Creating sustainable energy storage solutions
The EU-funded AGISTIN(opens in new window) project has successfully carried out real-case tests involving vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) in Spain and also made progress in green hydrogen integration trials scheduled for the Netherlands. These two achievements are an important step in the project’s mission to help industrial grid users across Europe to rapidly decarbonise through the advanced integration of energy storage technologies at the interface with the grid.
Dynamic energy storage
At the research centre of project partner CEDER-CIEMAT in north-east Spain, AGISTIN successfully commissioned a VRFB integrated with photovoltaic generation, a hydraulic pumping system and multiple storage tanks. This installation serves as a critical testbed for the project’s advanced grid integration control system that aims to optimise the management of renewable generation, storage and industrial loads. Unlike conventional lithium-ion battery systems, VRFBs utilise liquid electrolytes – stored in external tanks – that circulate through cell stacks, making it possible to scale energy capacity and system power independently. VRFBs also offer longevity, and since electrolytes can be reused and recycled, they support circular economy goals. The system’s inverter is housed in a dedicated facility, while the battery resides in an on-site container, equipped with measuring devices for remote monitoring and real-time control. Initial commissioning has validated the seamless operation of pumps, turbines, solar arrays, and both conventional and innovative storage assets. Operational data is now being used by AGISTIN partner Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya to develop a microgrid optimisation programme. By simulating diverse operating scenarios, the team has identified potential integration challenges prior to full-scale deployment along the Segrià-Sud canal irrigation network. An AGISTIN news item(opens in new window) reports on the milestone test: “This progress marks a key step in demonstrating how advanced storage technologies can support irrigation and energy systems in practice and set the bases for deployment of the AGISTIN concept in the rest of the Segrià-Sud canal pumping stations.”
Optimising green hydrogen production
Parallel efforts have also advanced the integration of green hydrogen production. AGISTIN has received the three bidirectional converters and energy storage devices needed for the demonstration scheduled to take place in Amsterdam. During commissioning, the research team reviewed testing procedures, verified the electrical installation and successfully carried out initial tests. The purpose of the demonstration is to assess how advanced grid interfaces can improve the integration of electrolysers. The project’s dual focus on irrigation-based storage in Spain and hydrogen integration reflects its broader objective: to provide industrial grid users with adaptable tools for decarbonisation. By validating these technologies in real-world environments, AGISTIN (Advanced Grid Interfaces for innovative STorage INtegration) is laying the groundwork for their wider replication across Europe’s agricultural and industrial sectors. The successful integration of VRFBs and hydrogen systems demonstrates that advanced renewable energy storage can support Europe’s transition to a resilient, low-carbon future. For more information, please see: AGISTIN project website(opens in new window)
