Engie

Connected Energy supplied Engie with an E-STOR system specifically designed to provide dynamic firm frequency response services to the Dutch grid operator TenneT. The system is controlled by Engie’s in-house aggregator.

A battery energy storage system (BESS) can be used to help balance the grid, by storing and discharging energy when its needed, improving energy resilience. As we move towards increasing the number of renewables in our power generation mix, the ability to balance this with flexibility elsewhere on the power system will become increasingly important.

The Dutch grid Grid buys energy in large blocks, typically by the megawatt (MW). If a BESS provides less than 1MW, it can’t individually supply the grid. An aggregator is a way for several smaller assets in the same area to group together to sell grid balancing solutions. The aggregator is the interface to the Grid operator and the route to market.

They also calculate how much revenue is paid to the owners of each asset. In this way, aggregation also provides a degree of security to Grid operator – if there is an issue with one of the assets in the group, other assets can step up and provide that energy, ensuring there is no disruption of service. After all, there is strength in numbers.