Aneo and Siemens Energy have signed an agreement to establish a hybrid power plant by installing battery technology at a hydropower plant. With the pilot project HydroBattery, Aneo will be among the first in the Nordic region to explore how battery technology at hydropower facilities can contribute to the power system.
– Aneo will contribute to profitable energy transition in Scandinavia. One of the challenges we must solve to achieve this is the increasing variation in both production and consumption in the power system. We are convinced that establishing hybrid operations with batteries at our power stations will contribute to better profitability for us and greater benefits for the power system. We aim to ensure that we can both shift power deliveries to times when demand in the power market is highest and participate in the frequency market with quick responses to aid efficient network operation, says the CEO of Aneo, Gunnar Hovland.
Establishing Hybrid Power Plants with Batteries
For many years, Siemens Energy has been delivering battery systems in the global market for ships, offshore, and charging stations for ferry operations. Now they are leveraging their experience to create solutions tailored for grid applications.
– This is an exciting type of application, requiring strong expertise in the interaction between power systems, power electronics, and energy storage. We are particularly pleased to have won a tender competition with products mainly developed and produced locally in Trondheim. Not only will the batteries be produced in Trondheim, but also essential power electronics and control systems. We thank Aneo for their trust and look forward to an exciting collaboration, says Ketil Aagesen, head of Siemens Energy, Grid Technologies Storage BlueVault.
The plan is to place the battery and establish a hybrid power plant at Mørre Power Station, owned by TrønderEnergi Kraft.
– We find this very exciting and wish to contribute to the project by making Mørre power plant in Åfjord available to Aneo and Siemens Energy for the installation of a battery and the establishment of a hybrid power plant. By participating in the project, we will gain valuable experience in operating hybrid power plants in various markets together with Aneo, preparing us well to deliver power into future power systems, says the Managing Director of TrønderEnergi Kraft, Ann-Cathrine Holmen.
First in the Nordics
Aneo is among the first to employ batteries in power production. The HydroBattery project will hopefully provide answers on the possibilities of more extensive battery use in power production. – As the reserve market in Norway and the Nordics further develops, we are ready to contribute to an efficient power system. However, to contribute, we need frameworks that facilitate effective markets and profitable services. To reach this, RME and Statnett need to gain experience through practical examples with mechanisms that provide the greatest possible benefits for the power system, and they gain this through projects like this one, where we and our partners combine power plants and batteries, says Peter Bakkeid, Head of Innovation and Implementation at Aneo.
About Siemens Energy
Siemens Energy is a global player established in 90 countries with 97,000 employees delivering various solutions adapted to the green shift. The Grid Technologies Storage unit is established to develop and deliver battery solutions for a spectrum of applications. Siemens Energy AS in Trondheim hosts the Norwegian part of the organization that both develops and produces battery solutions.
About Aneo
The Nordic renewable energy group Aneo has its headquarters in Trondheim and was established in the autumn of 2022. Aneo is owned by TrønderEnergi and HitecVision, and with over 400 employees, it operates across Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
Aneo is a major owner in power production, both through full and partial ownership of wind farms in Norway and Sweden and with a significant stake in TrønderEnergi's hydropower production. Aneo's mission is to ensure access to renewable energy and enable the transition from fossil to renewable solutions through renewable power production, electrification, and energy efficiency.
About TrønderEnergi Kraft
TrønderEnergi Kraft is a subsidiary of TrønderEnergi and operates all hydropower plants wholly or partly owned by TrønderEnergi. The company has its headquarters in Trondheim and is led by Ann-Cathrine Holmen.
