Energy storage system (ESS) developer Russian Energy Storage Systems, a subsidiary of the Russian nano monopoly Rusnano, is planning to begin commercial production of lithium-ion systems.
The decision comes after the company successfully tested a 250kW/460kWh system connected to solar power plants operated by Rusnano’s partner Khevel in the Russian Tuva Republic.
At the initial stage, the ESSs will be deployed alongside Russia’s leading solar power plants.
The project is estimated to cost $10 million at the initial stage, with the possibility of its increase during the second stage of the project.
During the next three years, RESS expects to ramp up overall capacity of the enterprise to 50MWh.
At present the average of cost of ESSs produced in Russia is estimated at RUB 45 million ($600,000) 1MW/h capacity.
According to Roman Frolov, project manager of the Russian firm, the company aims to develop two more ESSs with the capacity of 4MWh each, which will be the largest ESS in the territory in terms of capacity.
The company estimates payback period of its ESSs to be 2–5 years, depending on the period of use, the cost of fuel and electricity at the sites of installation.
At the end of last year the Russian nuclear enterprise Rosatom announced the development of several types of ESS that will have up to 250kWh of capacity and be primarily intended for passenger transport applications.
The systems are produced on the basis of Rosatom’s Centrotech Scientific and Production Association (NPO Centrotech LLC) as well as the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrate Plant, Russia’s largest producer and exporter of lithium products.
Rosseti, one of Russia’s largest power companies, completed the development of its own ESS last December.
According to an official spokesman for the company, under the terms of the project it has already begun installation of the ESSs on its branch power networks to ensure security of supply during the winter period in Russia.