The Aachen-based energy trading house of the municipal utility co-operation Trianel is further expanding its virtual power plant. To this end, Trianel is now also working with Neue Energie Steinfurt (NEST), based in Ahaus in Münsterland, to further connect green electricity plants and storage units to this virtual power plant. Specifically, Trianel is using NEST's flexible telecontrol technology to connect the plants.
Integrating different technologies
The NEST Box is a system for the direct marketing of electricity and the provision of balancing energy. Thanks to the many different interfaces, a wide variety of systems can be integrated. "We are delighted to have found a competent partner in NEST for the further expansion of our virtual power plant," emphasises Lars Becker, Head of Virtual Power Plant at Trianel.
See also: Virtual power plant for solar companies to participate in balancing markets
He continues: "As a result of the energy transition, more and more large power plants will leave the market. With the virtual power plant and telecontrol technology from NEST, we can enable alternative generators and storage technologies to flexibly utilise their output in order to compensate for fluctuations in the electricity grid."
Optimised marketing of systems
This also has huge benefits for system operators. "With our flex optimisation, we can ensure economically optimised plant management for plant operators," explains Lars Becker. "Trianel takes over the control and optimisation of the flexibilised plants and markets the electricity produced in a profit-maximising manner on all energy markets via its own 24/7 trading department."
Connection accelerated
By using the new technology from NEST, Trianel is creating a reliable basis for connecting further plants to the system. "By increasing the efficiency of the connection process, we are enabling more and more system operators to optimise the marketing of their systems by Trianel and support the energy transition with our telecontrol technology," emphasises Reiner Buss, Managing Director of NEST.
Ensuring the stability of the grids
The expansion of the virtual power plant will provide the grid and the electricity market with more flexibility. "In an increasingly decentralised energy world, virtual power plants are becoming more important due to the growing number of smaller plants such as biogas plants, storage units, combined heat and power plants as well as wind and photovoltaic systems," says Lars Becker. "They play a decisive role in the stability of the grids and therefore make an important contribution to security of supply."
Also interesting: Nomad Electric commissions first PV plant in Portugal with a new EPC contract
Three gigawatts of power integrated
After all, Trianel's virtual power plant has already grown considerably. In total, the Aachen-based energy trading company bundles around 700 decentralised generation plants with a combined output of over 3,000 megawatts. This corresponds to the output of around four large power plants. Trianel controls the connected plants via a joint control system in Aachen. They are also optimally marketed on the electricity markets via this system. (su/mfo)
