Wind
At Energy Canvas, we understand the amazing potential, but also the limitations, of integrating wind power into a renewable energy ecosystem. MORE
Generating electricity from the wind is now a mature industry. Utilising meteorology, geology, geography, and civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering, effective asset development means managing the risks in long term asset performance by investing in the tools to mitigate the many uncertainties.
Output from each asset on an annual, seasonal, daily and even momentary basis is important for understanding how the asset will perform on the grid. Integrating wind energy into autonomous microgrids, and other grids near capacity, requires confident asset performance. Energy Canvas actively utilizes best in class technology to ensure confidence is achieved to meet the development timeline at the lowest cost possible.
Solar PV
We have extensive experience designing and building solar photovoltaic installations. We specialize in remote arctic and tropical communities. MORE
Generating electricity from the sun is a rapidly maturing industry. Integrating sensible design to maximize generation is suitable in some markets but the future is more complex with a focus on time of use market pricing making not all generation as valuable as others. Like wind energy, solar photovoltaic (PV) utilizes meteorology, geology, geography, and civil, mechanical and electrical engineering to mitigate asset performance risks.
Integrating PV into microgrids, into behind-the-meter Net Metered markets, and into next generation urban applications, requires a greater understanding of project performance. At Energy Canvas we specialize in this.
Solar Thermal
Solar hot water is a mature and low-risk technology, with very low technology risk and long-term benefits. MORE
Generating heat for hot water and latent comfort is a very affective approach often overlooked when looking to invest in renewable energy generation. Once restricted to residential hot water, this technology is increasingly being utilized across the globe in district heating and industrial processes to lower thermal heating from carbon based fuels.
Integrating solar thermal needs a deep understanding of the system it is being integrated with. Immediate opportunities in space heating as well as hot water for domestic use, pools and industrial processes all have different and quite specific investment returns. Solar Thermal is usually used in combination with thermal storage when integrated into systems and to maximize investment performance it is crucial to understand how the thermal energy will be used.
Biomass Boilers
Carbon-neutral dependable heat energy, with a reliable, easily transported fuel source. Biomass boiler systems are perfect for remote communities transitioning from diesel. MORE
Often in the form of pellets, biomass can be a very effective low carbon investment for the generation of energy in the form of heat and combined heat and power systems. Engineered solutions, including supply-chain management, focus on addressing customers need with appropriately sized systems so that lifecycle investment based decisions can be managed.
Energy Canvas actively considers these technologies, along with solar thermal to maximize performance of district heating systems and other larger thermal systems in order to lower electrical and carbon footprint.
Batteries
Keeping up with the ever-changing battery market is a full-time job! We have a handle on the power and physical tech specs of a wide range of options. MORE
Leading technologies like Lithium Ion (Lion) and Lead Acid have many considerations including performance requirements, duty, expected lifecycle, weight, available area for installation and cost. Lithium Ion variants in particular are the new benchmark for battery technologies that support renewable energy assets.
Energy Canvas was a project partner in GRIDSTOR an initiative to bring bankability standards to grid connected energy storage systems. Batteries at the residential level through to utility scale require different tools and fresh perspectives, we recommend a thorough approach no matter the size of asset to ensure expectations are satisfied in this rapidly developing area.
Flow Cell Batteries
A promising and exciting field, ready to bring renewables into much wider general usage, flow-cell battery technolgy is here now. MORE
This technology can be a very effective tool for long duration energy shifting required at facilities looking to rely on variable production renewables, like solar PV, or to more efficiently utilize onsite fossil fuel generation. Existing technology mostly utilizes Vanadium or Zinc electrolytes pumped through an apparatus, often referred to as a stack, that can charge or discharge the electrolyte to deliver electricity. System sizing requirements are a function of stack capacity and count, as well as the electrolyte reservoir size.
Energy Canvas is actively looking for bankable technology suppliers for this effective tool. We’re mostly interested in systems that range in size from 100-500kW that can be containerized.
Flywheels
An old technology reinvented – flywheels are an excellent voltage regulator for wind and hydro power installations, protecting infrastructure and investments. MORE
These technologies store energy in a spinning mass and can be separated into two kinds, slow and fast spinning devices. Flywheels deliver energy storage most effectively when providing power, voltage and frequency ride through, 3-phase phase management and power quality control. These technologies on average are much more cost effective at managing power ramping than high energy focused devices like batteries.
Flywheels will dramatically lengthen the life of batteries and have been utilized to do so in systems around the world. Energy Canvas believes that most grid connected energy storage assets would benefit from having a flywheel type device to more efficiently manage the flow of power due to ramping control or dealing with capacity requirements.
