Soltech's large-scale batteries - part of the solution to wind power's power problems
The electricity system has recently encountered challenges due to wind power occasionally generating more electricity than predicted. This leads to increased costs, production limitations and lost renewable electricity as wind power companies have had to shut down the wind turbines to avoid fees. But the solution is found in large-scale battery storage solutions with smart control that are directly connected to the wind turbines. A potential billion market for players in the industry.
Recently, there have been reports that companies with wind turbines need to pay increased balancing power fees when it is too windy. This is due to new regulations from Svenska kraftnät, the authority with system responsibility for the Swedish electricity grid and responsible for maintaining the balance between electricity production and consumption. Problems arise when the actual production does not correspond to the forecasted one, an imbalance arises in the electricity grid that needs to be corrected with the help of the balancing power market. This correction entails new fees that may lead to wind turbines being shut down in the long run due to unprofitability. However, there is a solution to the problem.
During the spring, Soltech's subsidiary Soltech Energy Solutions installed large-scale battery storage facilities connected to wind turbines. A solution that makes it possible to maintain the right balance and deliver electricity according to the set forecast regardless of how much the plant produces. This means that there is no imbalance in the electricity grid in the event of too high production, which means that the new charges can be avoided. The battery then acts as a buffer capacity for the production plant. The batteries can also contribute to frequency regulation by reacting to changes in the grid's frequency within milliseconds, and subsequently helping to keep the grid stable. They also contribute with local flexibility, power cutting at peaks and support services. In the long term, batteries in connection with wind turbines can grow into a billion-kronor market for players in the industry, as a large part of the nearly 1,000 wind turbines that have been erected in recent years have not yet been supplemented with balancing batteries.
– We have followed the development of wind turbines being shut down with concern, as it is understandable that imbalance power charges need to be avoided. However, we would like to draw attention to the fact that battery storage with smart control offers the solution to the problem. We have already installed several large-scale battery solutions next to wind turbines and also next to large-scale solar parks. Batteries are therefore a concrete solution to how wind turbines can continue to produce renewable electricity without risking creating an imbalance in the electricity grid and being hit by fees that make the calculation unsustainable, says Patrik Hahne, CEO of Soltech Energy.
The industry association sees a growing need for batteries
The growing need for large-scale batteries is also confirmed by the newly formed industry association Green Power Sweden, which brings together players in wind power, large-scale solar parks and energy storage.
– From the industry's side, we see an increased need for stabilizing solutions such as large-scale batteries. For us, it is important to emphasize having a system perspective when looking at renewable energy solutions, and therefore energy storage such as batteries is becoming an increasingly important piece of the puzzle. That is also why Green Power Sweden was formed, to be able to promote an energy system with several renewable power types in combination with other technical solutions, says Lars Andersson, responsible for energy systems and storage at Green Power Sweden.
