The storage system, which is an integral part of Catania 1, will increase flexibility in management of the power plant and smooth electricity flows, reducing the intermittence that often affects certain renewable sources, while at the same time providing auxiliary services to the grid.

The Catania storage facility uses the Durathon “sodium-metal halide” technology developed by General Electric, with whom EGP has signed a technology partnership agreement that envisages experimentation in order to improve grid integration of those renewable plants whose production cannot be programmed.

“Enel Green Power has achieved another first”, said EGP CEO Francesco Venturini. “Technologically advanced storage systems like the one we are inaugurating today will reduce intermittency and enable us to manage the unpredictability of certain renewable sources, thereby helping to ensure the stability and control of the grid. The active integration of renewables with pioneering and innovative solutions such as this one is key for the ongoing development of the sector.”

The Catania storage facility, which has been undergoing testing since May 2015, enabled the first field test of the use of this battery to reduce imbalances between forecast and actual output.

In addition to the Catania storage system, the 18 MW Potenza Pietragalla wind farm, which is located in the southern Italian region of Basilicata and equipped with 2 MW/2MWh Samsung Lithium-Ion batteries, is in the advanced stage of its construction. This is the first wind farm in Italy to be combined with a storage system and connected to the high-voltage grid.

EGP’s goal is to transfer the expertise it has acquired in Italy to other plants it operates around the world, implementing it on the basis of the local context and specific business opportunities. The company is assessing the possible implementation of storage systems in Europe (Romania, Spain), Latin America (Chile, Mexico, Peru) and North America, as well as in other areas of the world in which EGP is already present or is involved in business development (South Africa, Kenya).

Enel Green Power is already present in Catania with 3SUN, Italy’s largest manufacturer of photovoltaic modules and a research centre involved in testing advanced solar solutions.

ABB launched free@home last year to make it easier for installers to offer home automation, bringing the advantages enabled by the Internet of Things, Services and People into people’s homes. The system makes it simple – via smart device or a personal computer – to manage multiple functions to create the home environment of consumers’ choice. Now, by adding voice control, home automation becomes even simpler.

Axel Kaiser, Manager for ABB’s Living Space Product Group, said: “Our aim is to make home automation easier than ever and free@home creates a new space in the market. We continue to add functionality and our latest voice activation provides even more comfort and convenience for users. Coming home after dark, you can just command: ‘turn the hall lights on’ and lights are activated, or as you leave your house you can call: ‘switch all lights off’ and itʼs done.”

According to digital research service BI Intelligence, the market for smart homes devices was worth more than $61 billion in 2014 and is expected to grow to $490 billion by 2019, an annual growth rate of around 50 %.

Users can program the system to choose the names of rooms and areas. The system can be set so that users receive a confirmation that a command has been activated, so when you state: ‘close the shutters in the living room’, you would hear ‘the living room blinds are all closed’, etc. Additionally, users can ask the system questions about the status of the functions, such as: ‘are the lights off in Thomas’ bedroom?’ and the system will provide an answer.

ABB has implemented a hybrid voice recognition solution which is a combination of grammar based speech recognition and a statistical speech model. Natural speech and ‘commando based’ input is possible, so the user can state either ‘please can you switch the living room lights on’ or ‘living room – lights – on’. The dialog processor within the voice control system uses algorithms to recognize the user’s intention and the context. The user does not need to be trained as the speech model adapts based on the words programmed into the free@home system (name of floors in the home, rooms and functions being controlled). The system gathers the data from the context, but also from a large voice library. Moreover, should the command not be complete enough, the system will ask the user for more information.

An additional enhancement is a new ‘Actions’ menu, which enables intelligent combination of different processes, using ‘if… then’, logic. For example, if the room temperature exceeds 25 °C, the blinds could automatically close. And if the motion detector is triggered, the user will receive a notice via email or via push notification on their smartphone.

The home automation solution is sold under the Busch Jaeger brand in Germany, Holland and Austria and under the ABB brand in all other markets around the world.

