UPS | GRID BALANCING UPS + aggregator Liebert EXL S1 with dynamic grid support Data centre Generation Transmission and distribution In front of the meter (FTM) Virtual power plant Frequency regulation, reserve, capacity, time shift of energy, transmission line deferral, renewables integration, and so on Energy storage market segments within electricity supply chain: FTM vs BTM Generation ideal candidate to implement grid balancing services. This is because of the presence of assets such as battery energy storage, which could be maximised to generate new revenue streams as well as cost saving opportunities, and ultimately alleviate grid infrastructure constraints. Data centres can provide grid or energy-balancing services using two types of energy device behind the meter (power used on site, on the energy users side of the meter) and front of meter (energy on the grid or utility). The European market programmes for balancing services vary for each country, depending, for example, on how fast the additional power is required from data centres (typically, from within 0.5 seconds of a power event to a couple of minutes) and how long the power is required for (from seconds to minutes). As explained in a recently published white paper (How to maximise revenues from your data centre. Energy storage system with grid Interactive UPS), the most lucrative in energy-balancing services are for fast frequency response, requiring active power to be adjusted within 500 milliseconds to one second time frame in reaction to over- and under-frequency detection. In this situation, the UPS would need to discharge/recharge the batteries for an average period of five minutes. As well as helping to stabilise energy supply, contracting out UPS backup power systems that stand idle most of the time could make financial sense. Some experts reckon that one megawatt of flexible load and related battery backup could earn a data centre as much as 100,000 (85,075) in revenue every year or millions for a data centre company with multiple multi-megawatt data centres.2 The grid-balancing market is at an early stage but has potential. Data centre Access network Behind the meter (BTM) Frequency regulation, triad, distribution use of system (DUoS), and so on Virtual power plant, demand management, energy arbitrage, peak shaving, and so on Dynamic grid support Battery energy storage systems One of the biggest challenges is maintaining the stability of energy supply when there is a disconnect between supply and demand Commercial and industrial Various telecom operators For the past few years, Vertiv has run grid-balancing pilot projects with data centre operators and includes grid-balancing features in its data centre technology. As intermittent renewables continue to challenge conventional electric power generation, new energy storage services are required to help meet sustainability goals, generate revenue and reduce energy bills. Ultimately, this will alleviate grid infrastructure constraints, increase use of renewable power sources, and provide data centre operators with a new source of income. A win-win for all involved. CJ ARTURO DI FILIPPI is global offering manager for smart power at Vertiv References: 1 EU Power Sector in 2020, Ember accessed Aug 2021, bit.ly/CJSep21UPS1 2 Balance of power: How data centers can help stabilise the grid, DCD accessed August 2021, bit.ly/CJSep21UPS2 Fast frequency response Primary response Secondary response Tertiary response/ reserve* High response* Enhanced response** *Mainly suitable for battery energy storage system (BESS) **No longer active in some countries Example of schematic of frequency response programmes in the UK 50 September 2021 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Sep 21 pp49-50 UPS grid balancing.indd 50 27/08/2021 10:25