Battery storage integrator Younicos, together with its parent company Aggreko, global provider of modular, is launching a new microgrid-as-a-service offer. Customers around the world can benefit from this new modular and mobile approach, combining low-cost renewables, in particular solar, with thermal generation and battery storage in one single contract with flexible conditions.
An initial project, a copper and zinc mine in Eritrea, is now being equipped with a PV-plus-diesel hybrid system. This combination will reduce fuel costs by more than 10 percent, thanks to a power purchase agreement for the solar energy, with no upfront costs to the customer. Under the ten-year rental agreement, the mine will be powered by a 22-MW diesel plant and a 7.5-MW solar power resource.
“Microgrids-as-a-service is a win-win proposition. With this new offering, we enable our customers to reduce their electricity costs through the use of cheaper solar energy – without any compromise to their power reliability or security of supply. Integrating grid-forming battery systems allow as much solar as is economically optimal to be deployed, without any technical limitations. What’s more, it also cuts fuel requirements by significantly improving thermal generation efficiency and replacing the need for backup. This lowers costs while reducing the impact on the environment by cutting emissions significantly,” said Karim Wazni, managing director of Aggreko.
“We already offer plug-and-play battery solutions for rental periods of only a few months. Integrating storage capability with Aggreko’s existing hybrid solar-diesel offering doesn’t just combine two types of savings – it allows us to really leverage the different technologies, with each component being used more efficiently, while increasing overall resilience.”
“This unique, mobile and modular pay-as-you-go solution is a perfect example of the strengths of Aggreko and Younicos reinforcing each other. Aggreko’s proven ability to successfully deploy generation systems and other energy equipment globally is being combined with the Younicos team’s superior smart energy management software and experience to seamlessly integrate renewables with thermal generation and battery storage,” said Dan Ibbetson, managing director of global solutions, Aggreko.
“We’re building a robust pipeline of hybrid projects as we work with customers to reduce power costs and environmental footprint, while ensuring energy security and stability of supply to meet long-term commercial objectives.”
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Semereab Habtetsion, PhD says
The solar PV and diesel hybrid solution built by What Aggreko and Younicos at the BIsha Mining site in Eritrea is an excellent secured power supply system for off- grid mining sites. I wish this will be replicated in the other mining sites under operation e.g. Zara or soon to be, the Colulli Potash mining site. The fact that these systems are being built at no upfront costs to the customer, it is a huge relief for the mining operators as they could focus their attention fully at the mining and engineering operations. The same approach could be implemented to reinforce the national grid with solar PV for up to 30% penetration i.e., similar to the Bisha site) if the BOO system (Built Own and Operate) can beat an energy sale price ie.e lower than what customers are buying from the central grid (e.g., 17 US Cents/kWh for households). Many companies are competing for bid prices for even below 5 US cents/kWh in non -risk countries like India and the Middle East countries. Eritrea is unfairly considered a risk country for investments by the global mass-media and I hope this will soon mended with the present trend of peace initiative with our closest natural ally, Ethiopia.