Sustainability, resiliency and efficiency with microgrids

As organisations and communities all around the world look to address the challenges of a changing energy landscape, while achieving dependable energy, they are looking to microgrids as an efficient and powerful solution.

The benefits of microgrids are vast. By serving as a decentralised energy system, where you are independent of the public network, microgrids can at the same time generate additional revenue by feeding any excess energy back to the grid.

One such organisation reaping the rewards is Lempäälän Energia, a producer of district heating and electricity in the Lempäälä area of Finland.

Against a backdrop of increasing energy costs, high demand for thermal power and fluctuating load profile, Lempäälän Energia created the LEMENE project to build a microgrid for a key business district. The LEMENE project set out to provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly energy system, while guaranteeing a secure electricity supply.

To meet this challenge, Lempäälän Energia introduced Microgrid Control – a SICAM application, with software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio. The result was the creation of a self-sufficient energy community through renewables integration and automation.

Optimisation of energy production

Microgrid Control has enabled the utilisation of the most efficient energy mix, which has maximised profit for Lempäälän Energia. By harnessing features such as energy import/export control, peak shaving with demand charge reduction, and thermal control, Lempäälän Energia can leverage the renewable assets on site.

This ensures that it can meet its energy self-sufficiency goals by reducing energy costs and minimizing the run-time of gas boilers, thus eliminating CO2 emissions.

Resiliency and energy independence

Lempäälän Energia now benefits from enhanced functionalities such as island operation, alarming, blackout detection and black start. All of which have strengthened both grid resiliency and energy independence.

If, for example, there were to be a blackout or other type of disruption, a quick restoration of the grid is performed, guaranteeing the energy supply.

Market participation for energy and ancillary services

Through intuitive interfaces, Lempäälän Energia now receives a constant flow of information not only from all on-site assets, but also weather forecast data and live electricity prices.

This insight enables the participation in energy and ancillary markets and unlocks a new stream of revenue, as the surplus energy is sold back to the national transmission grid.

Empower your industrial parks with microgrids

Microgrids put you in control, offering a sustainable approach to energy that goes way beyond the use of renewable sources. Unlock the potential of your industrial park with this perfect fit for both retrofit and greenfield applications.

Read more about Microgrids for Sustainability

About Siemens Smart Infrastructure (SI)
Siemens Smart Infrastructure (SI) is shaping the market for intelligent, adaptive infrastructure for today and the future. SI provides customers with a comprehensive end-to-end portfolio from a single source – with products, systems, solutions and services from the point of power generation all the way to consumption. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, the business has approximately 72,700 employees worldwide.