Bayernwerk Netz deploys first grid-serving storage system
Bayernwerk Netz GmbH is set to become the first regional distribution grid operator in Germany to deploy a grid-serving storage system. This innovative initiative aims to enhance the integration of renewable energy into the electricity grid while reducing the need for costly grid expansion.
The storage facility will be located in the district of Cham and will serve as an alternative to a traditional grid expansion project, thanks to its optimized operating mode. With a capacity of 20 MWh and an output of 5 MW, the facility will connect to the medium-voltage grid, storing surplus energy generated by renewable sources, such as photovoltaic systems, and feeding it back into the grid when needed. The operator of the storage system will be selected through a competitive tender process.
Philipp Bühner, Project Manager at Bayernwerk Netz, highlights the importance of this milestone:
“The confirmation from the Federal Network Agency is a great success for us. It demonstrates that we are on the right path and that our efforts to integrate energy storage systems into the distribution grid are being acknowledged.”
Faster and cheaper than grid expansion
From Bayernwerk Netz’s point of view, the grid-friendly operation of storage systems makes it possible to cope with the high grid load during peak times for renewable energies. This reduces the need for grid expansion, which contributes to a faster and more cost-efficient transformation of the energy system. The use of storage also enables distribution grid operators to utilize flexibility and resolve local grid bottlenecks. By storing energy during feed-in peaks, additional generation plants can be integrated into the grid without having to further reinforce or expand the grid. Furthermore, storage systems improve grid quality by reducing voltage fluctuations.
Bayernwerk Netz plans to launch the first tender for grid-supporting storage systems in the near future. Following the pilot project in Upper Palatinate, Bayernwerk Netz intends to leverage the lessons learned to identify and tender additional suitable locations for grid-serving storage facilities.
Source: 50,2 Magazine for smart grids