Batteries can prevent grid congestion under the right conditions
The CE Delft report "Large Batteries and Offtake Network Congestion Policy" released today shows that large batteries play an important role in keeping the grid balanced in the Netherlands. The rapid rollout of batteries is therefore critical to the success of the Dutch energy transition. It is important that the batteries do not cause congestion so that companies, residential areas and schools can be connected. Additional policies are needed to do this, concludes research bureau CE Delft in his report.
Preventing additional grid congestion
Batteries are currently used mainly for high-voltage grid balancing services commissioned by TenneT. These services are necessary to keep the grid stable, but the resulting energy flows can inadvertently lead to additional grid congestion at the regional and local levels.
According to CE Delft, these opposite effects can be limited by controlling location, connection conditions, and specific costs, among other things. The report focuses on creating the right prerequisites for large lithium-ion batteries with a maximum capacity of 4 hours, specifically designed to cope with demand congestion.
The Netherlands needs the growth of energy storage
In its first reaction to the study, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate emphasized the added value of large batteries.
"A lot of flexibility is needed to keep the balance of a sustainable energy system in the future. Large batteries will play an important role in the coming years, balancing fluctuating demand and fluctuating supply (solar and wind) at all times. Therefore, batteries play an important role in a sustainable, CO2 emission free, affordable and reliable energy system. ce Delft has given us various policy recommendations so that batteries can contribute to a sustainable energy system without causing additional network congestion".
Energy Storage NL (ESNL), the Dutch umbrella organization for the energy storage industry, said it is pleased that CE Delft recognizes the need for batteries in energy systems and the energy transition. However, ESNL warns of the lack of a positive business case for batteries, when everyone sees the need.
ESNL Chairman Maarten van den Heuvel: "The report clearly states that based on the current business case, a maximum of 2 GW of profitable battery capacity can be achieved by 2030, while TenneT alone requires 10 GW by 2030. therefore, government guidance is necessary if we want to accelerate energy storage in the Netherlands, says Maarten van den Heuvel.
The importance of additional research
In the case of Energy Storage NL, additional research is needed to determine the specific added value of batteries in specific situations involving grid congestion.
Maarten van den Heuvel: "The current report only focuses on the role that the current generation of lithium-ion batteries plays in preventing congestion in the Dutch purchase. As far as we are concerned, energy storage - such as batteries (lithium-ion, liquid flow batteries, salt batteries) as well as thermal and molecular storage - and other flexibility services in combination with grid reinforcement are necessary in order to finally solve demand congestion.
According to Energy Storage NL, further innovation is needed. For example, umbrella organizations see a lot of added value in new technologies such as liquid flow batteries, salt batteries and compressed air storage with greater storage capacity. There are also efforts to extend the storage life of current lithium-ion batteries. In this way, future batteries can store longer and more energy, making them even more important in actively addressing grid congestion.
