Schneider partnership to benefit remote islands

Schneider Electric has partnered with Danish energy company Dong Energy on a technological and commercial partnership.

The two companies hope to enable electric network operators or remote or isolated island grids increase the share of renewable energy, while maintaining grid reliability and stability for consumers.

In Europe alone, at least 286 remote islands are distanced from mainland grids, and are often heavily diesel dependent, incur high electricity costs and are subject to fluctuating fuel prices. These factors are barriers to local economic development, improved living standards and reduced carbon emissions.

Many island utility operators are aiming to replace diesel with renewable energy to reduce costs and reach targets. However, the main challenge they face is the ensuing complexity of balancing the grid and maintaining reliability and stability. This can limit the amount of renewable energy that can be efficiently integrated.

With Dong Energy’s virtual power plant technology and Schneider Electric’s distribution grid field devices and management devices, the partnership will address these environmental issues. The companies aim to create a new platform offering real-time generation and demand forecasting, monitoring and control.

“Dong Energy has developed a virtual power plant system called Power Hub, which aggregates loads and generation capacity for network flexibility through a software platform,” said Evert den Boer, Senior Vice President of Dong Energy.

“The system has already successfully demonstrated its capability and value in optimising, balancing and improving the stability of remote micro-grids at the Faroe Islands. Integrating Power Hub with Schneider Electric’s power and grid management software platform will enable us to deliver a unique solution that addresses an important challenge of how to run an isolated electricity system in a safe, economically optimal manner, while making maximum use of renewables, not only in our own part of the world, but also globally.”

“Alongside Dong Energy, Schneider Electric will bring its market-leader expertise in grid field devices, network automation and grid-management systems in a uniquely modular approach to virtual power plants in order to overcome the operational challenges of dynamically balancing supply and demand,” said Frédéric Abbal, Executive Vice President of  Schneider Electric’s Energy Division.

“Our joint architecture includes advanced distribution management system (ADMS), power control system (PCS) and renewable control centre (RCC) applications offering real-time generation and demand forecasting, monitoring and control. Thanks to weather and load forecasting and fast load-shedding capabilities, island utility operators will be able to operate sustainable, efficient and economically viable power systems and benefit local communities.”