RWE has started installing a fast battery storage system at its Moerdijk power plant. The battery contributes to increasing and ensuring grid stability.
The battery has a capacity of 7.5 megawatts (MW) and a storage capacity of 11 megawatt hours (MWh). The battery can supply or withdraw electricity at lightning speed. Thus, the storage system helps increase grid stability and protect the power grid from excessive frequency deviations.
In traditional power systems with mainly conventional power generation, the inertia of rotating masses of conventional power plants provides moment reserve. In a coal- or gas-fired power plant, a steam turbine drives a generator, which in turn generates energy. In such a power system, if too much energy is drawn off, this inhibits the generator too much. Thanks to intertie, the generator still maintains its speed for a short time, so that the steam turbine can be adjusted and the power grid remains stable.
Compensating for loss of inertia
However, as the switch to renewable energy sources increases and the use of conventional power generation decreases, the number of rotating generators decreases. This also reduces the amount of inertia, which can lead to grid instability. Battery storage systems like the one RWE is realising help compensate for this loss.
Marinus Tabak, COO of RWE Generation and RWE Country Chair for the Netherlands: "Our new battery is innovative because it does more than just store energy. With this project, we are testing the provision of inertia through a battery storage system in the continental European grid. Such systems will play an important role in balancing modern electricity grids in the future. Especially as we increasingly switch to renewable energy and decentralised energy systems across Europe."
Lithium-ijzer-fosfaat-batterijcontainers
RWE is installing three lithium iron phosphate battery containers at the Moerdijk Power Station as part of its battery storage system. It will connect this system to the high-voltage grid via the existing grid connection. The system features highly reactive control technology and inverters with grid forming functionality, allowing the system to provide instant reserve power. Grid forming describes the ability to take over key functions that conventional power plants traditionally perform for monitoring the stability of the power grid.
RWE is expected to commission the energy storage system by the end of 2024, after which a two-year testing phase will start. Network operator TenneT is a partner in the project. TenneT will further develop the technical requirements and grid compliance procedures for the grid forming function during the pilot phase.
OranjeWind
The project is part of OranjeWind, a Dutch offshore wind project that RWE is developing with partner TotalEnergies. Located 53 kilometres off the Dutch coast, the wind farm has a installed capacity of almost 800 MW. It should provide enough energy on an annual basis for over a million Dutch households. The project should provide a blueprint for the integration of offshore wind farms into the Dutch energy system. And thus help overcome challenges of fluctuating wind power generation and varying electricity demand.
Part of OranjeWind also includes the development of new electrolyser capacity and e-boilers, while the project is also committed to smart charging of electric vehicles. As part of OranjeWind, companies and start-ups will have the opportunity to demonstrate innovations in a working project, with the aim of accelerating the commercial application of new technologies.
Second battery from RWE in the Netherlands
The battery in Moerdijk is the second battery RWE is realising in the Netherlands. Construction of a battery storage facility in Eemshaven started earlier this year. This battery will have an installed capacity of 35 MW and a storage capacity of 41 MWh.
RWE is building battery storage systems in both Europe, the United States and Australia. All the systems the company currently operates have a total capacity of 0.7 gigawatts. In addition, more than 1 GW of projects are under construction worldwide. RWE plans to expand its battery storage capacity globally to 6 GW by 2030.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Image: RWE
