have experienced massive development, enabling privatization, the utilities and energy industry unbundling and boosting with economic incentives and energy policy initiatives. In addition to the positive transformation induced by Distributed Energy Resources (Ders) and renewables, energy systems are on the verge of entering the digital age, as evidenced by the substantial smart meter deployment. But, the DERs of today are doing much more than just generating energy!

DERs have become advanced management instruments for complicated combinations of energy resources, as microgrids show, and can provide a variety of new advantages in terms of cost, environment, and system efficiency. What more does this development has to offer digital intelligence-based management? A couple of decades ago, the demand response was a relatively new tool to curtail peak demand on an overtaxed power system. And now, the path to smart DER technologies has began. Here are a few commercially available DER technologies as well as those that are yet to boom.

Stay ahead of the industry with exclusive feature stories on the top companies, expert insights and the latest news delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe today.

Microturbines

Microturbine is among the newest distributed generation technologies used in stationary applications for generating energy. They are a sort of combustion turbine that produces a relatively small scale of both heat and electricity. Microturbines are anticipated to capture a substantial share of the distributed generation market due to their small size, comparatively low capital costs, anticipated low operating and maintenance expenses, and automatic electronic control. Furthermore, microturbines give an effective and tidy solution for directing markets for mechanical drives such as compression and air conditioning. Manufacturers of microturbines aim for a future price of less than $650/kW.

Hybrid Systems

DER developers and producers are seeking methods to combine techniques to enhance distributed generation equipment's performance and effectiveness. Hybrid systems are a comparable idea to DER integration and aggregation, but for the generation of bulk systems. Hybrid systems deliver plant efficiency and flexibility enhancements but also involve much more advanced controls and enhanced sensor systems to provide timely and reliable critical process data. In many instances, to manage extreme operational circumstances, this will involve the progress of sensor technology.

Wind Turbines

Like aircraft propeller blades, wind turbines transform into the moving air and power an electrical generator supplying electrical current. Instead of making wind using electricity, wind turbines use the wind to create electricity like a fan. The wind turns the blades, spinning a shaft, connecting to a generator and producing electricity.

Fuel Cells

Fuel cell energy systems are clean, and extremely effective on-site electrical generators that convert fuel into energy using an electrochemical process — not combustion. Besides offering power, they can supply water and space heating or absorption cooling with a thermal energy source. In comparison to conventional energy service, fuel cells have been shown to decrease energy service expenses by 20-40 percent. For many years, fuel cells have been used in the space program to provide astronauts and industrial applications with electricity and drinking water.

Stirling Engines

The Stirling Cycle is a closed cycle, which implies retaining and isolating the inner working fluid from the external energy source. Skyrocketing demand for distributed generation systems, combined with the potential benefits of Stirling cycle-based motors, has triggered renewed business interest in Stirling engines. While microturbines and fuel cells have gained the bulk of media interest in the future of distributed generation, Stirling technology has a promising tale to tell. High effectiveness, low emissions, and fuel flexibility are among the main advantages attributed to Stirling engines.

Combustion Turbines

Combustion turbines which are gas turbines, burn gas or liquid fuel; warm gasses expand against the blades of a rotating shaft, resulting in a high-speed rotary motion driving an electric generator. While it may take a couple more minutes to get up to velocity compared to reciprocating motors, gas turbines are well suited for peak and load-following applications and larger-sized base-load operations. Installed expenses are slightly greater than reciprocating motors, and maintenance costs are significantly smaller.

Evolution of Microgrids

The next step was to use and handle more than one generation of resource for maximum financial flexibility. An early microgrid, used a CHP plant could either function separately or connect to the grid. A second generation form, often a fossil fuel backup generator, combined the CHP plant with another variation. In the microgrid generation combination, solar photovoltaics and sometimes wind turbines started to appear later. This trend deepened with a decrease in the cost of renewable energy, combined with organizations' drive to attain sustainability objectives.

Photovoltaic Cells

Photovoltaic cells are thin layers of a semiconductor (generally crystalline silicon) that directly converts sunlight to DC electricity. These "solar cells" are made up of panels varying from a few watts to about 100 W. The panels are modular and can be configured to fit nearly any load requirement into bigger arrays. Noise and emissions are non-existent, and maintenance is minimal as no moving parts are available.

Distributed Storage

Electric energy storage can create a significant difference in the functionality of the power scheme, often referred to as the "holy grail" of power system systems. The Integrated Grid provides a way to integrate distributed electrical energy storage efficiently. Reliability and flexibility can be increased by incorporating distributed energy storage into utility planning and activities.

