Electrical grids are on the edge of its capacity - It's time to change the attitude towards the electricity use

THE ELECTRIC GRID IS ON THE EDGE OF ITS CAPACITY 

We take it for granted that pressing the switch will turn on the light since we have a reliable and stable electricity supply. 
However, with the growing demand for electricity and increasing consumption, and on the other hand, with the increasing share of renewable energy sources (solar power plants, small hydropower plants, wind power plants), we are causing an imbalance in the electrical system. 

What does the flexibility of the power system mean? 

The flexibility of the power system is its ability to adjust the production and consumption of electricity to ensure reliable operation and reliable energy supply. 

Flexibility on the demand side is crucial for integrating large shares of variable renewable energy sources and coordinating between demand and supply effectively. 

In the past, electricity suppliers and electricity distribution companies focused on regulating demand and supply to meet electricity consumption levels. However, with the increasing share of variable distributed renewable energy sources in the grid, such as solar power plants, small hydropower plants, and wind power plants, additional requirements for flexibility is needed by the power system. Furthermore, the rapid increase in electricity consumption is driven by factors such as the growing number of electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps. 

Moreover, power grids were not built for such large electrical loads and thus grid capacity is limited. Expanding and updating the grid to accommodate higher loads would require a lot of money and time to keep up with the evolving changes and demands. 

How can we contribute to the greater reliability of the electricity supply?

Flexibility on the end user's demand side can be achieved through the energy control and management system – Reduxi. Reduxi selects how, where, and when energy is generated, distributed, consumed, and stored.

Acting as a controller, Reduxi integrates a solar power plant, heat pump, electricity storage, and EV charging station, and based on advanced algorithms, it controls the production and consumption of electricity. Instead of the user, it chooses the cheapest way of using electricity and strives for maximum self-sufficiency. 

Why do I need Reduxi if the solar plant has its own monitoring platform? 

Reduxi is a system for the comprehensive management of production, consumption, and battery storage of a solar power plant and the optimization of its operation. Despite having a platform for monitoring the operation of the solar power plant, it does not provide additional functionalities that are crucial for achieving the best possible energy efficiency. For example, Reduxi limits the current production of the solar power plant based on the facility's current consumption and the restrictions on the export of electricity production to the distribution grid, so that we do not put an additional burden on the overloaded grid. In addition, Reduxi manages excess energy by storing it in battery storage and adjusting the storage, which means better management of excess electricity. Reduxi enables the monitoring of energy consumption in real-time and adjusts energy consumption and excess electricity according to the state of the grid. However, since you can connect Reduxi to all devices (billing meter, solar power plant, heat pump, battery storage, and charging station), you can manage and adapt the devices to each other with one single application. 

How does Reduxi manage battery storage? 

Using battery storage, we can efficiently adapt and store excess electricity generated by the solar power plant, allowing us to use the stored energy during periods of high demand or when production falls short of consumption. By using smart strategies (Dynamic Load and Dynamic Load Balancing) for charging your EV in business premises and public places, it is possible to reduce and balance peak loads, while using the energy produced by the solar plant for charging. 
Reduxi manages production and consumption and chooses the most optimal and economical scenario for you. 

Can Reduxi manage an electric charging station? 

To meet the needs of electric vehicle drivers, the e-vehicles need to be charged before hitting the road. Reduxi adjusts the charging of the EV according to external factors, such as dynamic tariffs so that charging is diverted to periods with lower prices, or it uses stored energy if you have a battery storage. A smart charging method is crucial to ensure that peak loads are kept to a minimum without affecting the comfort of use. 
By using smart charging strategies for charging your EV in business premises and public places, it is possible to reduce and balance peak loads, while using the energy produced by the solar plant for charging. 

What happens when Reduxi manages the heat pump?

Reduxi can also adjust the heat pump’s operation according to the dynamic calculation of electricity prices. In well-insulated buildings, the temperature can be maintained for several hours, allowing the heat pump to be switched off during peak periods and its load to be shifted to off-peak times.  

Does using Reduxi make sense in case we don't have any of the mentioned devices (solar power plant, heat pump, car charger, and battery storage)? 

Dynamic calculation of electricity prices encourages customers to use devices that consume lots of electricity, in an economical way. With Reduxi, this concern is taken care of as it considers price blocks where electricity consumption is economically viable. It smartly selects time when prices are lower, typically during periods of high production and low demand, optimizing energy usage.  

Balanced consumption among customers and avoiding peak loads help to reduce the grid overload and this is why Reduxi as a smart energy management system is the right step towards promoting the smart use of energy from renewable sources as well as use from power systems.