Figure 1 A smart microgrid manages a range of energy management assets
in applications means that some companies are being advised they face lead times of more than a decade (Lamb, 2024). While the UK as a whole has legally binding net zero targets, businesses are increasingly driven by the demands of stakeholders (shareholders, investors, customers, or employees) to demonstrate clear and unambiguous carbon reduction strategies. Realistic, feasible, and cost-effective solutions are paramount if these goals are to be achieved. Increasingly, the option of a smart microgrid is proving a viable solution that can futureproof energy infrastructure at the local level. Smart microgrids A smart microgrid (see Figure 1 ) manages a range of energy management assets, operating as a localised energy system that can run independently or in conjunction with the wider, centralised grid. As a solution to the issue of grid constraints, implementing a microgrid offers greater control over energy spend while improving power resilience, given the control it provides over supply and demand. Where a combination of energy management technologies is managed by AI-driven control systems, advanced algorithms and machine learning enable real-time decision-making.
Detailed data relating to supply and demand can inform maintenance scheduling, strategic load planning, and an overview of potential failure points, as well as provide the data critical for accurate sustainability measurement and reporting. As more assets are added to the microgrid, the better it will perform, learning and improving as it gathers more data. The interplay of a range of assets and technologies, managed by AI-driven control software, offers a powerful solution for organisations requiring resilient, cost-effective, and sustainable energy. Typically, a microgrid consists of distributed energy resources and technologies such as battery energy storage systems (BESS), low loss transformers, and voltage optimisation (VO) assets, all managed by the microgrid controller. Given that every microgrid project will be different, with individual site issues and constraints, differing business models and energy demand, and individual business imperatives, it is crucial to both establish the viability of a project prior to commissioning and quantify the benefits of any investment. Hence, we now look at each of these technologies in more detail. Battery energy storage systems A BESS (see Figure 2 ) stores generated energy for use when needed and is critical to any microgrid
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