Energy Storage

Non-synchronous renewable energy affects grid stability but storage-as-transmission (SAT) assets offer grid companies a trump card. Whether it’s “virtual transmission” in Australia, Germany’s “Grid Booster” program, or the giga-scale pipeline of projects emerging in the United Kingdom, energy storage is finding a way.

Engie will deploy three giant batteries across three different parts of Belgium. All of the facilities will be able to provide power for up to four hours.

NTPC Renewable Energy is accepting bids to develop 1.5 GW/9 GWh of cumulative energy storage capacity on a build-own-operate basis anywhere in India. It will use the storage capacity to ensure round-the-clock renewable and/or peak power supplies. Bidding closes on June 16.

Japan’s Ricoh has designed a micro hydropower system for sewage plants that could potentially be used in combination with ground-mounted solar or floating PV. The system features a sustainable water turbine that the company designed with micro-hydroelectricity specialist Seabell Incorporated and the Kanazawa Institute of Technology.

Ignitis Group says it will increase the capacity of the 900 MW Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant by another 110 MW. It notes that the expansion project will be finalized by the end of 2026.

Turkey has approved the first batch of renewables-plus-storage projects since it enacted new rules for storage in November.

Researchers in India have designed a PV-powered earth-to-air heat exchanger to provide buildings with space heating and cooling. They say the proposed system could result in an annual energy gain of 8116.7 kWh.

Australia’s biggest electricity “gen-tailer” AGL is one step closer to energising its 250 MW/250 MWh grid-scale battery at South Australia’s Torrens Island after receiving the tick of approval from the Australian Energy Market Operator.

Generac says its new zero-emissions SBE line of stationary storage systems will be available in capacities ranging from 200 kWh to 1,000 kWh.

Idemitsu Kosan is leading a four-year demonstrator to assess the viability of solar carports for EV recharging at Tanegashima Airport in Japan. The 54.7 kW solar facility will sell power to airport buildings via a power purchase agreement (PPA) and to EV users under a pay-as-you-go billing system.