Renewable Energy in Germany software for a stable power grid – taz.de

Renewable Energy in Germany

We do not need huge energy storage, but smart. We need to respond accurately and stably on a fluctuating network utilization.

FREIBURG Taz | The energy revolution has many myths. A myth revolves around the need for electricity storage: Most the impression of lacking of huge capacity to buffer the stream from the summer sun and winter storms for week long lulls.

Much more important, however small, intelligent storage. Not to save the network with no wind all night, because that can make for years to also flexible gas power plants. It is crucial that they can provide the system services that previously were incumbent fossil large power plants.

These include frequency regulation, voltage stability and the so-called black start capability, which is the chance after a power failure the start pulse to provide for the entire system – what wind power and photovoltaics can not.

All this must warn you, if you want to describe the profession of the Berlin Younicos AG. The fact recently commissioned in Schwerin a plant in operation, which they referred to as “Europe’s first commercial battery power plant”.

batteries as electric cars

The memory is almost ridiculously small when you think in the usual dimensions of the current economy. It has a capacity of 5 megawatts, which corresponds exactly to a single offshore wind turbine. In fact, it used to be only 2.5 megawatt hours, or 2,500 kilowatt hours, be – just the annual consumption of a single economical budget.

What to use such a mini storage? Since knowledge comes from above their own: The project, which operates the Schwerin catering Wemag AG should primarily serve to stabilize the grid frequency. The system therefore sold their ability to flexibly accommodate and feed stream. And there on the market right money.

25600 lithium manganese oxide cells installed in a shed next to the substation Schwerin Lankow Younicos. The cells were supplied by Samsung, typical batteries, such as those used in electric cars. Younicos itself is primarily a software company: Of the 120 employees – 90 in Germany, 30 in the US – is every other programmers.

Your task is to find the batteries to control so that they respond accurately and quickly to varying network conditions – and the system stability as well in view how the optimal marketing of the services concerned. Up to six different operating modes are possible, can know the company, and they are all based on the fact that the battery with the power “speaks” and responds in milliseconds to his needs.

Not for the stock market

Only the traditional revenue model, in which one always thinks of first when saving eligible for the batteries for the time being in question: from low power times buy on the spot market the stock market to more expensive times to sell this again. “Not worth it yet,” says Gunnar Wrede, Head of Energy Management and Policy. For the price differences were much too low. That way, also feel the controversial pumped storage plants that can barely profitable now.

The battery storage in Schwerin, however, will pay for itself in the market, including the Wemag is convinced. However, it is fair to mention that the project has received initial funding of 20 percent from the innovation program of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, the 1.3 million euros.

But because the battery prices have continued to fall ever since, would have been future memory can be operated profitably without subsidies, it says in Younicos. The market grant any remuneration for their enormous flexibility – in the future, perhaps even more than today

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