After the testing is complete, the first battery park system, which is in the Baltic States and one of the largest in Europe, will be fully integrated into the country’s electricity transmission network and will increase the stability and reliability of the Lithuanian electric power system.
“Not only will the batteries increase the reliability of the system – they will also enable us to disconnect from the BRELL ring and synchronise with the continental European network ahead of schedule, in 2024,” says Minister of Energy Dainius Kreivys.
Along with specially made transformers and other equipment, 312 battery cells have already been installed and connected in the battery parks at the transformer substations in Vilnius, Šiauliai, Alytus District and Utena District. If an accident occurs in the power system, this battery system will be able to start supplying energy and resume energy supply throughout Lithuania in a matter of seconds – this is its key function until synchronisation with the continental European network (CEN). In the event of disruptions in the power grid, energy from the battery parks can be automatically transferred to the grid within one second and supplied until the secondary reserve – the Kruonis hydroelectric power plant – is connected.
After synchronisation and final connection to the CEN, this system will contribute to the rapid integration of growing renewable energy sources by storing solar and wind power and returning it to the grid if needed.
“We will already be ready to provide the instantaneous reserve service at the end of this year. We will be ready, which means that if there is a need, we will be able to supply electricity to the grid until other sources of electricity supply are connected,” said Rimvydas Štilinis, CEO of Energy Cells, which is the company implementing the project.
The lithium-ion battery parks installed by a consortium of US-based Fluence and Germany-based Siemens Energy will operate as a joint system, which will be one of the largest and one of the first in Europe.
Funding in the amount of EUR 87.6 million has been allocated for the installation of the battery energy storage system by the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility under the “New-Generation Lithuania” plan. The total value of the project, which is meant to provide Lithuania with an instantaneous electricity reserve and the ability to work independently in isolated mode, will reach EUR 109 million.
The operator of the battery system is Energy Cells, which is 100 per cent owned by the EPSO-G group of energy transmission and exchange companies. The rights and obligations of EPSO-G are implemented by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania, the sole shareholder of EPSO-G.
