Siemens Smart Infrastructure, in partnership with Fluence, is working to help the Portuguese island of Madeira gain greater energy independence and grid resilience using renewable energy.
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. Located next to Vitória Thermal Power Plant, the battery energy storage system is scheduled to start operations in the second quarter of 2022.
Optimizing renewable energy
The project will enable EEM to optimize its renewable energy integration, significantly contributing to increasing the share of renewable power to around 50 per cent 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.
Black-starting
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 60kV network and restore grid services in the event of an outage.
Gridstack
The project, which will be implemented on a turnkey basis, includes the construction of a battery energy storage system with a capacity of 22,5 MVA and 15,6 MWh. The energy storage technology will be supplied by Fluence, a joint venture between Siemens and AES. The consortium will build an outdoor storage solution including an e-house, Fluence’s sixth-generation Gridstack product, and transformers.
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Grid integration
In addition to the supply of low and medium voltage switchgear and protection and control systems, Siemens will ensure the complete integration of the energy storage system into the island’s energy grid. For the next 10 years, the consortium will also be responsible for the maintenance of both equipment and systems supplied. Siemens operates an international competence center for microgrids and energy storage in Portugal.
Featured photograph is a visualization of the battery storage plant that Madeira’s energy provider, Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (EEM) ordered from Siemens and Fluence.