Why?
During the winter period, there is a challenge in cold climate areas between specific times when the load is high, and power peaks in the electricity grid appear. The peak in the grid can cause high stress to the electricity network. By capping electricity consumption between certain specific times when the load is high, power peaks in the electricity grid can be reduced. Therefore, the product MaxUsageTM has been tested at Effekthandel Väst during the winter of 2023-24.
How?
Effekthandel Väst is a local flexibility market where Göteborg Energi Nät and Mölndal Energi Nät buy flexibility from electricity grid-connected business customers or so-called aggregators that make it possible for smaller electricity users to collectively offer their flexibility. MaxUsageTM means that the supplier sets a maximum ceiling on its electricity consumption in the long term. This suits flexibility providers who want to adapt their power consumption in advance and in doing so reduce the administration around trading on the marketplace.
Electric Vehicle (EV) charging virtual fuse contract
MaxUsageTM was developed so that more people could participate in the market and above all with electric car charging in mind. This is something tested at GoCo Health Innovation City and their workplace parking which is managed by Vattenfall InCharge. There, they have limited the charging capacity between 08:00 and 12:00 on weekdays.
“We at GoCo Health Innovation City are working with a city development that in itself requires increased power withdrawal from the local electricity grid and therefore want to do what we can to minimize this. This new function means a temporary reduction by half of the power output for connected electric cars for a few hours in the morning on the coldest days of the year but should not affect the driver who anyway charges an entire day. This currently means no major income for us, but we can all do our part to not strain the electricity grid more than necessary.”
says Niklas Angestedt, Real Estate Manager at GoCo Health Innovation City.
A virtual fuse contract with Sorting Facilities
Renova Miljö AB is a Flexibility Service Provider (FSP) in the Effekthandel Väst local flexibility market. Renova operates several sorting facilities, these facilities can deliver flexibility services to the local grid company. For example, Renova set a power limitation of 75 kW between 7:00 and 10:00 every weekday in January. Comparison is made with a historical consumption of 300 kW during these hours.
“At our sorting facilities Högsbo and Skräppekärr, we run fairly electricity-intensive crushers that start in the morning. When we in discussions with Göteborg Energi established that the critical time for the electricity grid is between 06:00-10:00, we saw that there were no major problems in delaying the start of the crushers. For us, it is obvious to be involved as a participant on Effekthandel Väst and contribute to the transition in all ways we can. By practicing MaxUsageTM, we can concretely counteract power peaks in the electricity grid and at the same time earn a few swedish kroner.”
says Pontus Gimfalk, electricity manager at Renova Miljö AB.
Results & Outcomes
MaxUsageTM is a unique product developed by NODES team together with the support of our Distribution System Operator (DSO) partners and FSPs. The product has provided significant value to the local DSOs and also enabled the option for FSPs to contribute to the goals of a sustainable future by solving grid challenges with the local DSO.
“I am very happy that we are seeing these results, which show that the product fulfills a purpose and that it is possible to contribute with flexibility in several different ways. We truly see potential in scaling up. In addition, it is great that there is a lot of interest, both from potential flexibility providers and industry colleagues.”
says Therese Caesar, flexibility manager at Göteborg Energi Nät.
“Trading in power is certainly broader than MaxUsageTM, but thanks to the experience and knowledge we have of our electricity grid, we have still hit the right spot. It helped us, among other things, to lower the load when we had a new record peak in power withdrawal from the regional grid in January. Overall conclusion for is that MaxUsageTM has been successful during this winter.”
says Fredrik Lundmark, CEO of Mölndal Energi Nät
