Energy storage giant Saft has been contracted by Isotron SAU to supply two lithium-ion battery storage systems to a solar PV diesel hybrid plant in Bolivia’s Pando region.
Saft’s energy storage system (ESS) is aimed to enable solar storage at the site and integrate power into the diesel-powered grid. The ESS will combine two containerised lithium-ion battery systems, with a nominal storage capacity of 580kWh and 1.1MW peak power output each.
The off-grid plant in the Amazonian rain forest combines a 5MW PV array with 16MW diesel generation and has a planned power output of 21MW. It is currently under construction by Spain’s Isastur Group’s subsidiary Isotron SAU.
“The Pando hybrid scheme provides an excellent reference of how large scale PV and conventional generation can be integrated with energy storage to deliver continuous and reliable electricity supplies for remote communities where grid connections are unreliable or non-existent,” said Ignacio Quiles, Saft sales manager and managing director Saft Baterias, Spain and South America.
The integration of PV with energy storage and diesel generation is aimed to ensure a continuous power supply for Pando, while reducing fuel consumption by 20m litres a year, which should result in saving the utility millions of dollars and reducing CO2 emissions.
The plant started generating 2MW of electricity in September and is planned to generate the rest of its capacity before the end of 2014.
