Inventive energy solution for an acute energy problem
Schiphol Trade Park
During the development of the Schiphol Trade Park business park, grid congestion was a serious obstacle: the grid operator was unable to supply sufficient power. Pon Power has helped develop and install microgrids at various distribution centres at Schiphol Trade Park, making the distribution centres become self-sufficient. A solution that is also effective for other customers in different sectors, but with similar problems.
From gas generator to microgrid
Nico van den Biggelaar, Senior Account Manager of Sustainable Energy Systems at Pon Power, still remembers the seemingly insignificance of the initial request for this project: "When our client called, it seemed like they only needed a gas generator set. In the end, it appeared they were busy outlining the design of a microgrid. Naturally, our expertise came in handy. "After all, not only do we have the assets for a microgrid, we can also contribute to the integration of all components, such as an emergency power installation and an energy storage system."
Ultimately, a design was created for three microgrids based on a Pon Power Energy Management System, or PPEMS. This PPEMS plays a crucial role in the microgrids, by efficiently controlling all assets. Nico Olsthoorn is Team Lead Engineering Power at Pon Power and explains: "Without PPEMS, you're left with a lot of separate assets that can supply or store energy. Our smart PPEMS creates a single system that works in harmony to generate, store and distribute energy in the most efficient and sustainable way possible. Our team of software engineers made the difference, making the three distribution centres at Schiphol Trade Park self-sufficient while being extremely efficient."
“Our smart PPEMS creates a single system that works in harmony to generate, store and distribute energy in the most efficient and sustainable way possible.”
Three distribution centres at Schiphol Trade Park
Together with the client, Pon Power has made three distribution centres at Schiphol Trade Park self-sufficient. The three microgrids are structured as follows:
Distribution centre 1
- More than sixteen thousand solar panels, almost 10MWp
- Two PGS batteries of 672kWh
- Two gas generators of 800kWe
- Two emergency diesel generators of 800kW
- Two fuel tanks
- Two switchgear containers with LV distributors and Pon Power Energy Management System control panel
Distribution centre 2
- Approximately 3MWp of solar panels
- An ETS batteries of 1500kWh
- A gas generator of 400kWe
- An emergency diesel generator of 600kW
- A fuel tank
- A switchgear container with LV distributor and Pon Power Energy Management System control panel
Distribution centre 3
- Approximately 3MWp of solar panels
- An ETS battery of 1500kWh
- Two gas generators of 600kWe
- An emergency diesel generator of 600kW
- A fuel tank
- A switchgear container with LV distributor and Pon Power Energy Management System control panel
Want to read more about the batteries mentioned?
Want to read more about the batteries we mentioned and about the difference between PGS and ETS batteries? Please read this article: Batteries help advance the energy transition.
Providing a full-service solution for the customer
"Our strength is that we can supply all components, as well as design, build and control a microgrid", Nico van den Biggelaar continues. Long before grid congestion became a problem, we were already doing this for companies in sectors that wanted to be self-sufficient in terms of their energy supply, such as horticulturalists. We shared that experience and it resulted in the possibility of making companies completely or partially self-sufficient. The great thing in all this is that the components are scalable and can be applied to all kinds of companies in different sectors.
"If we look at the assets of the three distribution centres, we supplied all the assets, except for the solar panels. However, the integration of the solar power into the microgrid was still performed by us. It's another example of the many things we do. Like including assets in the design of a new microgrid in situations where they are already present."
Nico Olsthoorn: "Ultimately, it's all about tackling grid congestion. From a technical perspective, it doesn't really matter which assets we use to achieve this. Of course, it's still nice to create a diverse package so we can use the most efficient and sustainable energy source, any time of the day. In order of priority, that would be solar energy, stored or otherwise, while gas generators can be used when the sun is not shining. Sometimes we also have a limited grid connection available, which is then incorporated in the microgrid as efficiently as possible."
“Our strength is that we can supply all components, as well as design, build and control a microgrid.”
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