NEC Energy Solutions says it completed and commissioned one of the largest energy storage systems in Europe for Germany-based EnspireME, a joint venture between Eneco, a Netherlands-based renewable energy company and Mitsubishi Corp.

(Click to enlarge.) The building houses roughly 10,000 Li-ion batteries. Credit: NECThe 48 megawatt energy storage system located in Jardelund, Germany, has over 50 megawatthours of storage capacity. It will generate revenue from the primary reserve market by providing reactive power to stabilize the transmission grid.

Transmission system operators (TSOs) in Europe must secure a certain number of capacity reserves to prepare for sudden power loss or an extensive blackout. The storage capacity from the system will be sold to the German electricity market through weekly common auctions. In these auctions, European grid operators buy the reserve capacity they need in the primary reserve control market to guarantee the 50 Hz (Hertz) frequency on the grid.

In addition, Eneco and Mitsubishi also will investigate connecting the battery to local wind farms and storing excess electricity generated during periods of curtailment.

Boston-based NEC provided engineering, procurement and construction services, including its GSS storage equipment and control software, along with around 10,000 lithium-ion battery modules.

NEC Energy Solutions designs, manufactures and integrates energy storage solutions for the electric grid and other applications.