Incorporating fuel cells, combined heat and power (CHP) and battery energy storage, as well as locally produced biogas and solar power in an environmentally friendly, smart microgrid, the LEMENE project is designed to provide all the energy businesses in the industrial area need, as well as particip Contact online >>
Incorporating fuel cells, combined heat and power (CHP) and battery energy storage, as well as locally produced biogas and solar power in an environmentally friendly, smart microgrid, the LEMENE project is designed to provide all the energy businesses in the industrial area need, as well as participate in various electricity markets.
Finland invests in key projects like the Marjamäki microgrid to meet their long-term climate and energy strategy goals. Their strategic aims are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, shift from a dependence on electricity imports to self-sufficiency, and replace electricity generation based on fossil fuels.
In principle, microgrids could make the power generation in an ordinary private house more efficient and reduce electricity losses," concludes Tuomarmäki. The New Energy research group at Turku University of Applied Sciences is also investigating the potential of DC grids as part of renewable energy systems in other projects, such as TIGON
Finland has extremely stable electricity grid with minimal losses. One of the most advanced smart grid in the world. Smart grid functionalities such as load profiling, real-time billing, distributed power generation are already in use. Internationally open Smart Otaniemi and Åland Island test beds for smart grid 2.0.
Finland has set a target to increase its share of renewable energy to 51% by 2030, with specific goals for electricity (53%), heating and cooling (61%) and transport (45%). To achieve these goals, Finland is investing in developing its wind and solar power capacity, as well as in integrating them into hybrid systems.
Text: by Siiri Welling
For example, the electricity produced by solar panels must first be converted into electricity suitable for the normal grid, i.e. into alternating current. Conversion, in turn, inevitably means electricity loss. So how can we optimise the benefits of renewables?
The issue has been addressed by the EU-funded RESPONSE project, which has built carbon-neutral and environmentally friendly energy, building services and mobility solutions in two “lighthouse cities”, Turku and Dijon, France. In Turku, the solutions focus on the Student Village, where the Tyyssija building, completed in 2022, has attracted the most attention. Tyyssija is part of a set of buildings and energy solutions designed to produce more energy than its inhabitants consume, making it energy-positive.
A microgrid is a smaller local electricity network than the main grid. It can operate separately from the main grid, so that those connected to it are self-sufficient in electricity generation and transmission.
The building is equipped with an innovative energy solution that provides heating and cooling for the building, using the return heat from district cooling as the heat source for the heat pump. In addition, the building generates some of its own electricity through double-sided solar panels, which can be stored in batteries. Turku University of Applied Sciences has been involved in the development of the solar panel and electricity system solutions. However, new thinking has been needed to optimise the benefits of solar panels.
“We started thinking about connecting solar panels directly to the DC grid using microgrids. Installing a microgrid and using DC power increases the overall efficiency of the grid. In practice, the solution we presented allowed us to drive electricity from Tyyssija to another building at TYS, thus smoothing out the peaks in energy consumption,” explains Tero Tuomarmäki, lecturer in energy technology at Turku University of Applied Sciences.
A microgrid is a smaller local electricity network than the main grid. It can operate separately from the main grid, so that those connected to it are self-sufficient in electricity generation and transmission. In the case of the TYS buildings, the microgrid is intended to operate in conjunction with the main grid, allowing electricity to be transmitted back to the main grid and vice versa.
Direct connection of DC devices via microgrids was explored in Tyyssia last summer. The results were presented at a conference earlier this autumn. The results show a slight reduction in energy losses with the installation of LVDC. In addition, DC power can be used to direct electrical energy to and from batteries, for example. The use of batteries in turn improves self-sufficiency.
“In practice, the study shows that we have the tools to analyze energy input and output and to model part of the network. The model can be used to influence the energy distribution within the microgrid, which increases efficiency. LVCD is more efficient if there is a lot of PV generation and the converters are working well. In winter, on the other hand, a traditional AC grid works better, as solar power is notoriously scarce in winter,” says Tuomarmäki.
