Boosting energy self-sufficiency in Haren with wind power and battery storage

Making more wind power usable

With the expansion of renewable energies, the need for solutions that stabilize volatile generation is also growing. Large-scale battery storage systems play a central role in this. They temporarily store surplus electricity from wind energy and make it available when it is needed locally. This increases self-consumption of renewable energy and a region's level of self-sufficiency can be increased in a targeted manner.

Initial situation

In 2014, around 45% of the quarter-hour intervals in Haren (Ems) already came from renewable energies. The Green H2 Hub Haren, which uses electricity from the Fehndorf/Lindloh community wind farm, was set up to further increase this proportion and increase the level of local self-sufficiency.

Even in the early planning stages of the project, it was planned to supplement the volatile wind energy with a large-scale battery storage system. In addition, a 2 MW electrolyser was installed, which is connected to the wind farm and battery storage system via a higher-level energy management system.

The storage system takes on the task of absorbing surplus electricity from wind energy and stabilizing energy generation. This creates an integrated energy system that significantly improves the local use of renewable energies.

Implementation of the project

For the project, INTILION installed two large-scale INTILION | scalecube storage systems as a container solution in two 40-foot containers with a nominal total capacity of 7.4 MWh.

In addition to supplying the battery systems, the scope of services also included the integration of control units, converters, transformers and switchgear. INTILION was also responsible for the installation and commissioning of the entire system.

Integration into the higher-level energy management system means that the volatile energy generated by the wind farm can be stored efficiently and distributed in a targeted manner.

Functionality and benefits

The large-scale battery storage systems perform several tasks within the local energy infrastructure.

Stabilization of wind energy

Surplus electricity from the community wind farm is stored and made available again at a later date. This makes volatile electricity generation from wind energy more usable.

Higher level of self-sufficiency

By storing locally generated energy, the city can use renewable electricity from the region even when generation is low and increase self-consumption.

Intelligent energy system

The wind farm, electrolyser and battery storage system are connected via a central energy management system. This allows renewable energy to be distributed flexibly between storage, use and other applications.

Technical equipment

The solution was implemented as an outdoor container system with converter, transformer and switchgear and also has a stand-alone grid function.

Cooperation in the project

The project was implemented in close cooperation with various project partners. In particular, the coordination of the different trades and the integration of the various components into a common energy system were decisive success factors for the implementation.

Further information

Further information on the overall project can be found at

• Full supply from renewable energy - CEC Haren - stabilization of wind energy
• Green H2-Hub Haren - CEC Haren - Continuation of wind energy

On behalf of CEC Haren, I would like to thank you for the excellent and constructive cooperation in this ideal demonstration project, which shows how the energy transition can work in the future, especially in rural areas.

Christoph Pieper
Managing Director and Project Manager

Customer

CEC Haren GmbH & Co. KG

Haren, Germany

 

CEC from Haren (Ems) plans, builds and operates plants for the stabilization of wind energy, including for the supply of hydrogen applications.

It comprises the following energy and hydrogen infrastructure:

• Fehndorf / Lindloh community wind farm
• Electrolyser
• Battery storage with ancillary facilities and buildings
• Feed-in facility of Open Grid Europe (OGE) into the OGE gas grid
• Hydrogen filling station
• Electricity fast charger
• Associated grid infrastructure

The CEC is designing and piloting an overall energy system in the agricultural model region of Haren.

Westnetz GmbH

Dortmund, Germany

Westnetz is the electricity and gas distribution network operator in western Germany. Based in Dortmund, Westnetz GmbH  is a wholly owned subsidiary of the energy company Westenergie AG. The company operates grids belonging to different owners, which they make available to all market participants on a non-discriminatory basis. Westnetz builds, plans and operates a network from Emsland to Hunsrück, from the Dutch border to Weserbergland.

Location:

Haren, Germany