Lithuania embarks on a mission to build one of the largest battery storage systems in the world, which is expected to be finalized by the end of 2021.The country is investing €100 million to build four 50 Megawatt(MW) batteries with at least of 200 Megawatt hours (MWh) of storage capacity. The Minister of Energy, Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, emphasized that the park would be one of the largest and the most innovative battery parks in the world. Currently there are only two larger parks in the world located in California.
This project will contribute, together with the new PL-LT interconnectors, to Lithuania’s efforts disconnecting from the Russian-controlled BRELL energy network. The project is expected to speed up desynchronization efforts, improve energy security and reduce reliance on the Russian-controlled energy grid.
The new battery park will also support renewable power generation of Lithuania. Battery storage systems will play a key role in the green energy transformation, new energy facilities will rely on the climate-neutral technologies, emitting 0 g / kWh of CO2. They will also assist in absorbing power surpluses of wind and solar technologies as well as compensating for lower production periods.
By 2025, Lithuania, together with the two other Baltic states, will fully switch to the European electric grid, as it has been a strategic priority of the country for some time.
In addition, to modernize the EU’s batteries legislation, and promote the decarbonization of the EU economy, the European Commission plans to adopt a regulation on Batteries, Energy Storage and Electric Vehicles, which will be likely published in the coming days.
Sources: Reuters, lrt.lt, enmin.lrv.lt