Hitachi ABB Power Grids to supply smart controls to SG's first virtual power plant

The e-mesh PowerStore battery energy storage system will offer grid stability.

Switzerland-headquartered Hitachi ABB Power Grids will supply smart controls and battery energy storage to Singapore’s first virtual power plant (VPP) project.

Launched in 2019, the VPP was developed by the Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and was funded jointly by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and Sembcorp.

Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ e-mesh PowerStore battery energy storage system will provide grid stability to the VPP infrastructure by balancing intermittent generation with smart and dynamic loads, according to the firm.

Eventually, the VPP will allow electricity produced by solar and other green sources to be integrated intelligently, simulating a utility scale power system.

“To meet the carbon emission standards of the future, Singapore will have to tap on all renewable energy sources, relying on artificial intelligence and smart solutions to better coordinate and manage all its energy sources efficiently,” Lam Khin Yong, NTU’s senior vice-president (research) professor, said. “The VPP is a key project that will allow efficient modelling and innovative features of these emerging technologies to be validated.”