A lucid cooperation

Noodvermogen is a control power product in the Dutch energy system similar to tertiary reserve power elsewhere. To provide Noodvermogen, Next Kraftwerke steers the CHPs but also the lamps installed in the greenhouses. Depending on the need for lighting in the greenhouses, the lamps and the CHP’s are either running or not running. When they are running, the lamps can be switched off to provide upward power, and the CHP’s can be switched off to provide downward power. When they are not running, they are both available to be switched on to make sure a stable and secure volume of Noodvermogen can be provided when there is a necessity in the grid.

Benjamin Blank, system engineer at Next Kraftwerke: “Our client AgroEnergy communicates to us in real time which lights are available for providing Noodvermogen. Via a link to the control system of Tenergy, the Next Kraftwerke Control System automatically detects the flexibility out of the lights and reacts in case of a Noodvermogen activation to stabilize the grid. Due to the fully automated system, there is no human intervention required”.

Noodvermogen is one of three types of control reserve and is activated rather rarely. As it is not often called and if it is called only for a few quarters of an hour, the growth of the produce is not harmed. Benjamin Blank: “Additionally, the CHP units provide control reserve by increasing or decreasing energy generation when needed. This case beautifully shows how energy production and consumption on just one site can contribute to more stability in the energy system.”