As part of ABB’s Next Level strategy the company is achieving growth through product innovations that unlock the potential for increased automation in the home through the Internet of Things, Services and People. The company aims to enhance the comfort, efficiency and safety of people’s homes through the application of intelligent solutions.

Landis+Gyr E450 smart meters have been certified according to the reference specification ITU G.9903 (02-2014). This is the first time that electricity meters have been certified for the G3 Alliance certification in Europe. The certification tests were run by a third-party testing laboratory: The Laboratoire des Applications Numériques, located in France, which has been nominated by the G3 PLC Alliance to run the tests as well as the certification programs for G3 PLC technologies.

The G3-PLC Certification Program covers conformance, performance and interoperability testing. Products awarded with the G3-PLC Certificate have documented PLC performance, conform to the G3-PLC specifications and are interoperable with other G3-PLC certified devices. Certification of E450 smart electricity meter covers chipsets and the Metering CENELEC A profile.

“We are proud to be the first smart meter solution vendor in EMEA to validate our G3 PLC technology according to a worldwide standard,” says Franz Buholzer, Product Manager at Landis+Gyr, “This certification is a significant milestone in the development of interoperable, high-performing energy management solutions for the future. It is essential also from the technical development perspective that the market players can prove the correct implementation of the G3-PLC specifications and thus support the interoperability of the solutions.”

G3 is an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) based technology, which is a modulation format used for many of the latest wireless and telecommunications standards. It enables fast and cost-efficient data transfer over existing power lines: Very high volumes of data can be communicated over electricity networks using G3 and by doing so, opportunity for future smart grid applications are created. Crucially, as power line communication enables energy data to be transferred over existing electricity networks, the operation and installation costs are extremely low.

“Our SCADA/DMS systems are being successfully used by numerous energy suppliers and grid operators in India, where – among others – our systems reduce the downtimes in the event of blackouts in the grid. With the new orders from northern India, we are strengthening and expanding our position as a leading supplier of grid automation technology worldwide,” said Jan Mrosik, CEO of the Siemens Energy Management Division.

SCADA systems are used to operate and observe, control and monitor energy grids while the associated Distribution Management System (DMS) optimizes the management of the distribution grid. The Spectrum Power SCADA/DMS system allows grid operators to monitor the network management and the flow of energy. Thanks to its web-based architecture, the system can also be monitored remotely. The modernization of the distribution grids of the three Indian cities will enable real-time monitoring and control of the grids, minimization of power losses, load management, load shedding, and efficient handling of disruptions in the grid and its restoration.

For the State Electricity Distribution Company, Mumbai, the power supplier for the Indian state of Maharashtra, Siemens is equipping the power distribution grids of eight cities with turnkey monitoring and control systems (SCADA/DMS). This contract was also awarded as part of the Indian government’s energy development program. In Maharashtra, the SCADA/DMS systems being implemented by Siemens will improve the availability of the grids and increase the reliability of power supply.

The offshore converter station is part of the DolWin2 project which will be operated by transmission system operator TenneT and will connect offshore wind farms in the North Sea’s DolWin cluster, currently the largest offshore wind farm cluster worldwide, with the German grid. The main function of the station will be to convert the electricity generated by the offshore wind farms from alternating current (AC) into high-voltage direct current (HVDC) for efficient and reliable transmission to the mainland.

“After the successful handover of the DolWin1 link in July, this is another key milestone in the execution of our offshore wind projects,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. “It is a further example of our focus on relentless execution and of the ongoing progress in the Power Systems division’s Step Change program.”

DolWin2 is part of Germany’s energy transition roadmap, called “Energiewende”, which foresees the generation of more than 6.5 gigawatts (GW) from offshore wind by 2020 and 15 GW by 2030. The DolWin1 grid connection, which ABB commissioned and handed over to transmission system operator TenneT at the end of July 2015, also contributes to this goal.

