Hybrid energy management system in test operation

A lot has happened since our last blog post. In Bad Staffelstein, Christian Klauer, Control Engineer at meteocontrol, was able to present his findings from the HEMS test operation.

The focus of our latest project was the optimization of an industrial self-consumption system in Germany, which was provided to us by a customer. The aim was to improve the utilization of the plant's own solar energy and to use it specifically at times of higher energy prices, especially in the morning hours from 8 a.m. onwards. Our new HEMS license for the blue'Log^® XC was used for this purpose.

The test system has a solar output of 700 kW. In order to achieve our goals, we have opted for a combination of energy storage systems: AC-coupled storage totaling 254 kWh and hybrid devices that combine solar panels and batteries in one system, with a capacity of 500 kWh. These storage solutions enable us to store surplus solar energy and utilize it as required.

How HEMS can reduce grid draw

This is controlled by our new Hybrid Energy Management System (HEMS). In this configuration, it ensures that no energy is fed into the public grid, charges the batteries with surplus solar energy and discharges them at scheduled times. In this way, grid consumption can be reduced.

The "band shaving" use case was also tested. This involves levelling out peak loads and achieving the most even energy demand possible throughout the day. On the one hand, this should save costs and, on the other, reduce the load on the public power grid. Peak loads occur at certain times when energy demand is high. This would be the case for businesses in the morning, for example, when various appliances are switched on at the same time. At the same time, load peaks can also occur in the PV system if too much power is suddenly produced because the sun comes out on a cloudy day. The battery would be charged so that the surplus energy is not lost.

There were some challenges at the beginning: We had to switch the system from temporary to permanent operation. We had to make sure that no cables were overloaded or fuses were blown.

The results speak for themselves: the system has now been in continuous operation since October 2023 and shows that even more complex system setups with components from different manufacturers can be successfully integrated. We have gained valuable experience that will benefit us in the realization of future projects.

With HEMS, meteocontrol offers a customized solution for a more sustainable energy future

In the future, the use of weather and market price forecasts is planned in order to further optimize the operation of the system. Instead of rigid time control, this approach will enable us to react flexibly to market fluctuations and increase the efficiency of the system.

With products such as HEMS, we at meteocontrol are helping to further exploit the potential of renewable energies and offer our customers customized solutions for a more sustainable energy future. After all, the combination of renewable energy production such as solar or wind with a battery storage system is not only becoming increasingly attractive, but downright indispensable for a smooth energy transition.