SUCCESS STORIES
Microgrid Controller
Overview
- Project Name: Agave Microgrid Control System with Agave® Evolution™
- Location: A California-based Indian casino
- Funding: Provided by the California Energy Commission (CEC)
- Developer: NextEra Energy
- Battery Supplier: EOS
- Deployment: Agave® Evolution™ deployed in over 100 commercial and industrial sites
- Commissioning Date: End of 2024
Project Impact and Timeline
- Solar System Capacity: 17 MW Solar PV System
- ESS Capacity: 60-megawatt-hour long-duration energy storage system.
- Purpose: Provides reliable renewable backup power and showcases long-duration storage potential.
- Innovation: Agave® Evolution™’s suite of advanced control and energy management systems set a new standard for microgrid capabilities.
- Commissioning: Set for the end of 2024, culminating in a state-of-the-art energy solution for the Indian casino.
Agave® Evolution™ Specifications and Expanded Features
Advanced Control System
- Features: Industrial-rated Siemens PLC and HMI touchscreen interface, packaged in an outdoor enclosure for durability.
- Benefit: Provides a user-friendly interface and durable setup for real-time monitoring and control, improving operational efficiency.
Energy Source Management:
- Features: Manages energy sources for stand-by, stand-alone, net-zero, and export scenarios with automated intelligence for autonomous functionality.
- Benefit: Facilitates flexible and intelligent management of various energy sources, optimizing renewable resource use and reducing external power dependence.
Dispatch Controls:
- Features: Complies with Rule 21 interconnection requirements, offers energy arbitrage recommendations, and prioritizes loads with automated dispatch controls.
- Benefit: Enhances economic performance through strategic energy management and ensures regulatory compliance.
Robust Power Supply:
- Features: Battery backup system with redundant power supplies, fault detection, and non-lithium long-duration technologies.
- Benefit: Ensures a consistent and reliable power supply, vital for uninterrupted casino operations and safety during outages.
Resource Dispatching:
- Features: Multiple generation resource management including solar, energy storage, and various engines, with balance of plant equipment coordination.
- Benefit: Boosts efficiency and sustainability of the microgrid through optimized dispatching and generation resource management.
Communication and Data Handling:
- Features: Industry-standard MODBUS, CAN, or DNP communication protocols, and SCADA informationtransmission to Agave® cloud hosted by AWS.
- Benefit: Allows seamless integration and communication with other industrial systems, providing robust data analysis for operational improvements.
Alert System:
- Features: Automated alerts via email and text message for fault detection and performance indicators, integrated within the control system.
- Benefit: Improves system reliability by enabling quick response to issues, minimizing downtime, and facilitating proactive maintenance.
Energy Autonomy and Independence:
- Features: Allows for an autonomous microgrid operation, providing the casino with the ability to operate independently of the utility grid.
- Benefit: Increases the casino’s energy security and resilience, ensuring operations can continue without interruption, even in the event of external grid failures.