Oldham’s Northern Roots site is set to be a blueprint for carbon-negative ‘microgrids.’
Microgrids are local electrical grids that can operate independently of the wider grid, often supplying locations such as university campuses or hospitals with electricity.
The site is one of thousands in the UK with the potential to become a carbon-negative microgrid, by supplying more electricity to the wider national grid than the site uses.
Company ABB is delivering the electrical distribution and control systems for a 300kW future microgrid that Tetra Tech, an engineering and management consultancy, is deploying for Oldham Council.
The company says the system provides similar electrical control as an industrial-scale system but at a fraction of the cost.
It adds the project is a blueprint for small-scale microgrids, with the potential for deployment at thousands of commercial and industrial sites around the UK.
The future Northern Roots eco-park is set to become carbon negative – offsetting more carbon emissions than it causes to be emitted itself – by completely covering its own electrical and heat requirements, as well as supplying excess power to the national grid.
The grid will use smart circuit breakers, which have the capability to control power generation, distribution, and consumption, as well as provide advanced features such as power management, metering and communication.
The company says the first phase of the project will be completed by spring 2023 and will integrate solar panels, a 500 kilovolt-amp grid connection, electric vehicle charging points and electricity demand from an office building, as well as heating from an air source heat pump – an efficient heating method which uses similar technology to air conditioning or fridges, but in reverse.
Capacity has been set aside for the project’s Phase 2 (subject to funding), which will enable the depot to produce more energy than it uses by integrating a battery energy storage system, as well as combined heat and power units fed by hydrogen gas from biomass gasification units.
Lindsay Moody, director of engineering at Tetra Tech said: “We’ve worked closely with ABB to develop an innovative electrical system that anticipates potential future developments that are proposed for Part 8 of the IET Wiring Regulations.
“The result is a sophisticated control system that provides a similar level of control to an industrial control system but at a fraction of the cost. It has huge potential to help operators of small-scale commercial and industrial sites make the most of renewable energy and reduce their own carbon emissions.”
While the project was initially conceived as an island microgrid – which is completely independent from the wider grid – the project scope changed due to the reallocation of funding during the pandemic.
David Lowen, ABB’s lead business manager in the UK for electrification said: “The beauty of our circuit breakers is that they come with additional features built in, such as accurate metering, as well as digital communication and algorithms for smart decision making.
“Not only does that save space and reduce installation time, but it gives them the flexibility to control low-voltage distribution, as well as more sophisticated roles such as power management, load shedding and generator control when clients require these.
“That creates exciting opportunities for a site like this in Greater Manchester.”
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