Capacitors
Power management technology that stabilizes industrial, closed and micro-grids, taking stress off generators, and increasing system efficiency. MORE
This technology is a very focused solution for delivering power quality services. Capacitor technologies are able to rapidly charge and discharge for very effective power management which is often suitable for industrial and high power swing applications that can induce poor power quality. Controlling the power quality means managing system stability which enables generators to be more efficient.
Energy Canvas actively considers capacitors as a tool for influencing power quality influencing power quality in situations where flywheels won’t be installed. We tend to use Lithium Ion based technologies here to maximize power and performance.
Heat & Cold Storage
Diverse applications for diverse situations – both heat and cold storage comes in a wide range of tech, and is an easy way to boost overall system efficiency. MORE
There are many different components to understand to build effective heat storage, most important are the temperature, duration of storage, and the flow of heat to and from the unit. Domestic hot water, pools, latent heating of buildings are common applications, increasingly district heating and industrial applications have gained interest as opportunities to find efficiencies through new business models become common place.
Energy Canvas mostly focuses on bigger community or district energy systems that can take advantage of more complex applications, particularly dynamic load management and hybrid heat generation.
Like heat storage, cold storage technologies require a deep look at many considerations, maybe most importantly are the conditions of use and environment it is located in. Some simple design aspects differ between heat and cold storage that are inherently similar, but there are very different applications and different business cases for both.
Our focus with cold storage is mostly focused on understanding the use cases, clearly defining the duty cycle and matching technology capacity, particularly with respect to system control.
Power to Heat (P2H)
Emerging integrated solutions are affording system designers a look at previously-inefficient use cases that actually perform well in specific scenarios. MORE
This is a new field, most typically designed around PV energy storage but storing it for use as heat rather than future use as electricity. P2H can be an effective cold generation source in remote applications and when paired with appropriate storage is very effective in cold environments for generating heat.
Energy Canvas is exploring approaches in this evolving area of expertise, particularly in remote areas where hybrid flexible generation of energy needs to be matched with consumption. P2H is a useful tool for very high penetration of renewables in microgrids.
Solar + Storage
Tried and true, solar and battery storage systems go hand-in-hand. We’ve designed and built these for a wide range of environments. MORE
Whether aiming to store onsite generation, or provide smoother power, solar + storage is more than just storing sunshine to power the lights at night. Advanced system design and control means more resilience, lower bills and it’s actually even better for the electric utility as well! Ask us how.
System Integration Challenges
Each specific combination of components in an integrated installation demands a deep understanding of how it fits into the whole system. MORE
We’ve learnt that even the best equipment sometimes do not work well together, particularly on expectations of performance. Utilising “systems thinking”, we develop and provide solutions that work, technically and commercially. We believe everyone deserves reliable renewable energy.
Integrated Diesel Offset Systems
We specialise in working with diesel generator-powered industrial backup and off-grid communities, integrating renewables into the equation with a game plan. MORE
Diesel powered systems are historically reliable, new technology though means we can rely on them less. Whether as part of a building or as part of the grid, we understand how to strategically develop renewables and storage to manage generator run time as well as reduce fuel.
Total System Integration (TSI)
Maximising asset utilisation and efficiency of all the components in an energy system ensures performance and reliability, but does this happen by sacrificing durability and longevity? Sizing the system appropriately, while also integrating appropriate condition monitoring methods and business systems, allow for a more robust system and asset. MORE
We talk about assets more than projects because we know that each investment expects a return; this almost always means bigger is not better, but rather what is the right asset size and what is the best way to develop it? We specialise in answering these questions.
Internet of Things Communications (IoT)
This next-gen internet technology offers a range of efficiency scenarios, allowing vital components in a system to speak to each other and send live data for monitoring. MORE
Communication technology that enables more confident asset performance is key for reliability, resiliency and expected performance. Doing this securely and in a future-flexible way is critical as the technology still has significant opportunity to evolve and mature, increasingly making variable renewable energy more reliable.
Demand-side Management (DSM)
Through various applications and system adjustments we can help smooth usage peaks and valleys to make the most efficient use of renewable energy systems and increase return on investment. MORE
Every Demand-side Management solution is different, with different priorities, capacities and inputs impacting the decision to potentially dynamically alter energy consumption. These very real business decisions are often significant opportunities in grid connected markets and essential capacity for microgrids. We find this work an exciting field of opportunity, where we actively work with large electricity consumers to develop commercial strategies and build technical capacity to manage their demand.
Energy Infrastructure Resiliency
Whether building in resiliency to a new system or adding fail-safe components to existing infrastructure, planning for failure is critical. MORE
