A smart energy management service that balances the electricity grid
Today’s electricity networks are more complex than ever. Changing energy consumption patterns, the integration of renewable energy and increasing demands on energy supply have created a need for smart solutions. One such solution is the efficient and innovative energy management service offered by Qilowatt in partnership with Fusebox, which helps to balance the electricity grid and benefits both consumers and grid operators.
Fusebox is a platform-based service that enables flexible energy consumption and participation in balancing the electricity grid. It acts as a virtual powerhouse, connecting different consumers and their energy resources into a single entity. The Fusebox aims to optimise energy consumption by targeting it according to market demand and network needs.
Network rebalancing
The Fusebox participates in the balancing of the network, reducing the load at critical moments and thus contributing to the stability of the electricity grid. This helps to avoid overloading the grid and reduces the need for fossil fuel power plants.
Participation fee
Fusebox compensates consumers for their contribution to balancing the grid. Consumers can earn a return by reducing their energy consumption at critical times or by shifting it to lower-cost periods. This means that the Fusebox pays consumers a shared return, motivating them to play an active role in balancing their energy. The service provided in the energy market is mFRR, which stands for “Manual Frequency Restoration Reserve”, an English term that translates as “manual frequency restoration reserve”. mFRR is a source of reserve power used in electricity grids to restore frequency balance.
The frequency of our electricity network is 50 Hz. Maintaining this is critical for the operation of the grid and the reliability of electrical equipment. Small fluctuations in frequency occur on the grid when the balance between electricity generation and consumption is disturbed. For example, when a large generating unit is shut down or when a large number of electricity consumers are switched on or off, the frequency may temporarily fluctuate. An electricity network operator, such as Elering in Estonia, detects the frequency change and records that the electricity network needs intervention to balance the frequency. mFRR is reserve capacity in power plants or other sources of electricity generation. These power sources must be able to respond quickly to compensate for frequency fluctuations in the grid. To ensure stability, additional power must be injected into the grid or reduced. Elering sends an encrypted command to Fusebox, which then forwards it to all its customers. If there is a shortage of energy in the network, the consumption can be reduced instead of adding additional energy to ensure stability. This is what Qilowatt offers in cooperation with Fusebox and all its customers. At the command of the mFRR, the different power sources increase or decrease their power output according to the required level to restore the frequency balance. When the frequency has dropped, generation is increased, and when the frequency has increased, generation is reduced. mFRR restores the frequency of the grid to normal levels, ensuring the stability of the power system. The balance between generation and consumption is restored and the frequency is maintained at the desired nominal level.