Helping industrial grid users speed up transition to carbon neutrality
The EU-funded AGISTIN project is helping industrial grid users rapidly decarbonise by developing innovative energy storage technologies at the physical interface with the grid. These new forms of energy storage will alleviate grid connection pressure, increase energy system resilience and enable more renewables at industrial sites. As Europe strives towards its goal of carbon neutrality, the large-scale deployment of renewables and emergence of new forms of electrical demand are putting pressure on Europe’s grid systems. Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands are just three examples of countries where issues with grid development, grid access, network congestion, operations with low inertia grids, human capital and supply chain threaten to derail decarbonisation goals. Energy storage is therefore a vital tool in integrating industrial processes and large-scale renewables, and ensuring continued grid stability and reliability. This means that new advanced storage integration methods are needed to resolve issues for grid users and operators so that Europe can remain steadfast on the path to carbon neutrality.
Testing, then showing how it’s done
The AGISTIN energy storage technologies will first be tested in three separate laboratory tests. The two German laboratory tests will trial the design’s controls and functionality on a fast-charging application for electric vehicles and the developed solution for an electrolyser application using a dynamic grid emulator. The Spanish lab will test the concept on a pumping system before implementation in a real irrigation system. Once the lab tests are concluded, the refined design will be implemented in two field demonstrations. The Spanish demo pilot will establish the potential of using irrigation systems as an energy storage medium. The Dutch pilot will demonstrate the use of energy storage and advanced control to maximise the use of renewables on a renewable hydrogen generation facility. A recent ‘Enlit’ news item describes the project’s benefits: “The project will provide advanced grid services such as grid forming control, fast frequency response and balancing flexibility. These will support grid operators when managing low inertia grids and reducing curtailment of renewables. Furthermore, it will reduce pressure on grid connection capacity and grid reinforcement requirements to account for and support new renewables and industrial demand. The outcomes of the project will enable industrial grid users to economically integrate significantly more on-site renewables than traditional integration approaches.”
Enhancing stakeholder knowledge
To help energy storage developers and operators, electricity generators, grid operators and policymakers better their understanding of the key role that grid connection networks play in shaping the future of energy storage, AGISTIN (Advanced Grid Interfaces for innovative STorage INtegration) is holding an online webinar titled ‘Perspectives on Grid Connection Networks for Energy Storage’. Scheduled for 23 May 2024, the webinar will focus on grid connection network amendments and the implications of the network codes on grid connection networks for energy storage. For more information, please see: AGISTIN project website
Keywords
AGISTIN, energy, grid, energy storage, renewable, decarbonisation, carbon neutrality
