An aerial view of the Innovation Park of the High-tech Zone, Liyang City, Jiangsu Province.

 

Workers from Changzhou Electric Power Supply Company supervise the solar panels at the facility. Photo：Courtesy of State Grid Changzhou Electric Power Supply Company

 

An aerial view of the Innovation Park of the High-tech Zone, Liyang City, Jiangsu Province.

A new microgrid system has recently become officially operational in the Innovation Park of the High-tech Zone in Liyang City, Jiangsu Province. The microgrid control platform has been deployed in the newly built energy management center. Undertaken by State Grid Changzhou Electric Power Supply Company, the entire project was realized swiftly, taking only from planning and construction to launch. This microgrid will ensure energy supply within an area of 270,000 square meters and accommodates 19 enterprises.

“The microgrid project features a range of innovative demonstration scenarios, including rooftop photovoltaic, energy storage devices, charging stations, and thermal energy storage systems. Under the control platform’s instructions, the microgrid can provide stable and reliable green, low-carbon energy to enterprises, buildings, and electric vehicles within the park,” explained Chen Chang, a staff member from State Grid Changzhou Electric Power Supply Company.

Building upon various energy use scenarios, the microgrid has integrated a smart control platform system. Unlike traditional behind-the-meter energy storage systems that rely on fixed rules or hands-on experience for simple feedback control, this platform utilizes AI algorithms to forecast photovoltaic output and electricity load accurately. The microgrid can autonomously develop flexible charging and discharging strategies for the energy storage system to enhance energy utilization efficiency and maximize operational benefits. Additionally, through the established energy interconnection network, the platform can interact with the external main power grid, ensuring balanced power generation and consumption.
 
“Thanks to a series of measures, including photovoltaic energy consumption, charging and discharging, enterprises in the park have seen a 23 percent reduction in energy costs and a decrease of over 1,660 tons of carbon dioxide emissions,” said Zhou Cheng, director of New Energy Department of Jiangsu Liyang High-tech Zone Holding Group.