Hidroelectrica signs contract for acquisition of Li-ion battery storage facility in Crucea Nord Wind Farm

Hidroelectrica announces the signing of the contract with Prime Batteries Technology and Enevo Group for the acquisition of the Li-ion battery storage facility in Crucea Nord Wind Farm.

The main purpose of the investment is to reduce internal imbalances at the wind farm in Hidroelectrica’s portfolio, provide balancing services to the national energy system, improve wind turbine performance and reduce the wear and tear of the turbines’ electromechanical systems.

The preliminary schedule for the works involves obtaining approvals and agreements within the next two months from the date of signing the contract, followed by the manufacturing process of equipment and materials within the next six months, handover of the site, organization of the construction site, installation and integration works of the storage facility and technical tests. According to the contract, the commissioning process is planned over 12 months from the date of its signing.

The contract price is approximately 80 million lei excluding VAT, and after the storage facility is put into operation, the nominal power of the facility will be 36 MW, with a nominal storage capacity (energy) of 72 MWh.

“This is the first storage project for Hidroelectrica and represents a success in our efforts to develop the innovation and storage area. The completion of the project will help us streamline the activity of the Crucea wind farm, to be able to carry out specific activities to balance the national energy system, to increase operational efficiency and of course the efficiency of the wind farm.

The product has a local component of at least 80% and is of notable importance for Hidroelectrica, including for the projects we are carrying out in the process of consolidating the companies in the Group, namely UCMH Reșița and Hidroserv,” said Kàroly Borbèly, CEO of Hidroelectrica.

“Stability and predictability are today some of the most important words in the energy system. In this sense, this investment in battery storage capacity at Crucea paves the way for a new way of operating and streamlining production within the Crucea Nord CEE. We will be able to produce more, more efficiently and more stably in a relatively short time, while at the same time being able to offer this capacity and services for the national system. Today we are not only starting an investment project, but we are taking an important step towards the next phases of development for the Crucea Nord Wind Farm and beyond” Marius Vintilă, Manager of the Wind Constanța Branch.

“The project to implement the 72MWh storage facility within the Crucea Nord CEE is a strategic one for the members of our Association, both from the perspective of the fact that the beneficiary is Hidroelectrica, the largest energy producer and system services provider in Romania, but also because storage is a natural direction of development for the energy sector – a direction to which we are ready and eager to contribute. The project has a local component of over 80% and we hope that it can become an example and, why not, a standard for other similar works in Romania.

We are proud that through the competitive technical solutions we propose we can be part of this innovative project, which paves the way for the use of storage solutions together with large renewable power plants and which will contribute to the adaptability and resilience of the National Energy System,” says Radu Brașoveanu, Technical Director of Enevo Group.

“This partnership with Hidroelectrica confirms the trust in the technological expertise developed by Prime Batteries and marks a defining moment for Romania’s energy transition. We are honored to contribute with advanced storage solutions, locally produced, to a project that sets a new standard for sustainability and energy independence,” said Vicențiu Ciobanu, CEO of Prime Batteries Technology.

This investment marks a first for the company, being the first energy storage project with Li-ion batteries implemented by Hidroelectrica.