Moixa, an energy technology company that manufacturers smart solar batteries and GridShare software, and Irish energy supplier, Energia, have announced a partnership to demonstrate how smart home batteries, rooftop solar and electric vehicles (EVs) can deliver valuable flexibility to the grid.
The innovative partnership will include a flagship project to create a 120 kWh virtual power plant comprising of Moixa Smart Batteries and EV charge-points. This network will support the development of a smart energy system in Ireland by aggregating home and vehicle batteries to provide frequency-related grid services to Eirgrid, the Irish transmission system operator (TSO).
Simon Daniel, CEO of Moixa, says: “This partnership puts Ireland at the vanguard of the digital energy revolution – delivering a cost-effective, innovative and reliable power system and acting as a blueprint for others across the world.”
In July, Energia announced a €3bn ($3.3bn) investment in Irish renewable infrastructure over the next five years, adding as much as 1.5 GW of renewable generation to the grid.
Moixa’s partnership with Energia will support this shift to a new smart renewable energy system in Ireland and demonstrate how intelligently managed storage technologies can support the transition.
The project will also support Eirgrid’s DS3 programme, which aims to deliver a secure and sustainable electricity system on the island of Ireland, with 40 per cent of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2020. This project demonstrates the TSO’s keen interest in unlocking flexibility at the domestic level.
Moixa’s GridShare software will embed artificial intelligence into the batteries, enabling the fleet of assets to react to various signals, such as pricing or constraints, and providing valuable grid services to Eirgrid. A common trigger point for this will be if there is a sudden fluctuation in grid frequency, for example caused through power station failure or intermittent renewable generation.
Gary Ryan, managing director, Energia Customer Solutions at Energia, says: “We work to not only generate renewable energy but also empower our customers so that they can manage their energy consumption and make positive decisions to maximise the potential of renewables, actively contributing to a low carbon society. This project with Moixa will show how homes can become mini-power stations: generating, storing and supplying electricity, unlocking huge cost and carbon savings for customers and the network alike. As an established green energy supplier, Energia is the power behind communities all across Ireland and this agreement with Moixa is another example of how we are further delivering on our commitment to homeowners.”
Energia customers participating in the project will receive a 4.8 kWh Moixa Smart Battery and a rooftop solar system for a reduced cost of approximately €7,400 ($8232). They will also be able to claim back €2,400 ($2700) from SEAI grant funding, making the technology 50 per cent cheaper overall.
Once installed, the solar and storage systems will enable Energia’s customers to save up to 50 per cent off their energy bills. Participants will also be offered an optional EV charge point.
GridShare will benefit the consumers by learning energy consumption patterns and developing tailored charging plans for each household and vehicle battery to deliver increased cost and carbon savings.
Moixa developed GridShare over a series of pioneering projects in the UK, including the £10.8m ($14m) Smart Energy Islands project on the Isles of Scilly, led by Hitachi. Moixa is providing software that enables EVs and smart home batteries to balance supply and demand within a comprehensive smart energy system.
To learn more about Moixa’s intelligent solutions, visit them at European Utility Week, stand F40, taking place in Paris 12-14 November 2019.
