An overcrowded power grid: this is how businesses can still go green

The pressure on the power grid is ever-increasing, leading to all sorts of constraints. So how can an organization still grow or become more sustainable? Energy management expert Peter Molenaar of Eneco explains it using a number of examples. "It pays to deal with energy in a different, smarter, way."

"The demand for grid space is growing explosively, partly because Dutch organizations are rapidly becoming more sustainable. Which is good news, because it means that the energy transition is catching on," says Peter Molenaar of Eneco. As an expert in energy management for business customers, he helps companies realize their climate ambitions. "Because you are dependent on the weather when generating renewable energy, the renewable supply can be too large at some times and too small at others. That leads to all sorts of power grid constraints that many businesses and organizations are running into. Think of fast food restaurants looking to open new locations. To supermarket chains that need additional charging stations for their electric trucks. Or new construction projects by municipalities."

Strategizing Energy

Happily, there are opportunities to deal more intelligently with the network, creating space to make it more sustainable while working on business objectives. The condition is that you take a strategic and integrated approach. You can no longer separate the availability of sustainable energy from the continuity of your business. Molenaar: "It is important to know what your long-term goal is. Which business processes are you going to electrify? Is expansion on the agenda? All things that play a role in energy supply. It is important to consider how you are going to realize those plans, taking into account such things as grid congestion. Many entrepreneurs want to take steps, but are not sure how to start. It's important to map that out. It's smart to do that with an energy specialist."

Smart Battery System

Strategic and smart handling of energy is different for every entrepreneur. "At Eneco, we engage with companies to come up with a suitable solution," Molenaar says. One example is the cooperation with Zonnegilde and logistics service provider Oegema Transport. The company wanted to electrify its business transportation and needed more fast chargers for its electric trucks. But it was not allowed to increase the electricity connection due to grid congestion. "A battery system was then installed there to charge the electric trucks. It's a system with solar panels, charging poles and a smart battery, which Eneco uses to match power generation, storage and use to market price levels. The battery is mainly intended to provide power for the fast chargers when grid capacity is not enough. Any extra capacity will be traded."

The Netherlands' largest electric carrier

Another example of a collaboration to become more sustainable despite grid congestion is that with Albert Heijn. The supermarket chain's ambition is to produce zero CO2 emissions by 2050, for the entire chain. In other words: from country to customer. The intention is to supply all customers electrically by 2027, and all stores by 2030. Albert Heijn is the largest electric carrier in the Netherlands. To prevent grid congestion, all charging stations, solar panels and batteries can be intelligently controlled from Eneco's Virtual Power Plant (VPP). This is a large, virtual power plant that ensures that supply and demand are balanced as much as possible.

"A control box is connected to all assets that generate energy," Molenaar explains about the VPP. "This measures supply and demand and continuously exchanges data with the VPP platform. On the basis of calculations, on the one hand the generation is cleverly managed and on the other hand the excess or deficit in energy consumption is bought or sold on the various energy markets." In this way, energy and costs are smartly controlled. And you have sustainable power at more and more times of the day. So that offers optimal returns, while at the same time climate ambitions are achieved.

Steering box for peak moments

In the meantime, it is also possible to achieve quick results on a smaller scale with smart steering technology. One example is Eneco OpwekOptimaal®. Companies with more than a hundred solar panels receive a free control box connected to the Virtual Power Plant. With this, power output can be controlled, by dimming it or turning it off at peak times. Molenaar: "At the same time, you do retain the financial benefits of the solar panels. The power that is not generated is compensated, and the customer receives an additional feed-in fee. The customer optimizes the financial benefits of the solar panels, while Eneco can create better grid stability on the local or national grid."

"It always pays to deal with energy in a different way and make agreements about it," Molenaar emphasizes. "For many organizations, business continuity is at stake if they do not take action. Fortunately, more and more business owners and boards are realizing that a lot can be done."

Source: change.inc