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Wärtsilä will present a 68 MW power storage system beneath contract to Zenobē in Lerwick, Shetland. (The Shetland Islands, or Shetland, are situated about 110 miles from mainland Scotland.) The brand new system will enhance power safety, cut back emissions, and assist with shifting towards a cleaner, extra resilient energy system. In the UK, Zenobe is the main operator of grid-scale battery storage. Wärtsilä is an revolutionary expertise chief within the power and marine markets.
Christopher Wolf, Director at Wärtsilä Vitality Storage, answered some questions concerning the Shetland Standby Undertaking.
For the 68 MW battery power storage system, what’s the length?
2 hours, utilizing Wärtsilä’s first deployment of Quantum2 within the UK.
What’s the battery chemistry?
Wärtsilä Vitality Storage makes use of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which have the next flash level and a slower charge of self-heating throughout thermal runaway. This makes them much less susceptible to fireplace danger.
What’s the battery system value and what’s going to it’s used for?
The system will primarily present Infrastructure providers to make sure grid backup and restoration capabilities if the interconnector with mainland Scotland goes down.
Commenting, Zenobē Founder Director James Basden mentioned: “…keep safety of provide, guaranteeing properties and companies proceed to obtain the ability they want within the occasion of a transmission system outage, whereas decreasing emissions and utilising extra renewables in Shetland…”
Commenting, SSEN Distribution’s Undertaking Supervisor Nathan Coote mentioned: “… to decarbonise Shetland’s grid whereas sustaining safety of provide… reassurance that in a deliberate outage, or within the occasion of there being a brief challenge with Shetland’s connection to mainland Scotland, energy to properties and companies might be maintained seamlessly, with the battery offering provide whereas Lerwick Energy Station is safely introduced out of standby.”
What number of jobs might be created for the set up?
Actual figures will not be out there. Nevertheless, there’s an settlement in place to make sure on-island upkeep providers provisions.
Will it’s paired with any renewable electrical energy?
The battery power storage system shouldn’t be straight paired with a renewable technology facility.
What are superior grid-forming inverters and the GEMS Digital Vitality Platform?
Superior grid-forming inverters permit battery power storage techniques and different renewable sources to ship important grid providers historically offered by fossil fuel-based turbines. Not like typical “grid-following” inverters, which require a functioning grid to function, grid-forming inverters can independently set up and keep voltage and frequency. This permits them to stabilise the grid throughout disturbances and assist the mixing of extra renewables.
The GEMS Digital Vitality Platform is Wärtsilä Vitality Storage’s industry-leading controls and optimisation software program. Designed and engineered in america, GEMS provides enhanced cybersecurity, system integrity, and operational resilience. Constructed on a completely built-in platform and designed with versatile structure, it gives unmatched visibility and management from battery cell to fleet—serving to challenge house owners unlock most capability, enhance effectivity, and exceed funding objectives.
For the Shetland Standby Undertaking, GEMS will handle the battery system’s real-time efficiency, guaranteeing quick, clever responses to fluctuations in provide and demand.
Which emissions might be lowered through the use of the battery storage system and by how a lot?
The battery facility will permit the diesel-fired Lerwick Energy Station to maneuver right into a standby function, considerably decreasing its utilization. This can end in 2.2 m tonnes of carbon saved within the 10-year interval.
What’s the electrical energy supply or sources for the islands?
As of 1 June 2025, 80% of annual demand is met by Lerwick Energy Station with the remaining 20% from small, unbiased, and community-based renewable turbines. The battery system will assist enhance the share of renewable power on the islands, primarily from ample wind assets.
How many individuals reside on islands?
The Shetland Islands have an approximate inhabitants of twenty-two,920.
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