UK-based energy storage firm redT has signed a deal to supply more than 700 megawatt-hours (MWh) of grid-scale systems to support the German grid.
The company said it will initially deliver two 40MWh energy storage projects, using its ‘Gen 3’ vanadium redox flow technology, with plans to roll out a further 690MWh of projects in the future.
The first phase projects for Energy System Management (ESM)— a German energy development company that is part of WWF solar— are “fully developed, ready for financing, with planning approval, grid connection and approval to supply secondary control reserve (SCR) to German and Austrian markets”, redT said.
“The initial 80MWh phase, representing 1,066 of redT’s Gen 3 tank units, is expected to begin construction in 2019, subject to financial close being reached.”
“This is the first time flow machines will be used to provide SCR in Germany, with this service typically being provided by ramping coal-fired power plants,” redT said.
“This service requires up to a four-hour charge or discharge duration and is designed to maintain equilibrium on the electrical network between demand and supply. Providers of SCR are paid a fee based on their available power (MW) and energy (MWh) to charge or discharge to the grid when required.”
According to redT, the deal confirms the suitability of its technology for “mega projects” at grid level— “especially in Germany where transmission system operators are now looking for long duration, flexible energy storage infrastructure to balance their market areas”.
BEST Battery Briefing reported last March that redT had been chosen as the “primary energy storage technology provider” for a large-scale tidal generation project in the UK.