Electrons on Demand
Prudent's VRB-ESS® promotes fuel diversity in power generation. We help utilities integrate renewable energy with traditional sources to provide consumers with cleaner, more affordable energy.
Electricity is created by converting a fuel – or other source of energy – into electrons. Primary sources of electricity come from technologies using coal, nuclear, hydro power, natural gas and fuel oil. But a fast-growing share of the global power generation portfolio comes from renewable sources of energy – solar, wind, landfill methane gas, and geothermal power.
Even though renewable resources lessen our dependence on finite fossil fuels while reducing harmful power plant emissions, they create challenges for the electricity industry. Most renewable generation technologies fail to make power supplies available or predictable 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so special planning is critical to integrate them safely and efficiently into the grid.
Prudent Energy helps today's power utilities find balance in their particular fuel mix. Natural gas, wind, and solar, for example, are usually very energy-efficient compared to coal and nuclear power. Capital costs are relatively high for coal, nuclear, wind, solar, and hydro power. Operating costs are highest for natural gas and oil. Power utilities, therefore, must guard against an over-reliance on one fuel that may lead to increased risk – and higher prices to consumers.
By storing electricity in large quantities from any input source, Prudent helps power generators optimize the flow of electrons from producer to consumer.