backup power

Crestchic has formed a partnership with Technical Solutions to supply loadbanks to the growing Russian market.

Technical Solutions will exclusively supply Crestchic AC Resistive and Reactive (inductive) loadbanks, as well as DC and MV loadbanks, containerised transformers and associated control equipment, systems and software. Paul Brickman, sales and marketing manager at Crestchic, explained: “We worked with the team on various pilot projects last year that were extremely successful – around a dozen machines have been ordered in the last six months, which is phenomenal.

“As the Russian market continues to expand in the oil and gas, shipbuilding and power generation sectors, and particularly as we see the growth of data centres, it is crucial that we meet demand via a local point of contact. Formalising our relationship means that we can offer viable solutions delivered through a permanent local team to our existing and potential customers in Russia.” 

Alexander Rodikov, general director at Technical Solutions, added: “We have seen a marked increase in demand for loadbanks in the Russian market since starting work with Crestchic in late 2011. Being named as an official partner in Russia will give us the freedom to capitalise on what is a very exciting period of growth in the market.”

UK demand response provider Flexitricity has been awarded participation within a framework agreement that will benefit public sector organisations who wish to generate new revenue from existing electricity generating or consuming equipment.

Public sector organisations, who work within the parameters of this new Framework Agreement, can now gain access to benchmarked pre-authorised demand-side response services; this will provide them the capabilities to either curtail their consumption of electricity or utilise their on-site generation capabilities in response to the demands of national and local grid systems.

National Grid and the distribution network operators (DNOs) remunerate Flexitricity to hold reserve. In addition, further payments are made when this reserve is accessed.

Flexitricity shares these payments with participating energy partners which can reach £100,000 ($157,000) per annum on a medium-sized site.

Japanese battery manufacturer Panasonic has entered into a global strategic alliance with US solar PV inverter manufacturer Power-One to develop, produce and market energy storage systems for residential and non-residential markets. 

Panasonic is promoting energy management for business that combines high-efficiency solar panels, power inverters and power-storage systems in the domestic housing market. Last year, it announced it will commence mass-producing a compact long-life lithium-ion battery system for home solar power applications.

Initially, the partnership will focus on the residential, commercial and utility-scale, grid-connected, energy storage systems business in Europe and the US. The partnership will also cover the development and marketing of energy storage systems for the Japanese non-residential segment and partner on the large-scale commercial and utility PV inverter business in Japan.

Under its mid-term business plan, Panasonic is aiming for annual sales of at least Y100 billion ($1.1 billion) for stationary power storage systems by 2018.

Cummins Power Generation has launched four new mobile generator sets specifically designed for rental applications.

The launch represents the first new offering to the European local hire market since Cummins redressed its rental vision, products and services for fleet owners. Available in 150, 200, 250 and 300 kVA configurations, the generator sets have been designed by Cummins’ new team of specialist rental engineers.

In a statement, Cummins said the new range’s features include an integrated structural shell with zinc core canopy for corrosion protection; integral lifting frame and fork lift pockets; flexible power receptacles with 125 A, 63 A, 32 A and 16 A options; 4-pole main circuit breaker; controller offering paralleling capability with genset-to-genset and genset-to-utility connections; heavy-duty air and fuel filters.

Cummins adds the electronic engine meets EU Stage IIIA emission standards and has a 24-hour fuel tank (at 75% prime power load).

KiWi Power is to provide full-service demand response programmes to UK government agencies through Government Procurement Service (GPS).

Under the terms of the agreement, KiWi Power will provide demand response services to participating central government and public sector facilities, including NHS trusts and hospitals, Ministry of Defence, Department for Transport, universities and local councils across the UK for the next four years.

The various government organisations that use this framework agreement will have, or seek to have, the ability to curtail/shift consumption of electricity or utilise on-site electricity generation capabilities. In so doing they will be able to provide a demand side resource to the local or national grid.

KiWi Power will conduce initial analysis and turndown assessment, smart meter installation, programme management, on-going performance testing and energy optimisation. KiWi Power will manage the full process on behalf of participating sites, including enrollment, reporting and settlement. Sites will receive payment for participation, and will not incur any out-of-pocket expenses.

“As energy costs climb for everyone, not only will demand response programmes help curtail electricity usage, these programmes do it in a way that does not interfere with the critical infrastructure of our nation's government sites and help maintain budgets for doing the real work of supporting the UK,” said Scott Buckleton, head of business development at GPS.