Energy company Fluence Energy announced its first project with Ukraine’s largest private energy developer DTEK. Its Dutch subsidiary will provide the country with 200MW/400MWh of power at six energy storage sites across Ukraine.
It said this will be the biggest operational energy storage project in Europe at the time of commissioning.
The sites will have capacity of 20–50MW and investment is around €140 million ($144 million). The companies intend to complete installation by October 2025 to mitigate against power grid outages next winter.
The installations would be able to supply two hours’ power to 600,000 homes (equivalent to roughly half the households in Kyiv).
Fluence said its battery energy storage systems (BESS) will provide frequency regulation and “highly advanced stability services” through the system’s grid-forming capabilities. This should strengthen the resiliency of the Ukrainian power network to keep the power on during extreme conditions of war, it said.
Both Fluence and DTEK will oversee the installation, configuration, network integration and testing of the projects. Fluence will provide BESS maintenance training.
Maxim Timchenco, DTEK’s CEO said: “Battery storage is a critical element in Ukraine’s vision to build a decentralised energy system that reduces our emissions and enhances our energy security. The partnership with Fluence further signals our commitment to leading the way in battery storage, both in Ukraine and across Europe.”
There have been heavy Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine’s grid infrastructure. DTEK said the BESS were pivotal in decentralising Ukraine’s energy system.