Virtual Power Plant

Increasingly distributed energy sources with powerful randomness and tiny capability will be incorporated into a big power grid with the growth of the Energy Internet. Virtual power plants can achieve the integration of distributed energy sources as well as centralized leadership and unified coordination of demand-response and distributed energy storage. Fortunately, blockchain can provide virtual power generation transaction with an accessible and transparent system platform. For virtual power plants and virtual power generation resources, a blockchain-based data platform, and a blockchain-based transaction platform allow for two-way choice.

DERs are anticipated to play a major part in the future supply of electricity. We have photovoltaic systems, tiny wind turbines, and other micro structures using renewable power sources and micro-CHP plants among the techniques for distributed electricity generation. The future Smart Grids, like Micro-Grids and Smart Users, must be based on small-scale leadership schemes. These Smart Users will be fitted with mixed cooling and heating systems coupled with electrical and thermal energy storage devices to enable not only high energy efficiency but also flexibility in their leadership. This will lead to the installation of more compact structures near the consumers of energy demand, where space accessibility generally plays the main role. DERs will enable housing and company clients to architecture their energy ecosystem over time.

Check Out : Energy Tech Review

See Also : Semiconductor Review

 

More in News

For most businesses, the final measure of success is profitability. Companies need to carefully manage their expenses while keeping their prices attractive to their customers to achieve optimal profit goals. It's a cautious balancing act that requires a high degree of business expertise. One of the crucial factors that impact the profitability of a business is operational expenses — expenses in carrying out an organisation’s day-to-day activities. The most considerable overhead expense for many companies is their electric utility bill. This isn't going to change. Energy is getting more expensive every year! Offset your uprising operational expenses with commercial solar battery storage Energy costs will not lower; they have already started going up. On top of that, businesses face higher payroll costs and extra expenses. It's time to seek ways to offset and take control of these uprising operation costs. Does your business face the following issues? • Rising electricity bills: The utility companies have modified their most expensive hours from day to evening. This means that electricity costs more between 4 pm and 9 pm, which can also be the engaged time for many businesses. The electric solutions utility cost can increase as much as 10% yearly. ‍ • Rising payroll expenses: For many businesses that hire minimum wage employees, staffing costs will nearly double, and for few, it already has had an adverse effect. Profit margins will keep on eroding. ‍ To be cost-efficient, businesses need to look for a solution that helps them lower their operational costs to maintain level prices for their customers. Battery energy storage system to save money. If your business embeds commercial solar without solar battery storage, the extra energy you produce is gone to the grid. Solar modules generate the most energy during sunny daylight hours, usually between 11 am and 3 pm. The problem is that many businesses consume more energy during evening hours. Using solar battery storage, you can store the excess energy you produce during the day and employ it in the evening when energy expenses are higher. It can also be stored, credited, and utilized during the summer months when air conditioning usage and the summer cost are highest. Here's precisely how solar energy storage works: 1. Energy production: Your commercial solar produces energy during the day, sometimes as much as 12 hours, with peak production between 11 am and 3 pm. 2. Battery charging: Extra energy generation that's not used by the business during the day is used to charge the solar batteries. 3. Bank extra power on the grid: After the batteries have been fully charged, excess energy is diverted, recorded, and stored in the utility grid for later utilization by your business. 4. Battery use: In the evenings, after the solar generation subsides, and when energy consumption and utility costs are high, you will exploit the energy you stored before in your batteries. 5. Take from the grid: Since the batteries are timely used, you can begin to use any extra power you banked before from the utility grid. 6. Energy cost savings: By using solar and battery storage, you can save more money on your electric bill each month and have more control over current and future cost increases. Check Out This:  Data Integration Solution   ...Read more
By adding value to the non-renewable energy paradigm, solar technology powers industries with carbon-free heat. Not limiting its offerings to the field of electricity, solar energy is now making strides in the industrial area. Serving various industries such as fuel, chemical, manufacturing, mining, power plants, and the like, innovative solar energy optimization technique has tremendously transformed the legacy use cases of this form of energy. Heat being the primary input for the industries, the global economic situation finds steam and thermal resource generation challenging. This is where solar energy comes into the frame. Solar energy  has seen the latest photovoltaic (PV) innovation explosion. Industries are highly relying on photovoltaic energy panels for thermal resources. Meeting the ever-growing industry demand this advanced thermal solution has considered being cost-effective and efficient. By capturing sunlight, the panels intensify the energy of the sun to generate heat and further, with the help of a condenser, they produce massive volumes of steam. In this way, PV-based solutions overtake traditional fossil fuel resources. GlassPoint Solar’s potential application is another significant development in the arena of solar technology. This application model works by allowing the sunlight to boil the water resources and generate heat and steam.   Energy Tech Solution Companies:  Advantech ,  Centric Energy Systems ,  Contemporary Energy Solutions Emerging solar technologies are capable of readily producing steam and heat at huge rates to help the industrial processes. Reducing harmful gas and chemical emissions, cutting time and costs, and scaling up production, high-tech industrial solar utility opportunities contribute to industrial process optimization. Analysts and technologists recommend increased usage of non-renewable energy sources, and in this context, solar energy seems to be the perfect solution. Many surveys state that due to many deployments and installations of renewable energy-based production units, multiple global coal and other plants are shut down. Hence, there is a drastic move toward adopting trending solar energy technologies.   Check this out:  Top Energy Tech Solution Companies ...Read more
