EpiSensor tapped as tech integrator for Enel X virtual power plant in Taiwan

Irish IoT infrastructure company EpiSensor has been selected as a tech partner for the Taiwanese virtual power plant (VPP) run by Enel X with 2,500 of Gogoro’s battery-swapping stations.

The VPP, which Enel X announced last year as the first of its kind, utilises Gogoro’s smart batteries and battery swapping stations distributed across Taiwan into Enel X’s VPP to provide capacity similar to the power used by tens of thousands of households.

As a technology partner, EpiSensor ensures the participation of Gogoro’s battery-swapping ecosystem into the X’s VPP.

Commenting in a release was Brendan Carroll, CEO of EpiSensor: “We are thrilled to be a key technology partner in this pioneering project that is redefining the future of smart energy infrastructure.

“Our IoT solutions have supported the participation of Gogoro’s battery-swapping technology into Enel X’s virtual power plant in Taiwan, proving the transformative potential of our technology. This world-first initiative not only enhances grid stability and efficiency but also creates new revenue streams and paves the way for a more sustainable energy future.”

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According to EpiSensor, their tech replaces traditional ‘peaker’ power plants and their associated emissions. Sensors are placed on thousands of remote sites to monitor power consumption and react to frequency oscillations on the grid within a fraction of a second.

For the VPP project, accurate data from EpiSensor tech will be delivered to an Enel X-owned IoT platform for aggregation and analysis, and in turn, be made available to Taiwan’s transmission system operator in real time.

The project was announced by the Enel Group’s demand response company back in April 2023, claiming it as the first commercial deployment of the technology worldwide.

The VPP project followed the completion of a successful pilot programme in 2022, demonstrating that the Gogoro Network could safely pause charging if there was a grid imbalance or provide energy back to the grid as demand required.

Said Rosey Luo, head of Engineering for Enel X Taiwan: “EpiSensor’s technology has been instrumental to the success of this project. In particular, the ability to push over-the-air firmware updates to remote sites reliably has enabled us to move quickly and adapt to changing requirements.

“This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a sustainable energy future, enhancing grid stability and supporting the integration of renewable energy resources.”