Aspen Technology launches management system for microgrids

Aspen Technology has announced the AspenTech Microgrid Management System (MMS), a solution for organisations with heavy electrical power requirements in refining, chemicals, mining and other asset-intensive industries that manage their own onsite conventional and renewable power generation.

The capabilities delivered by AspenTech MMS are designed for high-energy consumers. The power grid is at a critical juncture with increasing energy demand, ageing and at-capacity grid infrastructure, more severe weather events and increasing cybersecurity threats challenging its reliability and stability. As a result, industrial and commercial energy consumers are increasingly at risk for extended power outages, limitations in power consumption, and inability to meet renewable energy goals, all of which have cascading production and business impact, including delayed restarts, environmental penalties, reduced supply and increased end user costs.

“AspenTech’s new microgrid solution reduces energy vulnerability and business risk by bringing innovation to asset-intensive industries based on decades of electric utility control and automation experience gained at more than 400 global utilities,” said Sally Jacquemin, Vice President of Power and Utilities at AspenTech. “AspenTech Microgrid Management System brings functionality and flexibility to the power challenge, helping heavy energy users achieve both operational and net-zero objectives.”

A part of AspenTech’s Digital Grid Management suite, AspenTech MMS is designed to provide enhanced power reliability with active, real-time management of power generation resources, including renewable energy and storage, improved situational awareness to maximise return on investment, and enhanced cybersecurity to protect all critical loads.

The solution also features an industrial AI approach capable of forecasting power consumption and renewable generation up to 35 days in the future, enabling scheduling and optimisation algorithms to maximise the use of generation resources while minimising emissions and electricity costs, according to the company.

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