2021-09-20
Litgrid has connected the first battery to the Lithuanian power transmission network
Lithuanian power transmission system operator Litgrid installed the first battery connected to the power transmission network at the Vilnius transformer substation.
The 1 MW and 1 MWh battery is the first pilot project in the Baltic States, during which Litgrid specialists will test the capabilities of such a device to operate in the transmission network and lay the foundations for future energy solutions.
"The Lithuanian electricity system is on the path of transformation, and the assimilation of new technologies is one of the key conditions for a successful transformation. This is the first such battery in the Baltic States that will provide valuable knowledge in preparation for the implementation of the 200 MW battery system project, and will contribute to the stability of the electricity grid in preparation for synchronization” says Dainius Kreivys, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania.
"Currently we have a unique situation in Lithuania - we are synchronizing and preparing to take over the management of all parameters of the electricity system, active development of renewable resources is underway, ambitious battery projects are being prepared. All this constitutes the perfect medium to use battery energy storage systems not only as a means of storing and subsequently using surplus energy from renewable sources, but also to adapt them to ensure the reliable operation of the power transmission network. This is the purpose of this first project - Litgrid specialists will test the battery's ability to perform different transmission network functions in real operating conditions of the Lithuanian electricity system" says Litgrid CEO Rokas Masiulis.
Energy storage has proven its capabilities as a critical reliability asset in markets around the world and this project will help demonstrate integration into the local network and a number of advanced features such as synthetic inertia, frequency maintenance, overload capabilities, voltage management, and many more.
Battery systems can ensure reliable and uninterrupted operation of the power transmission network. At the same time, it is one of the most promising ways to store and later use excess energy from renewable sources. During charging, the battery acts as an energy consumer and during discharge, as a producer, which allows the transmission system operator to control the power balance and the frequency of the system, therefore ensuring that the amounts of energy produced and consumed match.
The 1 MW and 1 MWh battery system is provided by Fluence, an energy storage technology company founded as a joint venture between Siemens AG and The AES Corporation.
”We are excited to support Litgrid’s regional leadership as they as they take their first steps with Energy Storage on transmission network,” said Paul McCusker, Fluence SVP and president, EMEA. “Having deployed six generations of battery energy storage technology and supported customers in 12 European countries, Fluence has the experience, market knowledge and technical expertise to meet the rigorous reliability and safety requirements for high-reliability applications like this one. We look forward to working with Litgrid to demonstrate energy storage’s ability to support reliable, resilient, and sustainable transmission networks in Lithuania and across the continent.”
Depending on the nature of its operations, the transmission system operator will not engage such facilities in the future but rather will provide the technical terms and conditions for their connection. Their approval will allow other energy companies and the engineering sector to operate in this new field.
Energy Cells, a company belonging to the EPSO-G group of companies, plans to install a system of four energy storage facilities in Lithuania by October 2022 with a total capacity of at least 200 MW and a capacity of at least 200 MWh. The system installed in Vilnius, Alytus, Utena and Šiauliai substations will serve as a fast and flexible emergency power reserve, ensuring reliable and stable operation of the Lithuanian electricity system before synchronization with mainland European networks or isolated electricity system, and in the future will help to integrate rapidly growing renewable energy sources.
