Renewable Energy Innovation
The renewable energy transition is growing exponentially, driven by the realities of climate change, consumer demand, and supported through government and global net zero targets.
Enabling all of this is the ongoing, rapid development of clean energy technologies; increasing scale, efficiency and driving down green energy costs.
The energy grid is transitioning, with a rapidly increasing number of large utility scale renewable projects connecting to and decarbonising the grid. Innovative, smart technology is harnessing the power of solar combined with battery storage solutions to meet the real-world challenges of today’s energy demand.
New technologies such as AI are driving rapid demand for new data centres, and our innovative approach to data centre development is rising to meet this challenge; co-locating renewable energy production, grid connectivity, and the data centre in a single smart design.
Green hydrogen is also playing a growing role in the fundamental shift towards net-zero emission by 2050. We use renewable energy to produce green hydrogen, which is then a completely clean energy source that only emits water vapour when burned, and produces zero greenhouse gases or particulates. It is an essential enabler to help decarbonise hard-to-electrify sectors and geographies.
Westbridge is built on a commitment to develop and deploy these scalable solutions and deliver innovative renewable energy solutions.
Pillars of Innovation
- Optimised Design Approach Align the right mix of multiple technologies for each site, to create smart utility scale renewable power plant design.
- Evaluate and Deploy Constantly assessing and scaling new technology applications, to maximise efficiency and value across the portfolio.
- Innovate and Future Proof Be at the forefront of renewable innovation, and future proof projects through advanced design and permitting.
Technology Applications
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01
Solar
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02
Battery Storage
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03
Green Hydrogen
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04
Data Centre
Westbridge is an experienced originator and developer of solar projects. As an early-stage investor in the lifecycle, we focus on the highest return segment. Using our unique strategy, experience and expertise to identify, invest in and deliver successful scaled renewable projects. Solar energy is one of the cheapest way to produce electricity in many places around the world. The cost to install solar infrastructure has reduced by >80% in the last decade (as per the IEA). This ongoing technological evolution is accelerating large, reliable, utility scale deployment of solar energy. The IEA estimates between 2022-2027 that global solar capacity will likely triple and become not just the largest renewable source, but the largest single power source in the world.
How does it work?
Solar photovoltaic (“PV”) panels usually consist of silicon, tempered glass, aluminium, copper, and semiconductor materials. Silicon has conductive properties that allow it to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity.
Sunlight is composed of photons, or particles of solar energy. As photons are absorbed by the semi-conductor material, electrons are dislodged and become free to move, which initiates a flow of electric current. Known as the “photovoltaic effect”. Photovoltaic cells generate direct current (DC) electricity; however, the energy transmission grid uses alternating current (AC) to transfer electricity. Devices called inverters are used on PV panels and in larger utility scale arrays to convert the DC electricity to AC electricity.
PV panels will produce the most electricity when they are directly facing the sun. Array positioning can use tracking systems that keep the panels facing the sun, but these systems are expensive. Most PV systems have panels in a fixed position that are usually facing directly south in the northern hemisphere and at an angle that optimizes the physical and economic performance of the system.
Solar technology is constant evolving and innovating. The efficiency of commercial PV panels averaged less than 10% in the mid-1980s, increased to around 15% by 2015, and is now c.25% for state-of-the art modules, and experimental PV cells for satellites have achieved nearly 50% efficiency. As volumes and usage increase, the cost of production continues to fall, and efficiency levels rise.
Westbridge renewables is at the forefront of renewables technology innovation and its utility scale application. Leveraging multi-layered, smart design and technology across its diverse portfolio.
Close Solar & ReturnBESS: Battery Energy Storage SystemWe have a multi-domain team of in-house experts across all aspects of energy storage. We use innovative, smart project design to align multiple technologies within our sites to ensure we deliver utility scale renewable energy to the grid when most needed. Battery usage is growing exponentially with usage doubling every 2-3 years over the last 30 years. As volumes increase to meet demand, production costs have fallen c.99% and battery density (a metric of battery quality) has risen five-fold, over a similar timeframe. One challenge of generating utility scale renewable energy is the intermittent nature of its production (i.e. a solar farm only generates electricity when the sun is shining), which often doesn’t align with when consumers and the grid need energy.
A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) captures energy from the renewable source and stores it in rechargeable batteries (storage devices) for deployment to the grid when its most needed. Transforming renewables into on-demand utilities and maximising their impact and value.
How does it work?
A BESS collects energy from the photovoltaic (PV) solar array and stores the energy using advanced modular battery storage technology. Relatively small, easy to produce battery cells (similar to those in consumer electronics) are arranged into modules, which are then arranged into racks. These racks are housed either in purpose-built containers or buildings, that are co-located with the solar project to minimise land use, improve efficiency and lower infrastructure costs. This allows the storage system to charge, and discharge stored energy as needed, such as during peak demands, power outages, or grid balancing.
In addition to the batteries, BESS requires additional components that allow the system to be connected to the energy grid:
- Battery System or Battery Modules Containing individual low voltage battery cells arranged in racks within either a module or container enclosure. The battery cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy. The batteries are connected in series and parallel for the required capacity.
