Big batteries to ensure power during 2014 Olympics

With the Winter Olympic Games coming to the city of Sochi in 2014 and a $15 billion nationwide push to upgrade its energy grid, Russia is also looking at distributed energy storage to ensure secure power supplies.

Russia’s Federal Grid Company (FGC) has been working with New York City-based Ener1, an energy storage technology company, to develop a large-scale energy storage system using lithium-ion technology. The systems will be will be used for emergency back-up power at FGC substations in St. Petersburg, as well as in the Black Sea port city of Sochi. Installations at both location are expected to take place within the next few months, with the first unit to be shipped in the next few weeks.

A smaller version of the system is set to be on display during the 15th annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to be held June 16 – 18. The 70-kilowatt-hour (kWh) working model is designed to provide attendees with an understanding of how the two companies can strategically manage power storage for the country’s electric grid.

“Together, we’re developing energy storage solutions that we hope will leap-frog the current infrastructure and leverage the benefits of a smart grid technology, which could ultimately save FGC and its customers millions of dollars,” said Charles Gassenheimer, chairman and CEO of Ener1.

“When the units are installed this fall, we believe they will provide viable solutions to help strengthen Russia’s electric grid in two demanding regions, provide emergency back-up power for substation auxiliaries, and offer future integration for intermittent renewable energy sources,” added Bruce Curtis, president of grid energy storage solutions for Ener1.