Page 165 - CW E-Magazine (29-4-2025)

Special Report Special Report

Microgrids: Strategic to securing India’s energy supports decision-making regarding, advanced digital technologies, operators renewable energy in their systems,
for example whether to use extra electric can optimise energy fl ows in real-time. microgrids collect data and can provide
future capacity to recharge storage systems or This ensures that the right amount of audits of utilisation of low or zero car-
to sell back to the power market. This power is generated, stored, and distri-
bon electricity, that can be monetised
ccording to the International Energy security with microgrids RON BECK is critical for business continuity and buted where needed, further enhancing in carbon markets and can establish
Energy Agency (IEA), India Microgrids, a form of decentralised Senior Solutions Marketing Director operational excellence. Industrial facili- operational resilience. compliance with emissions rules.
Afaces accelerated increase in energy systems capable of operating Aspen Technology Inc. ties, chemical plants and data centres Renewable energy sources, such as
energy demand, as the country urbanises independently from or connected with Email: ron.beck@aspentech.com can face signifi cant fi nancial losses if For critical infrastructure – such solar and wind, can be integrated with
with a developing manufacturing sec- the main grid, represent a transformative power outages disrupt their operations, as hospitals, airports, or emergency energy storage systems to minimise the
tor. Through the creation of one national solution to help meet the growing need grids continue, electric utilities are frequently over one million dollars response centres – having a reliable, intermittency of the renewable sources
power system and major investments for energy security. Microgrids provide challenged to increase capacity at the per incident. In the case of energy– localised energy supply is paramount. being used.
in clean energy, India is now working a management system that comple- rate that is now required, due to struc- intensive critical units in industries like In the event of a disaster, microgrids can
on integrating more renewable energy ments the local grid while managing tural and regulatory constraints. manufacturing or refi ning, even a brief maintain power for essential services AI-powered systems can predict
into the energy mix and increasing grid and optimising your onsite power pro- loss of power can result in the risk of and provide advanced warning to man- energy load and available renewable
reliability while sustaining growth. duction, battery storage, and industrial By optimising the use of energy damaging systems and reactor units, as age events in an orderly fashion. They generation to perform load balancing
Alongside increasing industrial and power load. Besides providing incre- from local sources, which can include well as causing unplanned discharge of can also prioritise available supply and adjust supply in real-time, ensuring
building energy effi ciency, the country mental resilience and fl exibility to the renewable energy like solar, wind or air and water pollutants. By incorporating in the face of unexpected disruptions, that renewable power and grid storage
is also prioritising universal access to regional power utility, microgrids can hydrogen-based power, alongside energy microgrids, these industries gain an making them a crucial asset in the transi- is used as effi ciently as possible. For in-
affordable electricity and clean cooking. island (or disconnect) from the regional storage technologies, microgrids can additional layer of protection against tion to a more decentralised and resilient stance, during periods of low demand,
grid when the grid suffers an outage – provide a reliable supply of electricity grid disruptions. energy future. the system can reduce generation from
Data centres are a new vector of ensuring business continuity and optimi- without sole dependency on regional traditional sources or store excess
power demand growth in India. Entre- sation of energy use and provision for power networks. The ability to rapidly A sustainable approach via digital Microgrids are also playing a pivo- energy in batteries. During peak demand,
preneur India indicates data centres will the business. Thus, microgrids offer disconnect from the regional grid solutions tal role in accelerating the shift toward it can draw on stored energy or ramp up
double in capacity (and power demand) industries, communities, and critical during outages or emergencies allows Microgrids provide greater con- cleaner energy sources. By rigorously local generation from renewable sources,
in India between today and 2027, and infrastructure the ability to maintain microgrids to ensure uninterrupted power trol over energy resources. Through monitoring production and use of like solar or wind, ensuring that the
Blackrock has just announced $80-bn power, even when external grids falter. for their critical uses. When employed microgrid operates effi ciently without
investment in Indian data centres. This The risk of business interruption is in concert with the regional grid, over-producing or under-producing
will quickly become a huge driver of diminished, and the economic benefi ts microgrids are a buffer which helps power. All of this can be optimised
power demand growth in India; and are signifi cant. increase overall electric grid resiliency. based on variable cost and variable car-
will make grid reliability goals harder bon impact of different power sources
to attain. Historically, centralised, unidirec- Advanced microgrids utilise Arti- at a given time.
tional grids have been the backbone fi cial Intelligence (AI) to forecast pro-
Distributed energy management of energy distribution, but they face duction of renewable (and conven- At the same time, Internet of Things
and microgrids are an important path- mounting pressures due to aging infra- tional) power and forecast the asset’s (IoT) devices and sensors help opera-
way towards securing India’s energy structure, more frequent natural disas- demand, enabling proactive manage- tors monitor energy fl ows and storage
future. The quest for microgrids for ters, increasing energy demand, and ment of power utilisation and supply levels, enabling smart energy manage-
industry and infrastructure continues the dynamic nature of distributed re- to maximise economics and avoid un- ment by providing real-time data on
to gain momentum, for industrial and newable generation and storage. While expected outages. Also, the situational various aspects of the system, such as
critical asset energy security. investments to modernise and expand awareness that microgrids provide energy generation, consumption and
storage levels. These devices collect
and transmit data on critical parameters
like voltage, current temperature, and
battery charge. By continuously moni-
toring these variables, they give opera-
tors detailed insights into how energy
is fl owing throughout the microgrid and
manage events more effectively.

With the entire asset-wide system
connected and digitalised, the asset’s
power infrastructure can be managed

164 Chemical Weekly April 29, 2025 Chemical Weekly April 29, 2025 165

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