Fortum to Install Sweden’s Biggest Battery to Support Grid Stability

Over the past two years Fortum has tested a similar concept at its combined heat and power plant in Järvenpää.

With a storage capacity of 6.2 megawatt-hours, Fortum will install Sweden’s biggest battery till date at Forshuvud hydropower plant. The battery system’s output is 5MW and the total cost of the system is approximately EUR 3 million.

“Batteries are thought to be used mostly to store energy. Now, however, we will try connecting a battery to a hydropower plant with the idea of improving the plant’s ability to function as regulating power for the Nordic electricity network,” says Martin Lindström, Head of Asset Management Hydro at Fortum.

“The battery’s very quick response time improves the speed and preciseness of the Forshuvud hydropower plant’s regulation, so we are able to provide even better service to grid companies. We hope that this significant innovation helps us to more quickly achieve Sweden’s ambitious targets for renewable energy use and create a cleaner world,” he further added.

With wind power expected to increase significantly, the electricity generators and providers are trying to be more flexible in order to maintain a consistent balance between production and consumption.

Many power plants ramp their power output up or down to keep the network’s frequency at 50 Hz. Balancing may be needed very quickly, even in a matter of a few seconds.

The new battery will help to keep the frequency in balance, and the Forshuvud power plant will recharge the battery with renewable hydropower. The new battery will adjust the balance quickly.

Fortum is a frontrunner in testing and deploying innovative solutions. Over the past two years the company has tested a similar concept at its combined heat and power plant in Järvenpää.

The concept has proven to be functional, and the battery solution to be taken into use in Forshuvud is based on the experiences gained in Järvenpää.