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.”
