PGE launches the first electricity storage facility in Poland using Tesla Powerpack modules

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PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna has launched the first electricity storage facility in Rzepedź in the Podkarpacie region using Tesla Powerpack modules. This is the beginning of the PGE Group’s long-term energy storage programme, as announced in the Group’s new strategy.

The installation with a capacity of approx. 2.1 MW and a capacity of 4.2 MWh was designed to support the reliability of the local distribution network. The container, stationary energy storage facility was created as part of the project of innovative grid services improving the quality and reliability of electricity supply, carried out by PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna together with PGE Dystrybucja.

The Modular Energy Storage Facility in Podkarpackie Rzepedzi is the first investment in Central and Eastern Europe, using Tesla modular solutions in the local power grid. The applied solution will ensure flexible operation of the power system and increase the possibility of connecting renewable sources. According to the new Strategy of the PGE Group, by 2030 we plan to build at least 800 MW of new energy storage facilities. The investment in Rzepeda is the first step in achieving this goal. Further projects are already in the planning phase. Later this year we are submitting a request to determine the technical conditions for connecting the 205 MW and 820 MWh electricity storage facility in Żarnowiec to the grid. In January the project will take part in general certification for the power market. A big challenge for energy storage projects is profitability and sources of financing. Therefore, we have high hopes for changes in the area of regulation, which may be an investment incentive for energy storage projects and at the same time will allow for better use of EU funds in the energy transformation – says Wojciech Dąbrowski, President of the Management Board of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna. The reason for our satisfaction is that we are starting to implement an energy storage programme based on a technology of worldwide renown, which applied in our investment will bring measurable savings for the PGE distribution segment and is a cheaper and quicker alternative to power grid expansion,” adds Wojciech Dąbrowski.

The increase in the share of renewable energy sources in electricity generation will result in increased demand for energy storage technology. The Polish energy storage facilities built so far have been designed and executed mainly for research (R&D) purposes. The construction of the storage facility in Rzepeda is the first investment in response to the specific needs of PGE’s customers, related to the improvement of energy quality and provision of back-up power supply in case of failure or planned works.

The contractor for the project of a modular energy storage facility in Rzepedzi is Griffin Group Energy.

When we entered a tender for the construction of an energy storage facility to meet the specific needs of PGE, we selected the technology which will most effectively fulfil the assumed tasks’, says Dariusz Wawrzynów, Vice-President of the Management Board of Griffin Group Energy. We were looking for a proven and reliable partner with excellent references and having mass, business implementation of energy storage facilities. A detailed market analysis showed us a brand of worldwide renown, namely Tesla. The technology used in Tesla’s Powerpack with a capacity of 4 MWh best suited the investment and met the conditions and standards we had set – he emphasizes.

Source: PGE