The complete platform including substructure weighs around 23,000 tons and is around 100 meters long, 70 meters wide and 100 meters tall. It was transported last year from Dubai, where it was built, to Aibel’s shipyard in Norway. Here, the platform was outfitted and one week ago sailed away to arrive after a short transportation phase of four days at its final destination in the DolWin cluster, 45 kilometers off the German coast. DolWin beta utilizes an innovative self-installing gravity-based structure (GBS) concept, whereby the platform is slowly ballasted down to the seabed by filling the six columns with water, which will in the coming weeks be completely replaced by gravel to permanently secure the platform.

“Putting such a huge platform in place is one of the most delicate operations in the delivery of an offshore power link, requiring intensive pre-planning and cooperation between the stakeholders involved and we are pleased that this important project landmark has gone smoothly,” said Claudio Facchin, President, ABB Power Systems division.

ABB was awarded the turnkey responsibility for the design, engineering, supply and installation of the offshore wind connection by TenneT, a leading European transmission system operator. The project scope includes the offshore converter station, the sea and land cable systems, and the onshore converter station.

HVDC is the technology of choice for transmitting large amounts of power, over long distances, efficiently and reliably through overhead, underground and sub-sea links with minimum losses. It is ideally suited for the integration of remotely located renewable energy sources like offshore wind, desert solar or mountain-based hydropower. It is also being increasingly deployed to create cross border interconnections – to strengthen grids and improve the reliability of power supplies. This is a key focus area in ABB’s Next Level strategy.

ABB has been awarded about 100 HVDC projects since it pioneered the technology more than 60 years ago. This represents a total installed capacity of more than 120,000 MW and accounts for around half the global installed base. ABB further developed HVDC in the 1990’s by introducing a voltage sourced converter (VSC) solution named HVDC Light® and leads the way in this technology, having delivered 16 out of 22 VSC HVDC projects in commercial operation around the world.

In intelligent power supply networks – smart grids – the quality of data transmission from digital meters to the power supply company is playing an increasingly important role. To make sure data is smoothly transmitted via lines in the power grid, it must be ensured that this transmission is also possible with equipment and transmission systems from different manufacturers. Siemens has developed the CX1 data transport profile for this purpose, and it is well on its way to becoming the international standard for open, secure, and fault-tolerant data communication via powerline for smart metering in intelligent power supply grids.

Headquartered in London, EnergyQuote JHA provides services including energy procurement, risk management and strategy development, forecasting, energy contract management, portfolio management, carbon emissions reduction and utility bill management to clients in more than 22 European countries.

“Clients are increasingly seeking a single provider of energy procurement and management services that can address the full spectrum of needs – from reducing demand and risk to improving pricing and payment accuracy – across all geographies,” said Mike Salvino, group chief executive, Accenture Operations. “This acquisition will extend Accenture’s industry leading position in the procurement market and enhance our ability to provide comprehensive energy management services, putting us in an even better position to provide innovative business process services that deliver business outcomes to our clients.”

“Since its founding in 1992, EnergyQuote JHA has developed specialized technology and expertise in key areas that complement Accenture’s existing energy procurement and management offerings,” said Jonathan Lydiard-Wilson, CEO, EnergyQuote JHA. “This agreement with Accenture will benefit the clients of both companies, combining our proprietary technology and extensive energy market intelligence with Accenture’s own industry leading procurement capabilities and global reach.”

EnergyQuote JHA’s 279 employees from offices across Europe including the UK and Romania, as well as India, are expected to join Accenture at the completion of the transaction.

Broadly speaking, the three main components of the ESET value chain are hardware, software, and services, which together ensure the intelligence, durability, and profitability of energy storage systems (ESSs). Now that battery prices have responded to cost pressures, the rest of the balance of plant—or the ESET portion of system cost—is under more pressure to deliver more consistent pricing, which is expected to bring more transparency in overall ESS pricing, allowing the industry to scale further. Click to tweet: According to Navigant Research, worldwide ESET revenue is expected to total nearly $75 billion from 2015 to 2024.

