Danish wind power firm Orsted is investing in the launch of a pilot lithium-ion energy storage facility in Taiwan.
Orsted said the facility, in Changhua County, will be the “first megawatt-size” facility in Taiwan.
Taiwanese utility Taipower will connect the facility to the grid and Orsted will source storage battery and integrated systems from local suppliers.
The pilot facility will allow Taiwanese institutions to explore, test and assess how different applications of battery-based storage can support Taiwan in the future, Orsted said. “The overall aim of the pilot is to bring knowledge to Taiwan on how a battery-based energy storage system can support the grid and how this may support the renewable build-out.”
Orsted CEO Martin Neubert said: “I believe Taiwan has great potential to become a green energy hub in Asia, just like Denmark’s position in Europe.”
Neubert said the company would work with Taiwanese governmental agencies and academia to “establish a consortium for energy storage research and promote local development of a green energy ecosystem”.
Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) will head up energy storage research associated with the facility working with educational institutions in Changhua, Orsted said.
Orsted set up an office in Taiwan in 2016 and has already signed an agreement for the development of offshore wind power.
BBB reported last week on the launch of a reported “alliance” of industry leaders formed to promote the development of the domestic energy storage market— and boost the take-up of lithium-ion systems.
