Building A Virtual Power Plant With KiWi Power

Riello UPS’s advanced uninterruptible power supply technology plays pivotal role in pioneering project that uses battery storage to create a ‘virtual power plant’.

A key player in the UK energy market since 2009, Kiwi Power is the country’s leading demand side response (DSR) aggregator. The firm passionately promotes green technologies and champions the commercial opportunities offered by energy efficiency.

When it was planning to create a virtual power plant to support its 40-strong London office, our reliable, efficient UPS units were a natural choice to team up with GS Yuasa’s lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology.

The pioneering project, backed by the government-funded Innovate UK and assisted by energy storage consultant Swanbarton Ltd, reaps the rewards of DSR.

Instead of relying on mains supply, the plant runs on power stored in the Li-ion batteries installed in the 20kVA Multi Sentry UPS installed on site.

How Does DSR Work In A UPS System?

It aims to showcase how UPS battery storage can help reduce pressure on the National Grid. There’s already more than 4 GW of power stored in UPS units. Fully-harnessing this potential could relieve demands on the power grid and tackle the nation’s impending future energy crisis.

“This is the first time our batteries have been used in a demand response scenario in the UK, so it was essential that we partnered with a UPS manufacturer of unquestionable quality, to guarantee the success of the project.”

“A Riello 20kVA Multi Sentry UPS was selected for KiWi’s system, as it supports power ranging from 5-12kW and has the capability to work with our deep cycling batteries.”

– Peter Stevenson, Senior Technical Coordinator, GS Yuasa

riello ups multi sentry range of uninterruptible power supplies
ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL: Our versatile range of Multi Sentry UPS

Several special commands were programmed into the Multi Sentry’s software to deliver the virtual power plant, including:

  • Discharge’ mode: where the office load is removed from the mains supply and supported by the battery
  • Hold’ mode: where the office load is supplied from the mains with the battery remaining in a static state of charge
  • Charge’ mode: where the office load is supplied from mains while the battery is recharged at a programmable rate

If there are any issues with the mains supply, the system switches to normal UPS mode immediately to support the office load.

“As a business focused on evolving the energy landscape, we need to be leading the way when it comes to our own demand response mechanisms.

Riello UPS, GS Yuasa and Swanbarton have enabled us to reap multiple benefits from battery storage technology and to set an example to other businesses.”

– Mircea Bucur, KiWi Power

Find out the full story about how we helped create a virtual power plant for Kiwi Power. (Click here to read the full case study.)