Innovus wins in Major Independent Microgrid study: Provides lowest LCOE and highest reductions in diesel and emissions

In it’s 2017 study of the use of Variable Speed Generators (VSG) in 6 communities in Canada’s North, the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) concluded that “projects deploying Innovus’ VSG with PowerBridge should be pursued”.

The WISE study shows that Innovus Power technology provides the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and highest reductions in diesel and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) when paired with high penetration renewables.

The Innovus results show a 20 year fuel savings of $250.6 million or 61.6%, and a reduction of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from 35.2%- 89.0% across the 6 sites.

The WISE study is a follow-up to the two recent WWF reports, Renewable Energy Deployment In Canadian Arctic Phase I and Renewable Energy Deployment In Canadian Arctic Phase II. A review of these reports will provide the background and reference data used in the WISE report Feasibility Studies of Variable Speed Generators for Canadian Arctic Communities. These reports can be found at the bottom of the article.

In comparison to the optimal results found in the WWF Phase II study, the Innovus solution increased fuel savings by $67.4 million or 36.8% and reduced GHG emissions up to an additional 30.3%. Also, Innovus’ LCOE showed a reduction between 5% to 22% across the 6 sites.

Claudio Cañizares Professor, Ph. D., P. Eng., FIEEE of WISE institute says, “I strongly believe that Innovus technologies should be seriously considered for deployment in northern communities, since these would facilitate the reliable greening up of existing diesel-based electrical grids at significant savings with respect to other current options.”

Innovus’ technology unlocks engine efficiencies by running at variable speed, and its converter based generation replaces the need for batteries to provide grid stabilization while enabling sustainable low load generator operation with a high penetration of renewables.

In the study, battery storage was not found to provide the optimal economic solution, but Innovus’ converter platform provides a low-cost integrated solution for batteries and storage as costs decline and time shifting makes economic sense.

Download the full Innovus WISE report: 

Feasibility Studies of Variable Speed Generators for Canadian Arctic Communities.

WWF Phase I report:Renewable Energy Deployment In Canadian Arctic Phase I

WWF Phase II report:Renewable Energy Deployment In Canadian Arctic Phase II.