Ukraine’s first-ever DTEK’s grid scale battery energy storage system certified by TSO NPC Ukrenergo

On August 26-31, NPC Ukrenergo completed the tests of Ukraine’s first-ever battery energy storage system (BESS). The DTEK’s BESS generates power of 1 MW with a capacity of 2.25 MW⋅h. Following the successful market participation tests, the battery has been certified to provide ancillary services — frequency containment reserve (FCR).

“DTEK’s battery energy storage system has successfully passed market participation tests by TSO NPC Ukrenergo. This is the first time in the history of Ukraine’s energy industry that certification of the battery has been conducted, and this is the first lithium-ion battery in Ukraine that ensures grid resilience. We are happy that DTEK contributed to the development of the Ukrainian energy sector and effectively created a new energy storage market in Ukraine,” noted Emanuele Volpe, DTEK Chief Innovation Officer.

According to Mr. Volpe, Ukrenergo developed a comprehensive test program in cooperation with DTEK’s team. It includes testing the battery’s ability to carry on load, check frequency oscillation response, and response time to incidents when the grid frequency goes beyond the nominal value.

Test proved that the battery can change power from zero to full load in less than 0.6 seconds. This is 50 times faster than required by the Grid Code. Battery’s response time to the grid frequency events is 0.1 seconds.

Before that, FCR has been provided mostly by coal fired TPPs. The coming expansion of the batteries will reduce the carbon footprint of the frequency regulation services in the grid.

“For DTEK Energy, BESS certification is an important event. TPPs used to be one of the main flexible generation until now. Today, in many countries they have been replaced by BESS with their clean energy and lighting fast response. Therefore, for us battery certification is another step towards significant changes. Our power generating company embraces these changes as a goal to become more environmentally friendly, efficient, and competitive. DTEK Energy supports the transformation of the industry and moves towards the future,” noted Ildar Salieiev, DTEK Energy CEO.

Energy storage systems are key to Ukraine’s energy security and so much needed grid flexibility. Advanced BESS will accelerate the transition to the clean energy and decarbonisation. Furthermore, the batteries allow reliable and secure stable electricity quality, which aids Ukraine’s synchronization with ENTSO-Е.

On 20 May 2021, DTEK’s battery went live in Energodar at the Zaporizhzhia TPP. The BESS has been designed for accumulating, storing, and feeding electricity into the grids, as well as for providing services that stabilize Ukraine’s energy generation system. In July 2021, 16 DTEK’s employees were trained by Honeywell to operate and maintain Ukraine’s first-ever battery energy storage system.