Smart electricity storage increases the flexibility of the energy system
The increasing energy system flexibility required by the green transition will increase the need for electricity storage year after year. Battery electricity storage systems (BESS) can balance the demand and supply of electricity as weather-dependent electricity production is becoming the main form of production.
In the energy sector, the green transition means moving to carbon neutral energy production, where the amount of weather-dependent production, such as wind and solar power, increases. Electricity production must at all times equal energy consumption: on windless or cloudy days, other energy sources and flexibility are needed to cover demand for electricity. Battery electricity storage systems contribute to the transition to carbon neutral energy production by bringing flexibility and stability to the electricity grid, enabling the energy system to withstand the fluctuations caused by weather-dependent production.
”Battery electricity storage systems are a versatile tool in the electricity market but, to function optimally, flexibility needs to be managed smartly. To this end, we started to develop a smart energy management system that will provide electricity storage owners with new opportunities to earn with the flexibility of their electricity storage,” says Kristiina Siilin, Team Lead, Optimisation Development.
In the autumn, we launched the Battery Yield service for our business customers, which helps customers earn with their flexibility, while the customer’s electricity storage contributes to turning the energy transition into reality. In the service, we operate the battery electricity storage system owned by the customer, optimise their yield and ensure safe trading for the customer’s electricity storage in the electricity market around the clock.
”Maintaining the balance between the demand and supply of electricity requires the quick regulation of power and energy and the parties that can offer regulation capacity are compensated for this. The Battery Yield service helps to ensure sufficient regulation capacity and offers companies that invest in electricity storage a route to the market and return on investment,” Siilin adds.
The first electricity storage utilising the Battery Yield service is the 5-MW storage built at Helen’s Lakiakangas 3 wind farm. We will continue storage investments at the Lohja solar power plant where we will build Helen’s first electricity storage that is connected to a solar power plant. The plant is under construction and will be complemented with the battery electricity storage system during 2024.