Langenreichenbach 25 MWh
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
With more than 4 years of experience in providing primary control power, the Upside Group has developed an innovative technical battery concept and successfully implemented it for the first time in the Langenreichenbach project. For this purpose, operating data could be used and evaluated that relate both the state of the transmission and distribution networks and the activity and load of the storage facility at every moment of recording. This enabled components to be selected and precisely dimensioned for future-proof use in the battery system. The result is a battery energy storage system with exceptional performance at a competitive price. The interaction of power components and battery cells is ensured by the superordinate and customized EMS (energy management system). This provides optimum support for the battery management, which is particularly important for the life of the battery. With this product Upside Group is investing intensively in the expansion of the German storage infrastructure and implemented this project as a model for at least 4 other, almost identical projects between March and June 2018.
Location
The Central German region in the Leipzig lowland plain has a long tradition in energy production. In addition to lignite, in particular sun and wind are used to generate electricity. However, the existing power lines are already heavily used today and will be even more so in the future. Upside developed the Langenreichenbach project during 2017 in the 20kV distribution grid of a 110kV substation of the distribution grid operator Mitnetz in the district of Mockrehna (Saxony). The open space created by the dismantling of an old switch house in 2015/16 was used to integrate the battery into the medium voltage of the transformer station via two separate grid connection points so that it is ready for operation 24/7. The connection, at the heart of the distribution network as it were, enables not only integration into the standard service network for the power output of the PRL, but also the direct provision of further network services. The Langenreichenbach battery energy storage system thus contributes to grid relief in the entire region.
Performance
With the frequency-controlled power output of the PRL, it is important to follow the fluctuating frequency to the second. The Langenreichenbach battery system does this in two medium-voltage rings at two separate network connection points in parallel and independently in 9 inverters with 1.8MVA each, each equipped with its own frequency control. The plant has been fully operational since July 2018 and it was initially prequalified for the provision of primary control reserve (PCR). Since 2022, the battery storage system has also been prequalified for automatic frequency restoration reserve (aFRR), operates on intraday and day-ahead markets and is also amortized through other grid-serving services.
Technology
After evaluating various storage technologies, the Langenreichenbach battery energy storage system relies on proven technologies from renowned manufacturers. The power electronics and the converters come from Siemens and SMA, one of the world’s three largest manufacturers of battery inverters. The battery cells used are lead-carbon dry accumulators in which the electrolyte is bound in a fleece of glass fibre. Connected to a firmly welded ABS plastic housing with outgassing valve, the battery cells can therefore be installed horizontally and even flooded without any substances escaping. The oversizing of the electrical and chemical components typical of Upside Group projects and the low fire load inherent in the technology make the Langenreichenbach battery energy storage one of the safest and most reliable systems worldwide. Apart from that, it was one of the largest battery storage systems installed in Europe in 2018.