- Storage Enclosure Either as an outdoor module or modular containerised solution along with thermal management.
- Battery Management System (BMS)Ensures the battery cell's safe working operation, ensuring it operates within the correct charging and discharging parameters. The BMS monitors the battery cell's current, voltage, and temperature and estimates its state of charge (SoC) and State-of-Health (SoH) to prevent safety risks and ensure reliable operation and performance.
- Inverter or a Power Conversion System (PCS) The battery cell produces direct current (DC), which the PCS converts into alternating current (AC) used for transmission via the power grid. Bidirectional inverters allow for the charging and discharging of the battery cell.
- Energy Management System (EMS) Controls and monitors the energy flow of the BESS and systems. The EMS coordinates the BMS, inverters and other components of the battery energy system by collecting and analysing data used to manage and optimise the overall system performance.
- Safety SystemsSafety is paramount to continued and widespread use of energy storage. A BESS will typically include a mix of fire suppression, smoke detection, a temperature control system, and cooling, heating, and air conditioning systems, and restricted access. A dedicated monitoring and control system will ensure the safe operation of the BESS and report all aspects of the facilities with multiple layers of redundancy.
Westbridge renewables it at the forefront of renewables technology innovation and its utility scale application. Leveraging multi-layered, smart design and technology across its diverse portfolio.
PortfolioGreen hydrogen plays a key role in the ongoing fundamental shift in our energy systems towards net-zero emission by 2050. Green hydrogen is a clean energy source that only emits water vapour, produces no greenhouse gases or particulates, unlike coal and oil.
Green hydrogen is produced using electrolysis of water using the electricity generated from renewables, such as Solar arrays. It is an essential enabler to achieving a 100% renewable and reliable power grid and can help decarbonise hard-to-electrify sectors and geographies.
Advantages
- 100% sustainableGreen hydrogen does not emit polluting gases either during combustion or during production.
- StorableHydrogen is easy to store, which allows it to be used as an on-demand utility
- VersatileGreen hydrogen can be transformed into electricity or synthetic gas and used for commercial, industrial or mobility purposes.
How does it work?
Green hydrogen is defined as hydrogen produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity.
The process used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen is called electrolysis, and the energy to power the electrolysis is sourced 100% from renewables such as Solar, to classify as ‘Green’ hydrogen. Unlike ‘grey’ and ‘blue’ hydrogen which is produced from energy sources which have a significant C02 emission footprint.
The hydrogen gas produced is a valuable energy source that is 100% clean. When burnt to release its energy hydrogen produces only water vapour and produces no greenhouse gases or particulate pollutants. One challenge of generating utility scale renewable energy is the intermittent nature of its production (i.e. a solar farm only generates electricity when the sun is shining), which often doesn’t align with when consumers and the grid need energy.
By using renewable energy to produce ‘Green’ hydrogen, we can then store this easily in overground or underground tanks and then later use the hydrogen to generate electricity on-demand. Delivering power to the grid when its most needed.
The hydrogen storage tanks can be co-located with the Solar project; to minimise land usage and reduce infrastructure costs.
Hydrogen may even offer greater flexibility for storage duration and capacity than lithium-ion batteries, benefiting producers and consumers. Green hydrogen can also replace fossil-fuel-based hydrogen in industrial applications like producing fertilizer, metals and cement.
Westbridge renewables it at the forefront of renewables technology innovation and its utility scale application. Leveraging multi-layered, smart design and technology across its diverse portfolio.
Portfolio Close Green Hydrogen & ReturnThe recent explosion of AI is driving exponential demand for new data centers, with McKinsey recently forecasting 35GW of incremental capacity demand from data centers by 2030. This is a significant increase vs the 10GW of demand growth over the prior decade. A single hyperscale data center can require up to 150 MW of power, equivalent to the consumption of a decent sized city. Given solar and wind power generation has had an average historical capacity factor in the US of 25% and 35%3, respectively, a new data center would need significantly more than150MW of max capacity output, for which renewable energy is generally cited.
It has also become clear the world’s largest hyperscale data center operators are extremely focused on utilizing clean energy to power these new facilities. The top three cloud providers (Amazon, Microsoft, Google) account for 65% of the worldwide market, and each of these companies has already established aggressive climate targets. Amazon has set a goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and using 100% renewable energy by 2025. Microsoft aims to become carbon negative by 2030, while by 2050 the company expects to have removed its historical emissions since its founding in 1975. Google has a goal of operating all its data centers and office campuses on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030.
We can clearly see these dynamics playing out in corporate purchase power agreements (PPAs) for renewable energy. Corporations globally announced 46 GW of solar and wind PPAs in 2023, a record high for a calendar year and a 12% increase vs. 2022. Bloomberg NEF expects this demand to continue to surge in the coming years.
Westbridge is using its unique renewable development expertise, to originate Data Centre sites in the right locations with the right critical attributes; co-located renewable power generation, safety from natural disasters, proximity to high load networks and technology support staff. Our years of experience in environmental surveys, planning and permitting, grid connectivity, and smart site design are enabling us to lead and deliver these high value innovative projects.
Source: McKinsey & Co. Close Data Centre & Return