French battery outfit Saft has delivered and installed a 10MW turnkey energy storage system on the island of Bermuda in the Bahamas.
The system (pictured) will enable the asset’s owner, the Bermuda Electric Light Company (BELCO), to provide spinning reserve and frequency response to maintain grid stability.
Saft carried out the design, delivery and installation of the battery and its connection to BELCO’s grid.
The company built the containerized lithium ion battery system for the 5.5 megawatt hour storage capacity system in Jacksonville, Florida, the US.
BELCO mechanical engineer Stephanie Simons said: “We selected Saft because of its long track record of creating energy storage systems for remote and island communities.
“The energy storage system for BELCO will integrate energy efficient power conversion equipment as a package with a 20-year asset life.”
The official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on 16 May.
Spinning reserves, named after the practice of keeping generators idling – with their internal components spinning – so that they are ready to ramp up to full power within a few minutes, are essential to provide backup power in case a generator experiences a sudden outage.
The battery allows BELCO to switch off generators and save fuel.
In addition, the system provides frequency response services, by injecting or absorbing energy into or from the grid within seconds to maintain consistent frequency and grid stability.
In case a generator trips the system’s rapid response to maintaining grid stability prevents load shedding.
The power conversion equipment can supply active power to support the grid frequency while simultaneously providing reactive power for voltage stabilization.