Why this matters now

Refining depends on a continuous, reliable source of power. The sites operate 24x7x365, and if a utility is unable to supply adequate power, the facility might be down for weeks as they deal with equipment damage and safely bringing systems back online.

However, reliable power has become more challenging to come by. Utilities are under more pressure than ever in an increasingly electrified world, and refineries are looking for ways to supplement their power generation to ensure continuous operation. One of Emerson’s leading energy sector experts, T. J. Surbella explores this trend in a recent article in Hydrocarbon Processing. Modern refineries, Surbella explains,

“are exploring microgrids—a group of energy resources controlled by the organization itself that can operate in either a grid connected or islanded mode—to provide additional power for supplementing existing utility connection and backup systems. For some, that may mean adding renewable energy generation and battery storage. For others, it may mean islanding with their own power source, possibly supplemented by renewable assets.”

But building out a microgrid isn’t an easy task. The hyperscale data centers supporting the rise of AI have been following a similar trend of islanded generation, and they’ve learned a few critical strategies refineries can follow as they blaze their own path toward onsite generation and microgrid control.

Takeaway: Microgrids offer refineries essential resilience but require careful planning and expertise to implement effectively.

TL;DR

• Refineries rely on uninterrupted power but utilities face increasing pressure.
• Microgrids provide supplemental and resilient on-site generation.
• Renewables add complexity that requires advanced control strategies.
• MMS and Ovation systems help unify diverse power assets.
• Proper software tools turn microgrids into reliable business assets.

Why is microgrid optimization challenging?

Facilities looking to operate their own microgrids face many complexities as they both build and run the system. Many factors must be managed in parallel, including:

• Forecasting power loads
• Managing variable generation
• Scheduling firm generation ramping and augmenting with batteries
• Peak shaving
• Frequency and voltage control
• Reserve monitoring
• Energy market participation
• Islanding from the grid
• Fault protection
• Load shedding

These tasks are complex enough for utilities, but refineries—much like hyperscale data centers—are not in the business of generating power, and will have few, if any, experts in that area.

In addition, many refineries will want to add renewable energy generation to help improve sustainability, but renewables further complicate microgrid operation. Surbella explains the core problem hyperscale data centers have faced with renewable generation—one that applies to refineries as well:

“[The] need to run without interruption can be complicated by the intermittency of renewable energy generation, and critical operations cannot be subject to such fluctuations as they need a steady source of power.”

Takeaway: Microgrid reliability depends on managing dozens of variables made even more complex by renewable generation.

What is the solution?

The first step to properly preparing for microgrid operation is to implement holistic automation solutions that couple deep automation expertise with decades of power industry and green energy expertise like Emerson’s Ovation™ Green portfolio. An Ovation control system can bring contextualized data from all generation assets into a single integrated system to help teams more easily optimize microgrid operations.

But there’s another tool that the hyperscale data centers have also relied upon: an energy management system (EMS) with Emerson’s AspenTech Microgrid Management System (MMS). Surbella shares

“An EMS with a microgrid management system (MMS) helps provide stable, steady power, whether it is produced via renewables or traditional generation assets. An MMS further optimizes the operation of renewables together with traditional electrical generation and battery storage. Leveraging powerful forecasting and scheduling tools, the software can enable peak shaving, generation and load balancing, smart inverter control, and optimized battery charging and discharging.”

Takeaway: Ovation and MMS software bring all generation assets together for stability, forecasting, and optimization.

How can the right software improve business outcomes?

External factors impact the cost of operations every single day. That trend is only set to increase in coming years. Refinery teams will need ways to navigate environmental factors, reliability issues, market costs, demand, and regulatory changes to stay profitable—just like today’s hyperscale data centers are doing.

For a refinery, that might mean implementing the right software tools like Ovation controls and an MMS to help them optimize energy management, ultimately even monetizing excess production to generate additional revenue. Capturing that type of competitive advantage, however, takes planning, and, often, partnership with an automation supplier with decades of expertise in the power and refining industries.

Takeaway: Integrated power software enables refineries to reduce risk, improve efficiency, and unlock new revenue streams.