Open Energi has launched a new software platform, which will allow businesses aggregate assets with flexible demand in order to maximise energy savings.
The Dynamic Demand 2.0 platform will connect, aggregate and optimise distributed energy assets, including industrial equipment, battery storage systems, electric vehicles (EVs) and on-site generation, to help businesses reduce their energy costs.
The software enables businesses to “stack” demand flexibility value streams and determines which assets to use and when to maximise savings without impacting performance. These value streams include balancing services, energy trading, the capacity market, peak price management, constraint management and operational energy efficiencies.
The platform uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to manage assets at an individual and portfolio level and continuously improve performance. Open Energi said the ability to intelligently manage demand flexibility and coordinate the actions of many assets in real-time will ensure businesses do not miss revenue and savings opportunities by operating assets in isolation.
David Hill, commercial director at Open Energi explained: “It is now possible to measure and monitor machine behaviour at such a granular level that we can identify invisible flexibility in the way we consume power. Many industrial processes – such as pumping, heating and cooling – have inherent energy storage, and when you combine these with on-site generation, battery storage and EV charging it is possible to take sites off-grid for periods of the day with no impact on business operations.”
He continued: “Dynamic Demand 2.0 puts within reach a 100% renewable energy system, balanced by real-time demand flexibility, where the cost of that input is data alone. You begin to see a future which has a very low cost of operation and a future in which consumers are in control of how they use energy.”
Aggregate Industries expects to be the first of Open Energi’s existing customers to connect to the platform. It is working with Open Energi and its electricity supplier, Ørsted, to ‘stack’ revenue streams from different demand side response services in real-time. At the same time, the platform will optimise consumption to avoid peak price periods and improve operational efficiency, without affecting operations.
Donna Hunt, head of sustainability at Aggregate Industries said: “Aggregate Industries has pioneered the use of Open Energi’s technology since we first started working together in 2012. But we know we have only scratched the surface in terms of the value that demand flexibility can offer both our business and wider society.”
Michael Bironneau, technical director at Open Energi commented: “Dynamic Demand 2.0 applies the same techniques that have let machines defeat chess and Go masters to orchestrate demand flexibility in real-time. The platform can respond to the changing needs of consumers and provide technology developers and equipment manufacturers with the tools they need to accelerate demand-side innovation. Moving from a world of retrofitting hardware to connecting equipment with inbuilt demand management capabilities will help make it economical for SMEs and households to participate and share in the benefits.”
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