To address climate change, high renewable penetration in the power grid is essential. But as the world shifts to renewables, their impact on the electric grid’s design and operation grows more profound. With gas engine-powered Jenbacher energy solutions that enhance grid resilience and operations, INNIO Group delivers evolving technologies and services that operators need to navigate today’s challenges and prepare for a sustainable future.
The transition toward an energy system mainly fed by renewable energy sources presents challenges that require dispatchable, decentralized, weather-independent solutions. Engine powered combined heat and power (CHP) plants are excellent complements to intermittent renewables due to their flexibility, reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
To maintain grid stability, plants must provide reliable ancillary services and enhance grid resilience by adding inertia and short circuit power. INNIO Group addresses these needs with its Jenbacher solutions, meeting the technical, operational, and compliance requirements requested by grid operators for their peaking and balancing plants while looking to the future to support the energy transition.
Technical excellence and grid support
With a proven track record of supporting grid stability during critical events, INNIO Group’s Jenbacher technology offers robust fault ride-through capabilities that maintain grid stability during disturbances, while advanced frequency and voltage control functions enhance grid reliability. In addition, multiple-unit configurations help enhance reliability and operational flexibility.
INNIO Group’s Jenbacher solutions offer flexible reactive power management, enabling adaptation to varying grid conditions. And, customizable Jenbacher engine designs address the grid’s demanding frequency and voltage operational ranges as well as reactive power needs.
Operational capabilities
A variety of operational capabilities are needed to participate in the different balancing markets to provide necessary ancillary services. With INNIO Group’s Jenbacher technology, rapid start-up times (as fast as 30 seconds) enable quick response to grid demands. Jenbacher gensets can operate efficiently at partial loads, ramping up or down as demand fluctuates. This flexibility is valuable in balancing supply and demand in real time and necessary when operating a plant with multiple units, as they can be operated to achieve even higher efficiencies.
In addition, INNIO Group’s Jenbacher technologies offer multiple operating modes to support various market participation strategies, such as in day-ahead, intraday, and balancing markets. INNIO Group also can provide various ancillary services, including frequency support, voltage support, and black start capability.
Compliance capabilities
Obtaining grid connection permits requires strict adherence to evolving technical standards and grid codes. INNIO Group applies more than a decade of development experience based on global grid operator connection requirements to help ensure a smoother connection process today while preparing operators for future grid requirements. INNIO Group’s Jenbacher products not only satisfy the necessary technical requirements but also are supported by comprehensive services, including documentation and on-site testing assistance.
Future-ready technology … today
INNIO Group’s Jenbacher solutions are designed with fuel flexibility, including up to 100% hydrogen capability for selected engine types. Today’s engines can be converted to run on hydrogen or hydrogen blends for long-term adaptability, supporting the transition to carbon-neutral operation as hydrogen becomes more available.
Engine power plants are typically multi-unit facilities that can be scaled to any megawatt specifications, making them suitable for projects of all sizes. The multi-unit engine plant concept also allows for exceptional operational flexibility. The plant output (needed setpoint) defines the number of engines in operation, enabling excellent efficiency with operation at or near full load.
In addition, INNIO Group’s innovative digital solutions, such as the myplant platform, drive increased resilience and efficiency through real-time monitoring, energy management, and predictive maintenance. This helps increase uptime and reduce operational costs.
Finally, INNIO Group’s Jenbacher engine power plants often feature a standardized, modular design for quicker construction compared to other types of power plants, enabling faster deployment in response to energy sector demands.
Global expertise for grid stability
As the energy transition accelerates, INNIO Group’s Jenbacher engine technology emerges as an excellent solution for peaking and balancing plants. By meeting technical, operational, and compliance requirements, Jenbacher technology provides power plant operators with a robust platform to support grid operations on the path to net zero while helping to ensure success in both current and future energy markets.
Want to know more? Read the white paper, “Grid Stability: Supporting the Energy Transition with Jenbacher Solutions.”
