Nordic-based renewable energy developer Ilmatar has commissioned its Ainola 30MW/41MWh BESS in Finland. It is the firm’s first BESS in the country.
The BESS, which is located by the Piiparinmäki wind farm in North Ostrobothnia, is said to be one of the first projects of its kind and will support grid stability in the region.
It can participate in electricity trading, including day ahead and intra-day trading. The firm states that once the BESS is approved for reserve markets it will be able to contribute more directly to frequency regulation.
The company acted as project developer and constructed the BESS in Finland, retaining a 10% ownership stake.
The majority owner of the Ainola BESS is the international investment company Nuveen Infrastructure, which also bought out the Piiparinmäki wind farm from Ilmatar in 2019.
The BESS is designed to operate for at least 15 years and is said to play a key role in the transition to a more decentralised and flexible energy system.
Ilmatar currently has 15 storage projects under development in Finland and in Sweden.
Mika Jantunen, head of technology, Ilmatar, said: “We are very pleased and proud that the Ainola BESS – whose development and deployment required pioneering solutions and a forward-looking approach – has now reached commercial operation and full market capability.”
Niklas Löf, project manager for Ainola BESS, Ilmatar, said: “This is a significant step toward a fossil-free energy ecosystem. Battery storage enables the use of renewable energy precisely when it’s most needed – while also addressing the challenges of reliability and emission reductions.”
Image: the Ainola BESS is now in operation in Finland. Credit: Ilmatar.
