RWE has set out plans to help balance the German power grid via its 302MW offshore wind farm, Amrumbank West.
The company plans to offer a system-stabilising secondary reserve, also known as an automatic frequency restoration reserve.
The transmission system operator TenneT recently granted the necessary pre-qualification for a capacity of 60MW.
The secondary reserve complements the primary and minute reserves to maintain the grid frequency at a stable 50 Hertz, preventing potential grid failures.
To participate in the secondary reserve auctions, a participant’s bid power – in this case, the 60MW reduction in wind farm capacity – must be able to be fully activated within five minutes.
Amrumbank West will be the first RWE offshore wind farm to provide system services for grid stabilisation.
Starting in the first quarter of 2025, RWE will market this secondary reserve through daily balancing energy auctions.
From then on, the offshore wind farm off the German North Sea coast will not only supply green electricity but will also contribute to the stability of the German power grid, RWE said.
Located approximately 37 kilometres west of the North Frisian island of Amrum, the Amrumbank West wind farm has 80 turbines with a total capacity of 302MW.
Aside from Amrumbank West, the company plans to qualify additional RWE wind and solar farms for the automatic frequency restoration reserve and will also provide this service for external clients.