Sweden to store wind power with grid-based batteries
A Swedish utility company plans to test a grid-connected system of batteries designed to store wind energy during times of low demand and better balance electricity loads.
It also plans to explore how stored energy can help support an electric-car infrastructure.
Falbygdens Energi (a subsidiary of Göteborgs Energi) is working with the power and automation technology group ABB to deploy an innovative, dynamic energy storage system on its power distribution network. The battery system will be installed as part of an existing substation in the city of Falköping and will enable the storage of locally produced energy from wind turbines. Storage capacity will be 75 kilowatts (kW) in cycles of up to 60 minutes.
Aimed at helping to balance peak loads during the day and enhance grid stability, it will be the first such low-voltage dynamic storage system of its kind in the country. The project is part of a partnership agreement in which Falbygdens Energi and ABB will work together to collaborate on develop technologies for integrating renewable energy and building smarter grids.
“We have a significant proportion of wind power connected to the grid in this region and expect this to grow further,” said Lars Ohlsson, CEO of Falbygdens Energi. “This innovative storage solution will make it possible to store wind energy during the night when demand is low and distribute it to users during the day, allowing us to use this clean renewable energy more efficiently and minimizing the need for fossil fuel-based electricity generation.”
“Clean and renewable energy sources like wind are also unpredictable and intermittent,” added Bruno Melles, head of ABB’s medium voltage power products business. “Storage technologies can help balance loads, while maintaining stability as power grids and networks become smarter and more flexible.”
A growing number of energy storage systems are being deployed both on- and off-grid at various spots around the globe. For ABB, this marks the company’s third recent order related to energy storage.