“The grid-tied energy storage market is poised to take off, however, pricing remains inconsistent and economies of scale have yet to translate into accessible system costs for the end user,” says Anissa Dehamna, principal research analyst with Navigant Research. “ESSs consist of a core storage technology as well as power conversion systems, software, and controls, and in addition to the hardware and software in an ESS, systems integration expertise is required to deliver a fully intelligent, bankable system to the customer.”

Systems integration services are expected to be the highest value piece of the ESET market, according to the report. Since this segment requires labor, labor prices are expected to buoy this portion of the market, and it is expected systems integration services will become more sophisticated as the market grows and customers become more perceptive, expecting more functionality from ESSs.

The report, Energy Storage Enabling Technologies, analyzes the global market for ESETs across four distinct market segments: utility-scale storage, community storage, residential storage, and commercial storage. The study provides an analysis of the market issues, opportunities, and challenges associated with ESETs. Global market forecasts for power conversion systems, energy storage software and controls, and systems integration services, segmented by technology, application, and region, extend through 2024. The report also examines the key technology trends related to ESETs, as well as the competitive landscape. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.

Hervé Amossé, Alstom Grid Substation Automation Solutions Vice-President, said: “Alstom is offering DONG Energy a state of the art substation automation solution that will help them manage intermittent power flows in a flexible manner. With increasingly interconnected grids and electricity provided from various sources, Alstom’s leading edge substation automation system will help to better, and efficiently, bring the power to shore and into the local grid.”

The UK has potentially the largest offshore wind resource in the world and could contribute 15% of the European Union’s 20% renewable energy target. With a maximum capacity of up to 580MW, Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm could generate enough electricity to power 400,000 UK homes per year. The Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm has a maximum capacity of 660MW and will be located approximately 19km off the Cumbrian coast. Onshore construction has already begun at Burbo Bank Extension, which is rated at 258MW and located 8km off the UK coast in Liverpool Bay.

“We are very pleased to be working with Nemo Link on another landmark HVDC project that will support the integration of the European energy market,” said Tim Dawidowsky, CEO of the Transmission Solutions Business Unit within Siemens Energy Management Division. “Siemens is a world leader in high-voltage direct current transmission and has installed projects using its HVDC Plus technology with a total capacity of 4.6 Gigawatt worldwide.” Nemo Link has been designated as one of the European Commission’s projects of common interest to help create an integrated European Union energy market. It will increase energy security in both countries and support the integration of renewable energy like offshore generated wind power.

Using subsea cables Nemo Link will connect two high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) electricity systems separated by the North Sea. The utilization of HVDC avoids the need to synchronize the two interconnected AC networks. Both converter stations will be using HVDC Plus voltage-sourced converters in a modular multilevel converter arrangement (VSC-MMC) that convert AC to DC and DC back to AC on the other side of the link. In contrast to line-commutated converter technology, the HVDC Plus system works with power transistors that can be also switched off (IGBT), enabling the commutation processes in the power converter to run independently of the grid voltage. The very fast control and protective intervention capabilities of the power converters provides a high level of stability in the transmission system, which primarily serves to reduce grid faults and disturbances in the three-phase AC network. This significantly increases supply reliability for utility companies and power customers.

Siemens HVDC Plus technology allows efficient transportation of electrical power over large distances and in particular for subsea applications with losses of around two percent excluding cable losses. It is also highly controllable and brings operational benefits to both transmission systems. The Nemo Link interconnector will allow power to flow in both directions and will be the third electricity connection between UK and Europe. The 1,000-MW-interconnector BritNed between UK and the Netherlands was also developed by Siemens and went into operation in 2011.

Interconnectors play a crucial role in the European Union’s strategy to achieve a competitive and integrated European energy market. By allowing the UK and Belgium to trade power, the Nemo Link interconnector will increase security and diversify both countries’ electricity supply. To meet international and domestic renewable and climate change targets, the UK and Belgium will generate more power from renewable sources, including offshore wind. By its nature, wind power generation is intermittent and interconnectors provide an effective way to manage these fluctuations in supply and demand.