Battery energy storage system (BESS) technology is shoring up power supplies everywhere — even near the Arctic Circle.
Located near a newly commissioned utility substation in Simo, Finland, Lapland, the project undertaken by energy developers Fotowatio Renewable Ventures and AMP Tank Finland Oy offers a power output of 30 MW and a storage capacity of 60 MWh. The BESS, a mere 100 km south of the Arctic Circle, is composed up of 26 Sungrow PowerTitan battery containers.
The liquid-cooled BESS deploys lithium iron phosphate cells over an area of 0.4-hectares. The system is engineered to work efficiently and reliably under challenging weather conditions, ensuring stability for the grid. The durable batteries with liquid circulation cooling ensure a long lifespan and low maintenance efforts, which are beneficial in harsh environments. Housed in 20-foot containers. the batteries can be delivered pre-assembled in shipping containers, making installation both fast and effortless, and can be installed back-to-back without losing performance.
Discussions are underway for a second phase, which could see the site’s capacity expanded to 200 MWh, further enhancing Finland’s ability to integrate renewable energy into its electricity mix.
