By 2025, Estonia will have its first grid-scale BESS up and running, thanks to LG’s battery supply partnership

Dew Briefs:

• Eesti Energi has successfully concluded the procurement process for its 26.5MW/51MWh BESS, marking a significant milestone for Estonia.
• The BESS, which will be constructed at the Auvere industrial power plant complex in Ida-Viru county, is set to play a crucial role in maintaining grid stability.
• LG Energy Solution is one of the parties that has emerged as a successful participant in the procurement process.

Diver Insights:

The battery energy storage system (BESS) will be built at the Auvere industrial power plant complex in Ida-Viru county and will help balance the country’s grid, state-owned utility Eesti Energia said on Tuesday.

• Eesti Energia, an energy company based in Estonia, has successfully concluded the procurement process for its latest project.
• The project involves the construction of a 26.5-MW/51-MWh power storage facility, which will be the first grid-scale battery energy storage system in the country.
• Local companies Diotech OÜ and Solar Wheel OÜ emerged as the winners of the international procurement launched by Eesti Energia in June 2023.
• LG Energy Solution has been selected as the supplier of the battery technology for this project.
• The power storage facility, located at the Auvere industrial complex in northeastern Estonia, will have the capacity to provide electricity to approximately 75,000 households for a duration of two hours. It is expected to be operational by the beginning of 2025.

Estonia is set to achieve a significant milestone in its energy landscape with the completion of its first grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) by the year 2025. This cutting-edge project represents a crucial step toward enhancing the reliability and flexibility of Estonia’s electricity grid while contributing to the country’s broader goals of transitioning to a more sustainable energy future.

Key Features:

1. Technology Advancements: The grid-scale BESS in Estonia is expected to leverage state-of-the-art battery storage technologies, possibly including advanced lithium-ion or other emerging battery chemistries.
2. Capacity and Output: The facility is designed to have a substantial capacity, allowing it to store and discharge a significant amount of electrical energy. This capability ensures grid stability, especially during peak demand periods or fluctuations in renewable energy generation.
3. Renewable Integration: Estonia’s BESS is likely to play a pivotal role in integrating renewable energy sources into the grid. By storing excess energy generated from renewables during periods of low demand, the BESS can release this stored energy when demand is high, balancing the grid and optimizing the use of clean energy.
4. Grid Support Services: The BESS is expected to provide crucial grid support services, such as frequency regulation, voltage control, and rapid response to fluctuations. These services enhance the overall resilience and reliability of the electricity grid.
5. Environmental Impact: With a commitment to sustainability, Estonia’s grid-scale BESS is likely to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by promoting the use of clean energy and facilitating the integration of renewables into the energy mix.
6. Government Initiatives: The project aligns with Estonia’s national energy policies and reflects the government’s dedication to fostering innovation in the energy sector and achieving long-term energy sustainability goals.

What are the tangible components that constitute BESS?

• Battery modules are interconnected in both series and parallel configurations to achieve the desired capacity.
• The interaction between the actual battery and lithium-ion cells is responsible for their combined functionality.
• A storage enclosure is utilized, which incorporates thermal management to regulate temperature.
• A battery management system (BMS) is employed to monitor and control the battery modules.
• The power conversion system (PCS) and energy management system (EMS) are also integral components of the setup.

1. The Battery Management System (BMS) is responsible for continuously monitoring various aspects of the battery, including its output, voltage, temperature, health, fire warning, and state of charge (SOC). Additionally, the BMS plays a crucial role in regulating the charging and discharging power based on the input signal it receives.
2. The Power Conversion System (PCS) handles the conversion of AC to DC or DC to AC, requiring a bi-directional inverter. In this system, all the clusters from the battery system are connected to a common DC bus, which is further extended to the PCS.
3. Acting as a vital link between the grid demand and the BMS, the Energy Management System (EMS) continuously monitors the energy requirements of the grid and facilitates the transfer of energy from the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). This is achieved through control logic, where the EMS sends an input signal to either charge or discharge the battery based on the control logic requirement and the SOC of the battery system.