FINAL WORD
Chris Rason , Managing Director – Energy Solutions Europe at Aggreko
Aggreko has been working with customers across Europe on delivering Greener Upgrades . This model allows energy requirements to be satisfied while introducing different technologies to reduce emissions and even save energy by reducing consumption .
A good example of this would be using Battery Energy Storage Systems ( BESS ) in conjunction with a Stage V diesel , gas or HVO generator set . This can help to reduce the amount of fuel consumed and supply a spinning reserve of energy storage , which further reduces spikes of consumption during peak usage periods .
Another popular solution in Europe , particularly in Italy , Spain and the Benelux countries , is using solar power to provide energy storage for peak periods . based on providing power on the unit cost of energy rather than simply the cost of the equipment hire . This allows for greater flexibility in overcoming resilience and uptime issues , especially due to its flexibility to work with and without national grid systems .
PPAs also offer a truly adaptable agreement which can develop as new technologies come to the forefront , such as Battery Energy Storage Systems ( BESS ). This can help bring down costs further , while also still being on the cusp of the latest advances .
But a key reason that PPAs are being considered is the fact they give the guarantee of price certainty for energy during a time when we have seen huge volatility in prices across Europe . They also offer significant
Recent figures have suggested that data centres across the continent are estimated to consume 2 % to 3 % of all energy used in the EU .
This helps accelerate decarbonisation while reducing the first steep cost of moving over , which could involve downtime .
Planning for long-term solutions
Many operators across Europe are also seeing success with Power Purchase Agreements ( PPAs ). Differing to traditional short-term contracts , these are sustainability benefits , such as the adoption of solar as part of PPAs or other renewable sources .
Maintaining uptime and resilience
With energy-intensive industries now under huge pressure to reduce their usage and increase their sustainability methods , there ’ s never been a more important time to consider the use of short-term and long-term sustainability options . With financial constraints , among other things , slowing down the transition to new technologies , temporary solutions offer a middle ground where operators can be flexible in their approach without accumulating huge costs .
Getting the right solution is key , which is why working with an energy solutions partner , large energy users from across Europe can accelerate their transition with minimal disruption to operations . p
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