Energy Management Systems

Researchers from Canada’s Western University have developed an open-source, blockchain-based virtual utility for peer-to-peer (P2P) solar trading, using smart contracts to save up to $1,600 (US dollars) for 10 homes in simulated scenarios.

Finland-based Wärtsilä Energy has upgraded its GEMS digital energy platform to transform the way GWh-scale battery energy storage projects (BESS) are managed in Australia.

The world’s reliance on the internet, the shift to cloud computing, and the emergence of AI all fuel demand for more and more data centers. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that by 2026, data centers will consume more than 800 TWh annually, more than double their consumption in 2022. Tristan Rayner takes a look at the role that renewable generation plays in powering a digital world.

Multiple factors affect lifespan of a residential battery energy storage system. We examine the life of batteries in Part 3 of our series.

In recent years, the Baltic countries have experienced a solar generation boom as the region seeks to kill two birds with one stone. These nations aim to break away from years-long energy dependence on Russia amid growing security concerns while also continuing to prioritize the green energy transition.

Solar Resource Compass provides users with an online service that can deliver indicative energy production estimates for any solar project, including the comparison of multiple irradiance datasets and the calculation of site-specific losses for dust and snow. Many features are still being beta-tested in Europe, but DNV tells pv magazine it is planning to roll out the tool in most of Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania in 2024.

Large battery storage systems are taking on an increasing number of tasks in the German grid, meaning that the volume and speed of transactions can no longer be managed without computers. As a result, traders are working on algorithms to fully automate transactions.

The “Dunkelflaute” is a bogeyman for the energy sector, but a new tool from the German-Norwegian storage provider can now determine exactly which storage capacities and how many reserve power plants are needed in order to be on the safe side even in phases with little PV and wind power.

Enpal and Entrix aim to build Europe’s largest virtual power plant (VPP) via their new Flexa joint venture. They plan to integrate PV systems and other decentralized energy producers and consumers into a multi-gigawatt network with an AI-powered electricity trading platform.

ABB says it has launched a smart panel for home energy management in partnership with Lumin, featuring software to control solar, batteries, and electric-vehicle chargers.