In Sweden, energy utility major Vattenfall AB, mining and metals major Boliden AB and municipal energy company Landskrona Energi AB are conducting a two-year research project and investing in a new battery storage facility in Landskrona. With the support of the Swedish Energy Agency, the project is to develop a battery storage facility that can combine reduced electricity costs for the customer with flexible power grid services.
The new scope of the project is to develop a 500 kW battery storage facility that can combine reduced electricity costs for the customer with flexible grid services such as grid stability (frequency regulation) or provide support if the local electricity grid does not suffice. The smart storage facility chooses the service that is most economic at the time; whichever one it is, participating customers benefit, and it creates flexibility.
We’re working on solutions for present and future needs for flexibility. The unique aspect of this project is that it can support four levels in the electricity system: the transmission grid, regional and local grids, and the electricity consumer. The project is an important part of Vattenfall’s continuing journey to provide new services for our industrial customers, customised for the future energy system and the electrification of industry, said Magnus Berg, Project Manager at Vattenfall.
This is the first time such a large battery storage facility has been installed on the premises of an industrial customer, Boliden Mineral’s Bergsöe facility in Landskrona, southern Sweden. Bergsöe is the Nordic region’s only secondary smelter for lead and one of Europe’s largest recyclers of used car batteries.
Batteries will be an important part of our work towards electrification and energy efficiency improvement in our operations. This project will help us along that road, at the same time as we also create better energy security for other electricity customers, said Mats Gustavsson, Energy Manager at Boliden.
The battery storage facility will be commissioned in the summer and has a capacity of 1 MWh. The cost of the project is SEK 7.4 million (≈ EUR 705 246), of which the Swedish Energy Agency is contributing SEK 1.9 million (≈ EUR 180 000).
Power and capacity issues are becoming more and more important in our region, and at the same time, we want to promote further set-ups in Landskrona. So we’re looking forward to evaluating what opportunities there are for the customers to contribute to more efficient use of the grid and at the same time influence their costs, said Angelo Tizzano, Head of Distribution, Landskrona Energi.
Project actors and roles:
Vattenfall AB: A number of Vattenfall’s Business Units are participating in the project. Vattenfall Network Solutions is responsible for ownership and administration plus operation and maintenance of the battery storage facility during the project period. The concept is part of Power-as-a-service, and, in formal terms, the delivery is by Vattenfall Elanläggningar AB. Vattenfall AB is managing the research project itself and further developing the control algorithms for the battery, as well as supplying the frequency regulation service to Svenska Kraftnät.
Boliden AB: Boliden Mineral AB operates the plant in Bergsöe where the battery storage facility is being located. The battery creates flexibility for the customer by storing fossil-free electricity when the price is lower, which reduces the cost of electricity, while the battery also provides support during consumption peaks.
Landskrona Energi AB: Owns and operates the local electricity grid in Landskrona. At times when there are restrictions in the grid as a result of temporary high consumption, so-called capacity peaks, the battery can support the regional and local electricity grids.
Local and regional solutions for storing and using electricity are becoming more and more important as the electricity requirements of our society increase. This project is an example of how it’s possible to find solutions here and now, said Susanne Karlsson, Head of the Swedish Energy Agency’s Sustainable Electricity unit.
