Challenge
Spectral has been entrusted with the steering and optimization of BECC’s equipment, which will further support the company’s goal of providing renewable energy to the Northeast of Brabant. The e-boiler is a captivating element of the project because it reduces the gas consumption of the facility while providing flexible steam directly to customers in the direct vicinity of the plant. Additionally, it also provides balancing services and aFRR (auxiliary frequency restoration reserve) services. For BECC, one of the main pain points has been with forecasting their production and dealing with the associated imbalance costs. This becomes even more complex with the addition of the battery and e-boiler.
Energy producer BECC turned to Spectral for control, balancing and ancillary services. We embarked on this project together with our partner, GreenChoice, who is the energy supplier, balance responsible party (BRP) as well as the Balancing Service Provider (BSP). It is our responsibility to integrate the existing Combined Heat and Power (CHP), as well as the management of the e-boiler and the battery.
Approach
This is a STELLAR project. We created simulation models of each of the assets. This enabled us to determine the dynamic behavior of the whole energy hub. We use those results to develop the control algorithms necessary to manage each asset individually as well as together behind a single grid connection with limited capacity. One of Spectral’s main objectives was to optimize the plants through local control (capacity management, optimization of import tariffs). We also enable balancing and ancillary services and serve as the IT backbone, transmitting data to third parties who can in turn make better decisions concerning these assets.
Outcome
After a successful collaboration between multiple parties, BECC has a collection of new, sustainable, and manageable assets. These have further enabled BECC’s vision of creating a green energy HUB in the Northeast Brabant. In addition to the successful integration of the above assets, BECC has turned their initial problem of unmanageable imbalance costs into a solution through Spectral’s Smart Energy Solutions.
