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Microgrids

Small-scale power networks offer cleaner solutions designed to meet tomorrow's needs

The energy scene is shifting

The range of distributed power generation sources such as solar cells, wind turbines and co-generation plants is growing constantly.

And it is happening in tandem with the dynamics of a digitalization process that has already rocked some industries to the core.

The combination of these two phenomena has led to the emergence of small-scale power networks or ‘microgrids’ – available from MTU as a packaged solution, complete with battery and control system.

Renewable energy

Photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, hydro-electric plants, diesel gensets and combined heat and power (CHP) modules – whether operating separately or together – can all be included in a microgrid.

MTU microgrid control system

Renewable energy

The major challenge with renewable energy has always been storing power, and then releasing it when it is needed. CHP plants and diesel-powered gensets are always available but not as economical as regenerative energy sources.

Microgrids provide the storage solution by combining both types of power generation and including batteries and a control system to integrate all the elements in a smart system. “Microgrids combine cost-efficient and ecologically friendly regenerative energy sources with the reliability of our gensets to create a concept for the future of power generation,” says Alexander Patt who heads MTU’s microgrid development team.

Battery containers from MTU

We have started selling a battery container that incorporates 154 modules and 3,388 lithium-ion cells.

Together, these elements can store around 1,000 kWh of electrical energy – that is about 14 times as much as a Tesla Model X.

MTU’s battery container also boasts around 2,000 kW of electrical power and a capacity of 1,095 ampere-hours.

A transformer adapts the output voltage of the MTU battery container to match the connected power grid. “The battery container will have a modular design so it can adapt to our customers’ power needs,” says Patt.

Control at the core

The critical component in a microgrid is the control system.

“It has to be predictive, smart and self-teaching and it has to deliver exactly the right energy mix for the customer’s needs,” said Armin Fürderer, Team Leader for Electrical Systems, PowerGen at MTU.

To enable the control system to decide which power sources to use, the customer has to specify the key parameters. For example, is the priority cheap power generation, or ‘‘green’ power from regenerative sources, or availability of energy? Based on the priority the control system calculates which energy sources to use and when and whether to feed consumers or charge the batteries. This is where artificial intelligence also comes into play. “A modern microgrid control concept must be smart enough to accurately predict which energy sources will be needed to deliver the perfect energy mix. We are not going to achieve that with classical software architecture. We need to think outside the box here,” said Fürderer.

The first stages on the journey to an MTU Microgrid will soon take visible shape. The MTU battery container will provide the first element for a planned new MicroGrid Validation Center at our Friedrichshafen facility where it will store power from the photovoltaic installation supplying to the MTU production section when needed. Several CHP modules from MTU Onsite Energy are available to take over when the battery container has been discharged.

We have recently acquired a stake in an energy storage and systems start-up Qinous GmbH. Qinous is a global provider of innovative energy storage and control systems, and adding turnkey microgrids to the portfolio. Qinous has gained considerable experience in the integration of battery storage and energy systems in microgrids in more than 30 projects worldwide and has already integrated MTU Onsite Energy systems from Rolls-Royce in such projects.
Find out more: Rolls-Royce expands its position in the microgrid market and invests in start-up Qinous