Benefits of Micro-grids for the Cement & Mineral Industries

Using various industrial cases this paper presents the potential effectiveness of the modern microgrid system to provide electricity bill reduction to energy intensive plants, depending on their location. The presented microgrid system is a 2 MWp PV and 2.26 MW/4.2 MWh mixed-technology battery storage, grid connected, which supplies a manufacturing facility and offices. A project being developed in Central America at a Cement grinding plant, with 5 MWp PV, 1 MW/4MWh hybrid flow battery storage, grid connected under the “electricity as a service” (PPA) scheme, How the Global Adjustment (demand charges) scheme of the Ontario grid is being solved with battery storage, even where electricity is cheap. Why technology such as flow batteries is relevant to the specifics of the Cement Industry. The importance of local regulations & legislations and the relationship with the local utilities emphasize the uniqueness of each project and the difficulty implementing them. On-going equipment cost reduction should nevertheless bring more projects on-line in the coming years. Cases studies of various projects applicable to the cement industry including a micro-grid project and flow batteries development will be presented. The objective is electricity bill reduction.