Energy Storage Offensive 291 MW and 582 MWh for a Stable Grid

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Lithuania is investing in one of the largest battery storage projects in the Baltic region: 291 MW of output and 582 MWh of capacity are to stabilize the electricity grid and integrate renewable energies more flexibly from 2027.

A battery storage system with a total output of 291 megawatts and a storage capacity of 582 megawatt hours is currently being built at three strategically important locations in Lithuania. The Ignitis Group, the largest listed energy company in the Baltic States, is in charge of the project. The project is being implemented technologically together with the Power Systems division of Rolls-Royce. Nidec Conversion is supplying a central component with its integrated power modules.

With full commissioning planned by 2027, the project should not only accelerate the integration of renewable energies, but above all strengthen the country's energy security. In view of increasing electrification and fluctuating feed-in from wind and solar energy, this type of infrastructure is becoming strategically important for national electricity systems.

291 MW / 582 MWh: Dimension And Significance

The systems will be installed at the Kelmė and Mažeikiai wind farm sites and near the Kruonis pumped storage power plant. This choice of location is strategic: wind farms generate highly fluctuating power, while the existing pumped storage power plant already plays a central role in stabilizing the grid. The battery storage units act here as an additional, particularly fast-acting flexibility reserve.

Rolls-Royce is supplying the mtu EnergyPack systems as part of its largest order to date in the field of stationary battery storage. These containerized solutions are designed for utility-scale applications and integrate battery modules, power electronics, control technology and safety components into a scalable overall system.

The Role of Nidec: Integrated Power Modules at the Heart of the System

While the focus is often on battery systems, it is the power electronics that determine their actual network effectiveness. This is the task of Nidec Conversion. The company supplies power modules that act as a link between the battery and the power grid.

The module is designed as a pre-assembled system mounted on a skid. It combines an energy conversion system cabinet, i.e. the actual power conversion system, a transformer and a medium-voltage switchgear in one integrated unit. This combination reduces interfaces, simplifies installation on site and minimizes potential sources of error.

The power conversion system handles the bidirectional conversion of direct current from the batteries into grid-compliant alternating current and vice versa. The transformer adapts the voltage to the respective grid level, while the medium-voltage switchgear enables safe integration into the higher-level grid. The integration of these components in a compact module results in a high power density with reduced space requirements.

For utility-scale projects in particular, aspects such as noise levels, maintenance accessibility and modular expandability are crucial. The system from Nidec is designed for a low noise level and is therefore also suitable for locations in sensitive environments. At the same time, it is based on the company's decades of experience in industrial power electronics and grid technology.

Grid Stability As A Strategic Goal

Battery storage systems of this size fulfill several functions in the electricity system. They smooth load peaks, provide primary and secondary control energy and enable surplus renewable energy to be fed into the grid with a time delay. Such systems are becoming increasingly important, particularly in regions with rapidly growing wind energy, as is the case in Lithuania.

If wind farms generate more electricity than is currently being consumed, the energy can be stored temporarily instead of shutting down systems. When demand increases or feed-in decreases, it is released back into the grid. This reduces the dependency on fossil reserve power plants and the grid frequency remains stable. For Lithuania, the project also represents a further step towards greater energy independence and resilience.

Partnership

The cooperation between Ignitis Group, Rolls-Royce and Nidec Conversion shows how international industrial companies and national utilities are working together to transform the energy system. For Rolls-Royce, the order marks the biggest milestone to date in the BESS segment, while for Nidec it underlines its position as a provider of integrated power electronics solutions in the global market.

With the planned full commissioning by 2027, a storage infrastructure is being created in Lithuania that goes far beyond a single project. It is part of a strategic realignment towards a flexible, digitally controlled and renewable energy system. The combination of powerful battery storage systems and integrated converter technology forms the technical backbone for a stable grid in times of increasing volatility.

The project is an example of a development that is gaining momentum throughout Europe: the expansion of renewable energies alone is not enough. (mr)

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