Hitachi Energy plans to deploy a 6MW/7.5MWh BESS project in the Faroe Islands

　　Hitachi Energy has announced plans to supply and deploy a battery energy storage system (BESS) for a wind farm in the Faroe Islands, Denmark, which has set a goal of adopting 100% renewable energy by 2030.

　　The Faroe Islands, located between Norway and Iceland and north of Scotland, are home to about 50,000 people and are self-sufficient in terms of electricity due to their lack of access to the grid.

　　(The Oakley wind farm was launched earlier this year and operates seven wind turbines with an installed capacity of 6.3MW each)

　　Hitachi Energy has said it has signed a contract with Faroese utility SEV to supply a 6MW/7.5MWh battery storage system that will integrate a 6.3MW installed capacity wind farm into the local grid on Suðuroy Island, the southernmost of the Faroe Islands.

　　SEV is combining the wind farm it operates with this battery storage system to achieve its renewable energy goals, said Hakun Djurhuus, CEO of SEV, adding that the company's revenues from the sale of electricity are mainly used for future expansion of the power supply system and upgrading of power supply equipment so that it can continue to grow and meet the growing demand for electricity.

　　Until 2018, the share of renewable energy generation in the Faroe Islands' total electricity production had reached 49 percent. The battery storage system will allow SEV to maximize the use of wind power resources and increase reliability and resilience.

　　Specifically, in this battery storage project deployed by Hitachi Energy, the installed capacity is close to the total installed capacity of this wind farm so that backup power can be provided in the event that wind is insufficient or unavailable. While the backup diesel generating units in the Faroe Islands will remain, the combination of the wind facility and the battery storage system will significantly reduce their operating hours and the fuel required.

　　Hitachi Energy said in a press release recently that the extreme wind conditions in the region make it a challenge to capture wind energy efficiently and can make it difficult to operate wind turbines, so diesel generators or battery storage systems will be needed to supplement or support them.

　　Massimo Danieli, executive vice president and managing director of grid automation at Hitachi Energy, said, "Even in a highly complex operating environment, SEV is leading the way in leveraging innovative technologies to drive sustainability and clean energy development. By harnessing the Faroe Islands' abundant energy resources and installing and operating wind, hydro and solar power facilities, SEV's grid strategy not only achieves current goals, but also protects the region's environment for sustainable development."

　　Hitachi Energy will provide its e-mesh PowerStorage battery energy storage solution. Hitachi Energy, formerly known as Hitachi ABB Grid, has been selling and integrating BESS for many years, and in November of this year launched a series of updated hardware, software and services, which are include modular and integrated battery storage solutions.

　　The battery storage equipment for SEV includes PowerStore batteries and the Hitachi Energy e-mesh digital software control and management platform, which allows the company to enhance any type of distributed energy asset.

　　According to industry press reports, Hitachi Energy recently signed a contract to deploy a 35 MW battery storage project in Australia's Northern Territory (NT) that will improve the reliability of the local grid while helping to integrate growing renewable energy sources, particularly local residential solar power. The project is a key part of the Northern Territory Government's plan to achieve its net zero target of 50% renewable energy adoption by 2030.

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