Yes, everything around you is powered by this microgrid storing and delivering the energy of the sun. The booths and stands, the catering and the luncheon tent, and all our products displayed on-site. Everything that runs on electric current!
Even though the solar panels are not completely unfolded, by the end of the event, our soon-to-be-launched modular solar plant will have produced an estimate of 1MWh of energy.
This installation eliminates the need for fuel consumption during operation, which will translate into savings of up to 0.3 tons of CO2. A whole event fed by solar energy and enabled by our own solutions!
How does the solution work?
Atlas Copco’s energy storage systems are the heart of this solution, and thanks to a new in-house developed Energy Management System (EMS) —ECO, the Energy Controller Optimizer—, they are able to efficiently store and deliver energy coming from different sources —renewables, like solar or wind, traditional generators, the power grid, and even from hydrogen fuel cells— with a versatility never seen before in a smart energy system.
This battery-based energy solution helps rental companies and end-users deploy flexible, reliable power, seamlessly and sustainably. By combining an energy storage system and an integrated ECO Controller with low-emission modular assets, they can decarbonize your operations, while achieving significant fuel, energy and lifecycle savings.
Case study: Microgrid with one-minute peaks of 400kW
It’s good to have a theoretical approach, but everything is always crystal clear after a case study:
- There is a microgrid combining three different sources of energy: the power grid, a mobile solar plant, and a power generator, which will be a backup for this application.
- A ZBC is storing and delivering this energy to cover an average load profile of 23.2kWh with one-minute peaks of 400kW.
- After 24 hours, this solution saves 260 liters of fuel (68,68 gallons), which ads up to 95,000 thousand liters (25,096 gallons) a year.
- This means savings of up to 256 tons of CO2 a year, which is as much as what 1,533 trees absorb during their lifetime.
- There are additional service and maintenance benefits, with up to 70% less maintenance intervals —considering the solutions’ different maintenance needs—.
- And the way the ZBC deals with the peaks in energy demand means a growth of 63% in efficiency when compared with a 500kW standalone generator.
ECO, the Energy Controller Optimizer
ECO controller integrated in ZBP energy storage system
With the introduction of this new Energy Management System (EMS), rental companies and end-users will enjoy full control over their temporary power applications by optimizing energy generation, distribution, and consumption through advanced data management.
The brain of Atlas Copco’s energy storage systems addresses the most common challenges of the rental industry by efficiently managing different sources of energy and large fleets of battery-based storage systems. ECO is a human-machine interface (HMI) with a visual touchscreen control panel to manage the sources of energy feeding the solution, the state of the batteries and the load demand.
Regardless of the AC input source, ECO communicates with all elements involved to increase operational efficiency, reduce the environmental footprint and, most importantly, to ensure that the load is fully covered. This enhances the scope of our battery-based solutions, opening new opportunities for growth.
As in the live display you have there, these energy storage systems can even be used to charge our own electric units, like the E-Pump range of electric self-priming dewatering pumps or our electric and battery-driven compressors.
Modular solar plant
Modular solar plant working with a ZBC energy storage system
When the panels are completely deployed, this large mobile solar plant displayed on-site can generate up to 600kWh per day. One of the key advantages of modular solar plants is their scalability. Additional modules can be added as needed, allowing for incremental capacity expansion without disrupting the operation of the existing plant. This flexibility makes modular solar plants suitable for both small-scale installations and large-scale utility projects.
They provide a versatile and efficient approach to solar power generation, offering advantages in terms of flexibility, scalability, and maintenance. They play a crucial role in accelerating the deployment of solar energy and contributing to more sustainable operations.
Z Charger
Atlas Copco's Z Charger
This innovative solution increases the charging rate by boosting the voltage so the battery-driven heavy machinery and electric vehicles can charge quickly. The Z Charger can charge 7 times faster than an ordinary wall box, and 42 times faster than a regular wall charger.
Complying with the electrification of the construction sites, more and more machinery works on batteries. And to decarbonize their recharge, the combination of an energy storage system and this fast charger is a perfect match. The two connectors provide flexibility and versatility to the recharge period with CCS 2 type.