Berlin-based Younicos has designed and commissioned a 5 MW lithium-ion battery storage unit for WEMAG, a regional energy provider based in the northern German city of Schwerin.
Younicos claims the fully automated unit is Europe's largest commercial battery power plant and marks the first time in Europe that a stand-alone battery is stabilizing fluctuations in grid frequency, thus helping to integrate wind and solar energy.
‘Up to now, the power grid has been largely stabilized by inflexible coal-fired power plants, which can only use a fraction of their output for control power. This blocks space in the grid, increasingly forcing wind and solar generation to be taken offline," explains Clemens Triebel, chief technology officer (CTO) of Younicos. "Our battery park avoids this economic impact because it is much faster and more precise than a thermal power station."
Thomas Patzold, CTO of WEMAG, adds, "In the WEMAG grid area, more than 80 percent of the power consumed already comes from wind and solar generation – making us a front runner in renewable energy. We, therefore, feel committed to bringing to market new, more efficient solutions for the energy transition.
"Our battery storage unit shows the way forward: It is the best technical solution for smoothing naturally intermittent renewable feed-in, and it is also commercially very attractive," Patzold continues.
Younicos says that in addition to receiving initial development funding of EUR 1.3 million from the German Federal Environment Ministry's innovation program, the unit will earn its keep by competing in the primary frequency regulation market.
"In the future, the battery will also provide other system services, such as reactive power and black start capability, thus offering further economic advantages," notes Patzold.
Younicos designed and built the turnkey storage unit in 12 months. Samsung SDI supplied the unit's 25,600 lithium-manganese oxide cells, which are housed in a hall the size of a school gym, and guarantees the performance of the battery power plant for 20 years. Five medium-voltage transformers, each weighing four tons, connect the battery to both the regional distribution and the 380 kV high-voltage grids.
For more information on how renewable energy sources and storage can work together in effective hybrid combinations, visit the Hybrid Energy Innovations event website here.
