Energy storage system will help Faroe Islands stabilise grid, use more wind power
Published on 23rd Apr 2015
A major new energy storage system (ESS) project aims to help the Faroe Islands stabilise their electricity grid and use more power from wind turbines.
Saft, a manufacturer of high-tech batteries for industry, said last week that it is working on the 2.3 megawatt (MW) project with ENERCON, a company that makes wind turbines and energy converters.
They will install two Saft Intensium Max High Power containerised lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery systems, together with ENERCON’s containerised power conversion and control system, in what’s claimed to be Europe’s first commercial deployment of a Li-ion battery system operating in combination with a wind farm.
According to the partners, the ESS will help SEV, the power producer and distributor for the Faroes, address the key grid stability issues created by an increasing penetration of intermittent renewable energy resources. It will provide ramp control to smooth out sudden increases and decreases in power, as well as frequency response and voltage control services, enabling SEV to capture the full potential of the new 12 MW Húsahagi wind farm.
Launched in 2014, this wind farm has 13 ENERCON wind turbines and has increased the Faroe Islands’ wind share to 26% of total electricity production.
“The environmental and economic futures of the Faroe Islands demand that we maximize the usage of all our available renewable energy resources. But it is equally vital that we maintain grid stability and reliability as the penetration of intermittent generation increases,” explained Terji Nielsen, SEV project manager.
The ESS is scheduled for commissioning in December 2015.
