Photo: Uniper SE
Uniper is planning to build a battery storage system at its Heyden power plant site in western Germany with energy solutions provider NGEN. The 50 MW facility is scheduled to come online in 2025.
Uniper said its partnership with NGEN emphasizes the joint commitment to innovation and sustainability as well as the commitment to the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure in Germany. The two companies agreed to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) with 50 MW in operating power and a capacity of 100 MWh.
The facility consisting of 26 storage packs is due to be completed in 2025, the German energy company said. Energy storage systems enable more efficient utilization of all generation plants that feed electricity into the local grid because power can be stored and used when needed, it added.
They facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources by balancing the intermittent nature of renewables, and ensuring a reliable, flexible power supply while helping grid stability, Uniper noted.
BESS unit to be installed at site of coal plant due to be closed this year
The site is at the Heyden hard coal power plant, scheduled to be shut down at the end of September. It is located in Petershagen in the North Rhine-Westphalia state in western Germany.
“Energy storage plays an important role in the development of the green growth business in Uniper’s strategy. By using cutting-edge technology and expertise to develop sustainable solutions, we will play a central role in shaping the future of energy in Germany,” said Chief Operating Officer Jan Taschenberger, responsible for new green power and gas.
NGEN is setting up its first office in Germany
As part of the project, NGEN will open an office in Frankfurt, its first in Germany. The Slovenian energy storage solutions provider aims to consolidate its presence in the European energy market, the announcement reads.
“This strategic collaboration will enable us to drive innovation, accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and contribute to a more resilient and sustainable energy system in Germany,” said Chief Executive Officer of NGEN Group Roman Bernard. He was one of the main panelists at the recent Belgrade Energy Forum in Serbia, organized by Balkan Green Energy News.
Inverters to be integrated in proposed battery facility
The proposed facility would be made of rechargeable lithium battery modules. The storage unit contains battery modules with integrated inverter modules, a thermal system for cooling or heating the components, and an interface for operating the system.
Düsseldorf-based Uniper is an international energy company with activities in more than 40 countries. Having 7,000 employees, its core markets are Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Uniper’s operations encompass power generation in Europe, global energy trading and a broad gas portfolio. It procures gas, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), and other energy sources. The company said it owns and operates gas storage facilities with a total capacity of more than seven billion cubic meters.
It intends to become completely carbon neutral by 2040. Uniper aims for its installed power generating capacity to be more than 80% zero-carbon by 2030. The company is expanding its gas portfolio to include green gases like hydrogen and biomethane and aims to convert to these gases over the long term.
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