RWE has commenced construction of an ultra-fast battery energy storage system (BESS) at its Moerdijk power plant in the Netherlands.
The system, designed with an installed capacity of 7.5MW and a storage capacity of 11 megawatt hours (MWh), aims to enhance grid stability by providing or absorbing electricity within milliseconds.
The Moerdijk battery storage project is a strategic component of the system integration solutions for OranjeWind, a collaborative offshore wind project between RWE and TotalEnergies.
OranjeWind seeks to integrate intermittent renewable energy sources into the Dutch energy grid through electrolysers, smart charging stations for electric vehicles, e-boilers and battery storage systems.
The Moerdijk BESS will utilise lithium iron phosphate batteries housed in three shipping containers. It will connect to the high-voltage grid via an existing grid connection.
The system’s advanced control technology and inverters with grid-forming functionality will enable the battery storage system to provide instantaneous reserve power.
The grid-forming capability is crucial as it allows the system to assume essential functions that conventional power plants typically perform, ensuring a stable and reliable electricity grid.
The project is set for commissioning by the end of 2024, followed by a two-year pilot phase.
During this period, transmission system operator TenneT will partner with RWE to refine technical requirements and grid compliance procedures for the grid-forming features of the battery storage system.
RWE generation chief operating officer and RWE country chair for the Netherlands Marinus Tabak stated: “With the Moerdijk battery storage system, we are pioneering grid-forming technologies as alternatives to traditional solutions such as power stations.
“This offers a pathway to a more sustainable yet reliable energy future. Battery storage systems like this will be crucial for the stability of electricity grids in the future as Europe’s energy market is moving towards renewable energy and decentralised energy systems.”
In August 2024, RWE installed a high-voltage direct current offshore converter platform at the 1.4GW Sofia offshore wind farm located in UK waters.
