Madeira Utility Contracts Battery Storage Plant to be Integrated into Microgrid

Source: · T&D WORLD · | November18, 2021

The project will enable EEM to optimize its renewable energy integration, significantly contributing to increasing the share of renewable power to around 50% in its energy mix.

Source: T&D World

Madeira’s energy provider, Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (EEM), has awarded a Siemens and Fluence consortium a contract to install a 22.5 MVA /15.6 MVh battery storage plant, which will be integrated into an islanded microgrid concept. The project will enable EEM to optimize its renewable energy integration, significantly contributing to increasing the share of renewable power to around 50% in its energy mix. As a result, the island can reduce its fuel consumption over the next two to three years, while gaining greater energy independence without affecting energy quality or grid stability.  Visualization of the battery storage plant that Madeira’s energy provider, Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (EEM) ordered from Siemens and Fluence. The project helps EEM to optimize its renewable energy integration and contributes significantly to increasing the share of renewable power to around 50 percent in its energy mix.

Integrated in a microgrid concept, the battery energy storage system will also improve the island's sustainability by reducing its carbon footprint and integrating more diversified power generation sources. At the same time, it will allow EEM to maintain high standards of reliability and availability of power distribution. One of its unique features is the ability to blackstart a part of the 60 kV network and restore grid services in the event of an outage. Located next to Vitória Thermal Power Plant, the battery energy storage system is scheduled to start operations in the second quarter of 2022.