Technology

Sunshine Hydro’s AESOP technology and Superhybrid innovation is revolutionary.

What is a Superhybrid?

A Superhybrid™ is a system or process that combines multiple technologies that are not normally connected. Sunshine Hydro’s typical Superhybrid™ model includes wind and solar farms feeding into a pumped hydro project which is linked to a hydrogen generation plant. All components are orchestrated to work smoothly together using our AESOP control system.

Key components of a typical Superhybrid model include:

  • A design process that uses AESOP
    to optimise performance (AESOP technology communicates with the NEM/wind/electrolyser/ liquefaction/pump/generator); 
  • upper and lower water reservoirs;
  • hydro pump and generator (or other LDES);
  • wind and solar;
  • grid connection
  • electrolyser (may be PEM and/or Alkaline generating hydrogen and oxygen); and
  • liquefaction (converting hydrogen gas to liquid) or e-methanol production plant.

All the components of a Superhybrid solution make an important contribution and work together in this ecosystem to provide a reliable, contractible, 24/7 CFE output

Superhybrid Products

24/7 Carbon-free Energy

Industry and community require a constant feed of electricity. Wind energy varies with wind conditions and solar energy is only available during sunny days. 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (24/7 CFE) is a constant stream of renewable electricity that can be contracted and relied on all day every day. 24/7 CFE is renewable energy matched with demand every hour of every day.
24/7 CFE will be increasingly sought after as jurisdiction such as the European Union require that products sold within their borders be sourced from 24/7 CFE

Green Hydrogen

Unlike traditional fossil fuel-based hydrogen, green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis of water using renewable power such as solar, wind, or hydropower which splits water’s two main elements hydrogen and oxygen producing green hydrogen. Hydrogen production is used in a Superhybrid primarily to provide a flexible load for managing renewable energy. The hydrogen produced can be considered a useful by-product.

Green Methanol or Liquefied Hydrogen

Superhybrid can add further value by processing some or all generated hydrogen into other products with more mature markets and easier transport options. Green e-methanol is produced from hydrogen and sustainably sourced biomass. The process acts as a flexible load for both electricity and hydrogen, with varying levels of produced methanol and biochar. Alternatively hydrogen can be liquefied by reducing its temperature to −253 °C, similar to liquefied natural gas (LNG) which is stored at −162 °C.

Peaking Power

The electricity demand changes each day and typically peaks in line with breakfast time and dinner time each day. Fast responding generators can provide the power to meet these peaks. With a Superhybrid system, electricity can be diverted from various system components to meet this demand. This “peaking power” is needed to meet these regular patterns and increasingly to meet patterns related to variable energy availability.

Grid Services

Grid ancillary services are used to manage grid power systems safely, securely, and reliably. These services maintain key technical characteristics of the system, including standards for frequency, voltage, network loading, and system restart processes.

By-products

There are several useful by-products produced by the Superhybrid processes. Green oxygen is a by-product of the hydrogen production, created as water is split to hydrogen and oxygen using electrolysis. Methanol production, particularly when it is used as a flexible electricity load, may also create biochar, which is valuable in improving soil quality in agriculture. 

Superhybrid may also be able to sell some excess carbon offsets that relate to the renewable energy sold to the market as peaking power or grid services.

AESOP

AESOP - Innovation for Asset Performance Management

AESOP is Sunshine Hydro’s Advanced Energy Storage Optimisation Program. It is an innovative asset management tool that Sunshine Hydro uses as part of its project and capital finance modelling program for public utility organisations and privately owned pumped hydro facilities.

About AESOP

AESOP is used to design and operate Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES), including pumped hydro facilities in a way never seen before. It can benefit both new and existing facilities and develop financial data suitable for detailed financial analysis.

What sets AESOP apart from current simulation programs is its ability to utilise historical, current live, and forecast data into its decision-making matrix. The combination of this data being fed into AESOP allows it to accurately optimise the usage of the incoming energy it receives to attune to the current demands within contestable wholesale markets whilst accounting for future commitments. The capability to adjust a wide variety of variables within AESOP allows customers to optimise a pumped hydro facility to desired specifications.

Superhybrid™ Modelling

AESOP is designed to add value to any pumped hydro or long duration energy storage system. The benefits generated by AESOP are maximised when it is used to optimise a project that has been converted into a Superhybrid ecosystem. This is a project that combines traditional hydro, wind, solar, electrolysis, liquefaction, and fuel cells. In this ecosystem, one of the roles of AESOP is to maximise the level of contractable 24/7 Carbon Free Energy (24/7 CFE) generated.

Client Engagement Process

Phase 1 - Project Modelling

Using comprehensive historical data, AESOP provides engineers and IT professionals with tools to trial variable project design parameters to optimise the design of a Superhybrid. Results allow investment decisions to be validated with a high level of confidence.

Features:

  • Supported by a dedicated Sunshine Hydro consultant
  • Optimises and confirms a Superhybrid design using historical data
  • Focuses on optimising the level of 24/7 CFE
  • Generates detailed financials to validate capital investment
Phase 2 - Commercial Operation

AESOP focuses on maximising the 24/7 CFE required by industrial customers. AESOP applies multiple real-time optimisations to distribute incoming renewable energy to different parts of the Superhybrid in order to meet contractual requirements. At the same time, AESOP is also maximising revenue through opportunistic trading within contestable wholesale markets.

Features:

  • Can be integrated with widely used industry platforms
  • Optimises bid stack creation on every time cycle to assist optimal trading decisions
  • Generates detailed daily, weekly, and monthly financial results
  • Provides a live dashboard of current and past operations
  • Provides comprehensive charting and reporting