2022-05-11
Innovative Litgrid project triumphs at international awards
A unique project by the Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator Litgrid, the first 1 MW battery connected to the electricity grid in the Baltic states, has triumphed at Europe’s largest renewable energy awards, The Smarter E Award, with the title of winner in the “Outstanding Project” category.
The innovative 1 MW and 1 MWh battery connected to the grid at the Vilnius transformer substation is important for Lithuania's energy independence, as it will pave the way for an increase in the number and capacity of renewable energy sources connected to the grid.
“Congratulations to the team that implemented this exceptional project - the international recognition confirms that we are doing truly exceptional things in Lithuania, and that the innovations we have implemented are of significance for the whole region. The testing of the innovative battery has been successfully completed and shows that we are ready to deploy batteries on the grid that will make a strong contribution to our energy security by reacting instantly in case of emergencies, ensuring reliable operation of the system. They will also help to store energy generated from renewable electricity sources, which we are currently preparing for in Lithuania. This innovation therefore means even greater energy security for the people and businesses of Lithuania,” says Rokas Masiulis, the CEO of Litgrid.
The Litgrid pilot project is one of the first in the world to integrate an electricity storage battery directly into the electricity transmission grid.
The device was connected to the grid at the end of last year and Litgrid specialists successfully completed its testing this year. The innovative battery can not only store energy, but also provide instant power to the grid and help manage frequency. Its response time is lightning fast: the control command processing time is 87 milliseconds (ms), while the complete switchover from charging to generation is even shorter at 70 ms.
These parameters indicate that this battery and others like it will be able to contribute to the control of power system parameters in the future and will help to ensure high system reliability, dominated by electricity generated from renewable sources. This will be particularly important after 2025, when Lithuania and the other Baltic states will finally disconnect from Russia and the BRELL ring and synchronise with Western Europe.
Litgrid plans to connect to the grid a 200 MW electricity storage project implemented by its subsidiary company Energy Cells before the end of this year. This system will serve as a fast and flexible emergency power reserve to ensure reliable and stable operation of the Lithuanian power system until synchronisation with the continental European grid or during isolated operation of the power system.
Each year, The Smarter E Awards recognise innovative solutions and technologies that deliver smart, sustainable and cost-effective energy supply.
