TSB virtual power plants project gets underway 13 July 2012

The Advanced Digital Institute, Ener-G, Flexitricity, Smarter Grid Solutions and UK Power Networks have secured £100k of match funding from the Technology Strategy Board to explore next generation 'virtual power plants'.

These involve clusters of CHP (combined heat and power) plants to bolster supply, particularly during peak demand.

Ener-G technical director Chris Marsland explains that the project will investigate the feasibility of networks of small, flexible Ener-G CHP plants under centralised control to ensure that they react quickly to changing local demand.

By including a large number of smaller-scale CHP generators and loads into a virtual power plant, the partners hope to improve flexibility and load-balancing – so reducing stress on the network.

"The benefits could also include greater use of clean electricity supplies, reduced domestic heating costs and less need for electricity infrastructure investments," comments Marsland.

"While shoring up electricity supplies, the project will also examine new solutions for low carbon, low cost heat distribution. This could incentivise the UK CHP industry to provide more CHPs in areas where current UK government incentives have fallen short," he adds.

The project will involve business and technical modelling, based on data from UK Power Networks' London electricity network, using real Ener-G CHP systems to relieve the peaks in demand.

It will address the twin challenges of increasing demand, due, for example, to the move towards electric cars and the growth of cities, together with the UK's commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

The project will also address how to maximise the potential for distributed heat and cooling through CHP, re-examining district heating, heat stores and technologies such as absorption chillers.

The feasibility study is scheduled to be completed in May 2013.

Brian Tinham

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