Sunnova’s new system permits ratepayers to share extra clear energy and be islanded from the traditional grid. What are the advantages of sharing storage capability?
From pv magazine USA
Power-as-a-service specialist Sunnova Power has revealed that it has filed an utility with the California Public Utilities Fee (CPUC) to develop a novel resolution: a “micro-utility.”
The corporate seeks to develop largely self-sustaining micro utilities by equipping new dwelling communities with photo voltaic and storage. Newly constructed properties would be the focus, so Sunnova can work carefully with builders to design and implement distributed photo voltaic microgrids backed with resilient power storage.
“Sunnova is breaking new floor by increasing its distributed power service platform from properties to complete communities. We see a future the place communities, neighborhoods, and companies can function independently from the legacy grid with sustainable power sources that present uninterrupted energy,” William J Berger, the founder and CEO of Sunnova. “We imagine microgrids deal with a robust want out there for extra sturdy power options and higher connectivity. The Sunnova Adaptive Neighborhood will present customers with the power to supply, share, and ship energy when it’s wanted most.”
The corporate has tajken formal steps earlier than the CPUC to qualify as a “micro-utility” and to request a certificates to assemble and function microgrids beneath Part 2780 and Part 1001 of the California Public Utilities Code.
“SCMC’s utility highlights the reduction that the present transmission and distribution system will expertise on condition that a lot of the energy that can be consumed by these communities can be generated domestically from renewable sources,” stated Berger. “We hope the CPUC strikes expeditiously to approve our utility in order that we are able to start serving new communities.”
In its 2021-22 transmission plan, the California Unbiased System Operator (CAISO) has introduced 23 transmission tasks at an estimated value of $2.9 billion. A good portion of those prices could possibly be prevented if California as a substitute pivoted to a decentralized mannequin of power.
In a report by the College of Otago in New Zealand, researchers took a demand-driven strategy. They analyzed a per-minute decision time collection of particular person family demand over a number of neighborhoods that contained distributed photo voltaic and power storage.
They discovered that the collective use of batteries had dramatic results on each load smoothing and peak demand shaving. Aggregation of good storage led to a discount in per-house battery necessities by 50% for load-smoothing wants and by 90% for peak shaving.
For instance, if peak shaving occurred for demand above 3 kW per home, deploying batteries individually for 20 homes would require 120 kWh of storage. Against this, deploying batteries collectively would solely require 7 kWh, the researchers stated. Sharing batteries or having one battery per 20 homes can be a cheaper strategy to offering these providers, they stated.
The researchers stated the outcomes make a case for coordinated battery deployment on the road or constructing degree for a number of financial advantages. These advantages embrace the potential discount in power storage value for owners (who may purchase a smaller unit), advantages to the grid in easing demand and cargo associated strains, and advantages to photo voltaic builders who can add one other worth chain to their operations by facilitating these grid providers.
