Software Technology
MADA Analytics’ MEPS™ software operates as follows: MEPS™ receives predicted demand and energy price for a given period of time, together with live information and predictions of the total energy generation available from the renewable energy sources. These parameters cannot be controlled by the system but will influence it. MEPS™ then calculates the total energy needed to meet the load of the grid. During periods in which the energy received from renewable sources is in excess of that needed to meet load, MEPS™ will send an order to use the excess renewable energy to charge energy storage. During periods in which the load exceeds available renewable energy, MEPS™ will order the storage unit to discharge and generate electricity to the grid.
In cases that the energy generated from both the renewable energy and the discharge of the storage is still not sufficient to satisfy the grid’s load, the MEPS™ will order the fossil fuel sources to generate the additional energy required to fill in the remaining gap. All orders generated by the MEPS™ will take into consideration the constraints of the various generators and other system components. MEPS™ incorporates a broad range of domain expertise to allow the optimization of hybrid renewable energy project design and operation, including:
MEPS™ analyzes, integrates, and utilizes energy storage solutions as the central component to smooth out the energy supplied from intermittent renewable energy sources, which are inherently a “noisy” unstable source of energy. Shaping the renewable energy occurs in periods of both excess supply and supply deficiency, in both short and prolonged durations, and in high and low frequencies. MEPS™ contains the parameters required to accurately model different energy storage systems and combination of different storage technologies, allowing the user to compare the ability of different energy storage configurations to meet a project’s needs. Constraints such as size, life cycle, ramp rates, etc., are all taken into consideration as are their financial implications for the project. Ultimately MEPS™ will guide the storage system operational regimes, ordering it to charge or discharge at specific capacities for specific intervals of time.
Renewable Energy
MEPS™ predicts the wind and solar power generated at a specific location using industry standard engineering models. For project assessment and planning, the software determines optimal sizing, renewable type, and placement of renewable fields, as well as managing the generated energy, directing it either to the grid or to storage. As a result, renewable energy is delivered to the grid in a reliable and controlled manner. Capital and operating costs are kept up to date based on industry data.
Fossil Plants
While it may at first seem counterintuitive to consider gas turbines or other fossil-fueled plans in the context of renewable energy projects, however they can play a valuable role. MEPS™ is utilized first to predict accurate internal power consumption and power production from the power plant, based on weather conditions and takes into consideration all of the operating parameters, requirements, and limitations of multiple types of fossil power plants as possible backup. MEPS™ can then run simulations and operations to integrate and utilize a fossil power plant to serve as a backup power facility, when peaking reliable energy supply is required.