Energy storage solutions and software company Greensmith Energy has installed its software platform at an existing energy storage site of giant US utility American Electric Power (AEP).
The GEMS software, would allow the 2MW/14MWh sodium sulphur battery storage system to pass the strict qualification criteria for the PJM frequency regulation market. The software would also improve system reliability and safety.
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Software use with energy storage systems has become increasingly important because it can optimise system control and operations over time to capture maximum value. Software also helps with two of the major barriers to storage sector progress, namely high upfront costs and a lack of customer education and familiarity with the technology.
Ram Sastry, AEP’s vice president, infrastructure and business continuity, said: “The addition of Greensmith’s software platform and their system expertise have allowed us to expand the use of this energy storage system into a revenue generating asset through the PJM frequency regulation market.”
The battery had previously been used as a backup system for AEP’s distribution network in the region.
GEMS software has been deployed with more than 200MW of energy storage systems to date using batteries from 16 battery manufacturers and 14 power conditioning system vendors.
AEP made a strategic US$5 million investment in Greensmith in August 2015.
Greensmith is also supplying its GEMS software to two Texas projects in partnerhsip with international investor-owned energy supplier E.ON.