Furo and Luox Energy launch pilot for 15-minute optimization of commercial batteries

Furo and Luox Energy will offer a combined solution for market access and optimization of commercial and industrial battery energy storage systems (BESS).

The companies said they are combining Furo’s platform for battery planning, optimization and control with Luox’s time-variable electricity products. These include Luox’s “Dynamisch RLM” and “Direktvermarktung” tariffs.

The aim is to optimize battery operation in every 15-minute interval. Commercial and industrial battery storage systems can perform different functions, including peak shaving, increasing self-consumption, shifting electricity consumption and feed-in, or providing marketable flexibility. The most appropriate operating strategy depends on the individual site, load profile, generation assets and battery configuration. The companies also need to determine which application should take priority.

Furo’s platform covers the entire battery storage lifecycle, from system design through to forecast-based operation. For the latter, Furo forecasts peak loads, generation and electricity prices and operates the battery accordingly, either through its own energy management system or on top of an existing energy management system.

Luox Energy will provide market access under the cooperation. “LUOX Dynamisch RLM” links electricity procurement for commercial and industrial customers to 15-minute wholesale electricity prices, the companies said. This allows periods of low electricity prices to be used for battery charging. The “LUOX Direktvermarktung” tariff covers electricity fed into the grid. Electricity fed into the grid is also marketed based on 15-minute wholesale prices.

For suitable systems, this means that electricity procurement, as well as the marketing and timing of electricity feed-in, can be incorporated into the economic assessment. Furo’s optimization determines when electricity is fed into the grid based on forecasts for prices, generation and load.

The cooperation will begin with selected pilot projects. The companies will test how the battery systems operate under Furo’s optimization in real-world conditions. They will assess how operating schedules can be adapted to the 15-minute prices of Luox’s products, including how peak shaving, self-consumption and market optimization can be balanced in day-to-day operation and what revenue the marketing of available capacity can generate.

The companies said the findings will be incorporated into the development of additional battery storage projects. They also plan to launch joint sales, communications and information initiatives.

Christian Chudoba, managing director of Lumenaza, said commercial battery storage should be planned and operated by considering on-site energy management, grid electricity procurement and electricity feed-in together. He said the partnership with Furo would allow operators to factor market access into project planning from an early stage and improve the economics of solar-plus-storage systems.

From pv magazine Deutschland