ROLLS-ROYCE AND ENERNOC JOIN FORCES TO HELP STABILIZE POWER GRID

• Power from mtu Onsite Energy gensets balances out fluctuations in the power grid
• EnerNOC operates virtual energy system and markets load-balancing energy

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, GERMANY – Starting in 2015, Rolls-Royce and energy service provider EnerNOC are offering genset operators a joint solution for running their plants even more efficiently and marketing available load-balancing energy. It will enable combined heat and power plants and emergency backup generators, made by Rolls-Royce brand mtu Onsite Energy, to be connected to a virtual energy system via an interface box. In that way they will help to balance out fluctuations in the power grid according to demand and availability. This is the first time a plant manufacturer and energy service provider have joined forces to offer such a solution from a single source.

“Our aim is to create an added benefit for our clients with this new service. It will make their systems even more lucrative while also contributing to grid stability,” explained Matthias Vogel, Head of Power Generation Business at mtu Onsite Energy.

mtu itself has pioneered the product by connecting a pilot plant at the Friedrichshafen site to the EnerNOC control center. The mtu Onsite Energy brand is part of Rolls-Royce Power Systems within the Land & Sea division of Rolls-Royce.

Due to the gradual phase-out of atomic power in Germany by 2022 and the expansion of renewable energies, it is becoming more of a challenge to keep the power grid at a constant 50 Hz. If more or less electricity is fed into the grid than the amount used, the grid has to be stabilized by means of load-balancing energy. This is where the mtu Onsite Energy and EnerNOC joint project comes into action. Operators of gensets are offered the option of connecting their systems to the EnerNOC virtual energy system. If the frequency needs to be increased, the system can feed extra electricity (positive load-balancing energy) into the grid. That could be provided by emergency backup gensets, for example, which do not produce power continuously. If the grid frequency is too high, the system can reduce the amount of electricity it feeds into the grid. That negative load-balancing energy is made possible by biogas or natural-gas CHP plants, which can reduce their otherwise constant supply of electricity in such circumstances. EnerNOC is marketing this system management service in the German, Austrian and Swiss load-balancing power markets. It will enable system operators to earn additional revenue.

“We are very pleased to have found such a sound and competent partner for long-term collaboration in mtu Onsite Energy,” said Oliver Stahl, Managing Director Europe at EnerNOC.

Info box How does it work? Businesses running mtu Onsite Energy gensets that wish to take part in the scheme have an interface box (E-box) mounted on their system that connects to the EnerNOC control center via a secure VPN link. EnerNOC controls multiple system pools consisting of both power generation plants and major power consumers in industry and commerce. When load-balancing energy is required, the operator's genset receives a signal via the E-box and can then, if it is available, automatically generate the electricity required or reduce its output. The participants in the scheme then each receive a monthly credit for the energy provided.