Flow Power Energy Under Control Demand Response
- $1.31m Funded by ARENA
- $3.78m Total project cost
Summary
The Flow Power Energy Under Control Demand Response project partners with commercial and industrial businesses across New South Wales to provide strategic reserves and grid stability under the Demand Response (DR) initiative. Flow Power’s “Energy Under Control” project aims to provide an escalating reserve of 5 MW in year 1, 15 MW in year two and 20 MW in year three.
Key results
- Flow Power built a portfolio of commercial and industrial customers in NSW, which were enrolled in the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) Reliability and Emergency Reserve Trader (RERT) mechanism.
- Although Flow Power’s DR portfolio was never activated in response to a contingency event in NSW, Flow Power’s other RERT portfolios in Victoria and South Australia were utilised on several occasions to alleviate the stress on the grid.
- The learnings from this trial advanced the design of Flow Power’s kWatch Intelligent Controller, a device that enables smart control of customer loads or generation assets in response to market signals. Flow Power sees this type of automated/semi-automated control as essential to develop DR in the National Electricity Market (NEM).
This project consists of:
Project reports- ARENA media release 11/10/17
- June 2021 Project Performance Report – Energy Under Control
- May 2018 Project Performance Report – Energy Under Control
- May 2019 Project Performance Report – Energy Under Control
- May 2020 Project Performance Report – Energy Under Control
- November 2018 Project Performance Report – Energy Under Control
- November 2019 Project Performance Report – Energy Under Control
Learn more
Report: June 2021 Project Performance Report – Energy Under Control
This report summarises Flow Power’s ARENA demand response trial program participation and experiences.
Report: May 2020 Project Performance Report – Energy Under Control
This report provides an overview of the demand response provided by Flow Power across New South Wales for the ARENA Demand Response Trial.
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Report: Nov. 2019 Project Performance Report – Energy Under Control
This report provides an overview of the demand response provided by Flow Power across New South Wales for the ARENA Demand Response Trial.
Report: May 2019 Project Performance Report – Energy Under Control
This report provides an overview of the demand response provided by Flow Power across New South Wales for the ARENA Demand Response Trial.
Report: May 2018 Project Performance Report – Energy Under Control
This report provides an overview of the demand response provided by Flow Power across New South Wales for the ARENA Demand Response Trial.
Report: Nov. 2018 Project Performance Report – Energy Under Control
This report provides an overview of the demand response provided by Flow Power across New South Wales for the ARENA Demand Response Trial.
Video: Demand response – Flow Power
Flow Power is partnering with commercial and industrial businesses across New South Wales to provide strategic reserves and grid stability under the Demand Response (DR) initiative.
How the project works
The The Flow Power Energy Under Control Demand Response project involves the rollout of Flow Power’s kWatch® Intelligent Controller. The Controller gives customers live data feeds, alerts and integration of onsite equipment. When it comes to DR, the Controller allows participating businesses to reduce their demand in minutes when Flow Power is called on by AEMO under the Short Notice Reliability and Emergency Reserve Trader (RERT).
By providing SMS and email alerts, the kWatch® Intelligent Controller gives Flow Power a clear and fast communication channel with participants, who receive participation payments in addition to a revenue stream if they are called upon to shift power use. Customers had the choice to integrate equipment with the Controller, meaning the customer could control energy intensive equipment from the kWatch® portal. The program will roll out Controllers across customer sites over the next three years and then provide availability and activation payments where appropriate.
Area of innovation
Flow Power’s kWatch Intelligent Controller is an innovative way of managing DR. The Controller facilitates ten-minute responses to AEMO market signals by giving customers a live data feed, alerts of events and equipment automation. Customers can use the information from the Controller throughout the year to understand their power use throughout the year.
Benefit
The program will help to establish how DR can assist in maintaining a stable electricity grid in Eastern Australia.
Read more
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