In remote communities such as those off the grid on islands, diesel engines are generally the source of power. These diesel engines operate for the most part inefficiently as the load reduces to a fraction of maximum rating. The fuel efficiency can vary by as much as 30%.

The integration of VRB-ESS reduces diesel consumption, O&M, emissions and extends diesel life.

As wind and PV penetration rises on grids, there is a point at which the variation of power generation begins to curse instability in the local grid. In RAPS networks this figure is about 30% of the diesel nameplate. The additional of any wind or PV power is then limited.

However by adding a VRB-ESS, the penetration level can approach 100% and project paybacks as short as 2 years can be achieved. As fuel costs rise, the economics improve.

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