Tuomarmäki points out that electric cars can also act as batteries. Direct current works best for short distances, while alternating current is advantageous for long distances.
“In industry, DC networks are used much more widely than in households. They are also abundant in Africa, where there are many local sources of power generation. But yes, you can make DC work here in Finland, in a typical residential property. In principle, microgrids could make the power generation in an ordinary private house more efficient and reduce electricity losses,” concludes Tuomarmäki.
The New Energy research group at Turku University of Applied Sciences is also investigating the potential of DC grids as part of renewable energy systems in other projects, such as TIGON, EVELIXIA and RealSolar. DC-based solutions are also expected to become more common in the future in residential buildings in combination with renewable energy production.
The article was published on 18.12.2023 on the previous turkuamk website.
A hybrid system is a combination of two or more renewable energy sources that can complement each other and provide a more stable and reliable supply of electricity. For example, a hybrid system can consist of wind turbines and solar panels that are connected to the same grid or battery storage. When the wind is blowing, the wind turbines can generate electricity and when the sun is shining, the solar panels can do the same. When both sources are available, the excess electricity can be stored in batteries or sold to the grid. When neither source is available, the batteries can provide backup power or the grid can supply electricity from other sources.
Finland is a country that has a high potential for renewable energy, especially for wind and solar power. According to Statistics Finland, renewable energy accounted for 43% of Finland's total energy supply in 2020, with bioenergy being the largest source (28%), followed by hydro (6%), wind (3%) and solar (0.1%). Finland has set a target to increase its share of renewable energy to 51% by 2030, with specific goals for electricity (53%), heating and cooling (61%) and transport (45%).
To achieve these goals, Finland is investing in developing its wind and solar power capacity, as well as in integrating them into hybrid systems. According to IEA's 2023 Energy Policy Review, Finland's wind power capacity increased from 0.2 GW in 2011 to 2.5 GW in 2021, making it one of the fastest-growing markets in Europe. Finland's solar power capacity also grew from 0.01 GW in 2011 to 0.2 GW in 2021, with most of it being installed on rooftops and buildings. Finland plans to further expand its wind and solar power capacity to 7 GW and 2 GW respectively by 2030.
To make the best use of its wind and solar resources, Finland is also exploring the possibilities of hybrid systems that can combine them with other technologies such as batteries, hydrogen or biofuels. For example, Finland has several pilot projects that are testing different types of hybrid systems, such as:
- The LEMENE project in Tampere, which consists of a microgrid that connects a 4 MW solar park, a 6 MW wind farm, a 1 MW battery storage system and a biogas plant that produces heat and power for local industries and households.
- The Flexens project in Åland Islands, which aims to create a fully renewable energy system that integrates wind, solar, hydro, biomass and waste-to-energy plants with battery storage, electric vehicles and smart demand response.
- The Wärtsilä Smart Power Generation project in Suomenoja, which combines a 100 MW gas engine plant with a 1 MW battery storage system and a 1 MW solar plant that can provide flexible power generation and grid balancing services.
Hybrid systems can offer many benefits for Finland's renewable energy sector and its climate goals. Some of these benefits are:
- Improving the reliability and security of electricity supply: Hybrid systems can reduce the intermittency and unpredictability of wind and solar power by providing backup power or grid support when needed. This can enhance the stability and resilience of the electricity system and avoid blackouts or power shortages.
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact: Hybrid systems can lower the carbon footprint and the pollution of the electricity sector by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. This can help Finland achieve its climate targets and contribute to the global efforts to mitigate climate change.
- Lowering the cost of electricity and increasing the competitiveness of renewable energy: Hybrid systems can optimize the use of resources and infrastructure and reduce the need for expensive backup power or grid reinforcements. This can lower the cost of electricity production and transmission and make renewable energy more affordable and attractive for consumers and investors.
- Supporting the development of local and regional energy markets: Hybrid systems can enable the participation of small-scale and distributed renewable energy producers and consumers in the electricity market. This can create new business opportunities and revenue streams for local communities and regions, as well as increase their energy autonomy and self-sufficiency.
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