Utility waste management helps reduce the risk of disease outbreaks and keeps communities cleaner and healthier. Utility waste management is essential for ensuring cleanliness, sustainability, and health in communities around the world. As civilizations grow and urbanize, waste generation increases, making efficient waste management and disposal more important than ever. Waste management entails collecting and disposing of trash while also combining recycling, composting, and treatment methods that reduce environmental effects. Effective utility waste management is crucial in modern civilization because it protects the environment, improves public health, conserves resources, and provides economic benefits. Utility waste management is essential for its role in protecting the environment. Improper waste disposal can devastate ecosystems, land, air, and water. During that time, they break down into microplastics that can enter food chains and water supplies, posing significant ecological risks. The improper disposal of hazardous materials—such as chemicals, batteries, and electronics—can lead to soil and water contamination. Toxins from the materials can leach into the ground and waterways, disrupting ecosystems and potentially entering drinking water supplies. Improper waste disposal can result in harmful air pollution. Burning waste in open areas or incineration facilities without adequate controls can release toxic substances, such as dioxins and particulate matter, into the atmosphere, affecting air quality and respiratory health. Waste management is crucial in resource conservation through recycling and composting programs. Many commonly thrown-away materials—such as plastics, metals, glass, and paper—can be recycled and reintroduced into the production cycle. Recycling metals reduces the need for mining, an energy-intensive and polluting process. The practices contribute to a more sustainable use of resources and minimize waste's environmental footprint. Effective utility waste management can offer significant economic benefits. The recycling industry creates jobs in sorting, processing, and selling recyclable materials. Sometimes, selling recycled materials can generate revenue for local governments and waste management companies. Investing in waste management infrastructure, such as modern landfills, recycling facilities, and waste-to-energy plants, can create long-term economic benefits. Utilities waste management plays an essential role in climate change mitigation. Waste management systems help reduce methane emissions by diverting organic waste to composting facilities and reducing reliance on landfills. Waste-to-energy technologies capture the energy stored in waste and convert it into electricity or heat, providing a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. They also reduce carbon emissions and support the global transition to renewable energy sources. Utility waste management is critical beyond simply collecting and disposing of trash. It is vital for protecting the environment, safeguarding public health, conserving resources, and promoting economic sustainability. ...Read more
Water is one of the vital element for sustaining life on the planet. Despite the abundant presence, fresh water is available in minimal quantity. Due to the growing population in environmentally sensitive areas the world’s new water supply is critically stressed. Water management acts as a solution, but it requires diverse, accurate data promptly. Collection of data by conventional means may prove unfruitful, costly and resource intensive. But today firms are leveraging earth observation technologies such as satellite-based monitoring. This method is proven to be very useful covering large and remote areas with systematic, repetitive data captures. Achieving water security and increased resilience to hydrological extremes needs a sound understanding of water resources dynamics. This knowledge can only be based on data and observations, and it is the foundation for managing water optimally and efficiently in economic and social terms, as well as with regard for environmental impacts and downstream users. Satellite remote sensing is increasingly being used as a complementary source of information. Satellite‐based sensors are now capable of making direct and indirect measurements of nearly all components of the hydrological cycle including precipitation, evaporation, lake and river levels, surface water, soil moisture, snow, and total water storage. Satellite remote sensing also represents a critical source of information in regions with limited networks and where information on hydrologic conditions is not accessible. Landsat satellites and SPOT satellites are used for water-related applications, but the introduction of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) based satellites have revolutionized the work in water mapping and management. Accurate Digital Elevation Models (DEM) are being developed to assist in determining water flows and flooding potential. NASA is conducting an exciting water management experiment named GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment), a pair of satellites which collects data to determine the surface mass, total water storage and derived variables. Satellite remote sensing plays a crucial role in water resources management with current and future advances promising to transform the field and support sustainable development even more in years to come. Few Water Management Companies:  Clean Water Technology , SAYA Life , Wiseconn ...Read more