Battery storage: an untapped preparedness resource – without emissions
Can battery storage systems currently used in the electricity market also become a vital preparedness solution for society? At Glava Energy Center’s Energy Conference on 2 June, Ebba Lillo, RISE, shares insights from a pioneering project in Grums, Värmland – demonstrating how existing battery storage can help secure critical societal functions during power outages, without emissions or reliance on diesel.
In the event of a power outage, battery storage could make the difference between major disruptions and continued normal operation. These systems have the potential to provide fast, stable and emission-free backup power – without the environmental and climate-related drawbacks of diesel generators.
– Battery storage can start instantly and stabilize a local grid through so-called grid-forming capabilities, enabling critical functions to continue without interruption. It is a more sustainable alternative to diesel and can also maintain sufficient voltage and frequency even during load changes, says Ebba Lillo, Research and Development Engineer at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden.
The Grums project: a proof of concept for the future
In Grums, Värmland, she is currently involved in a project testing how an existing battery storage system can be equipped with control technology – known as grid-forming capability – and become an important preparedness resource. The objective of the project is clear: to demonstrate that battery storage systems currently used solely in the ancillary services market can also strengthen national energy preparedness.
– We want to prove that there are alternatives to diesel for backup power, which is particularly valuable for municipalities with limited diesel reserves. The potential is significant, but it is not being utilized today, says Ebba Lillo.
Despite the fact that battery storage is already present in the energy system, it is rarely used for preparedness purposes. The reason? A lack of compensation models and regulatory frameworks that have not kept pace with developments.
– Preparedness services currently have no defined value, and the regulatory framework makes it difficult to combine commercial use with preparedness functions. Owners of battery storage systems want to operate in the ancillary services market, and without a clear market for preparedness resources, the potential will not be realized, explains Ebba Lillo.
The way forward: regulation and business models
The technology already exists, but for battery storage to become an established preparedness resource, changes in regulation and new business models are required.
– We live in uncertain times, and regulations need to adapt accordingly. My hope is that our project can contribute to that change, says Ebba Lillo.
Register for Glava Energy Center’s Energy Conference
Ebba Lillo is one of the speakers at this year’s Energy Conference at Glava Energy Center. Would you like to learn more about how battery storage can become a key resource for societal preparedness – and how current barriers can be overcome? Register for Glava Energy Center’s Energy Conference on 2 June!