PKS Energy presents innovative solutions in the field of energy efficiency in industrial plants. Their 2020 battery storage pilot project shows how power quality issues can be effectively addressed while contributing to greater energy self-sufficiency. We are talking about an innovative battery storage facility at the production plant in Velké Meziříčí. This represents a breakthrough solution for stabilising the electricity supply in industrial production.
Energy under control
One of the key projects of PKS energo is one of the first battery storage facilities in the Czech Republic, which has an output of 630 kW and a capacity of 388 kWh, designed for regulation and stabilization in industry. The system, which uses technologies from Siemens and Samsung, can effectively solve problems with the quality of electricity and at the same time optimize consumption from the photovoltaic power plant.
“The battery storage facility significantly improved the parameters of the point of consumption. It increased the share of self-consumption from the PV plant at the expense of supplies to the grid and compensated for the share of the consumed reactive component of electricity. The system was able to increase the power factor from around 0.65 to 0.98 and reduce power peaks,” explains in more detail the director of PKS energo, Oldřich Veselý.
PKS energo, which is part of the PKS group, focuses on the operation of photovoltaic power plants and the implementation of energy saving projects. The company currently operates three of its own PV plants and participates in the operation of two other power plants owned by its sister company PKS okna. In addition, it ensures the contracting of energy supplies for the entire group and actively seeks savings opportunities.
Technology for a better working environment
An important benefit is also the elimination of so-called flicker – a phenomenon caused by rapid voltage changes, which is manifested primarily in light sources and monitors, where it can cause discomfort and eye fatigue for employees. Flicker occurs as a result of changing conditions in the electrical network, such as voltage spikes or current harmonics.
Eliminating flicker leads to stabilization of the luminous flux, which contributes to improving the overall illumination of the workplace. Rapid changes in light intensity can be exhausting even for the human eye. Eliminating flicker reduces visual fatigue and increases work comfort. Stable conditions also reduce the risk of damage to electronic devices due to voltage fluctuations. Therefore, eliminating flicker increases their service life.
“This is a solution tailored to the given conditions. It could be used primarily by companies that operate similar devices where high loads are switched quickly,” says Veselý. These implementations are particularly beneficial in production facilities with dynamic energy demands.
Collaboration with Siemens opens up new possibilities
The company is now preparing a pilot project in cooperation with Siemens that will expand the use of the battery storage facility at the production plant in Velké Meziříčí to provide support services for ČEPS. This is an identical battery with an output of 630 kW and a capacity of 388 kWh.
“The challenge will be to set up the correct control system that will correctly switch between these two methods of use. The battery will serve its current purpose and at the same time provide support services for ČEPS in the intervals when we do not need it for these purposes,” says Veselý.
Technologies from Siemens and Samsung were chosen for the project. The selection was preceded by a thorough analysis of data from measurements in operation in the Czech Republic and in a similar facility in Austria. “The initial intention was to install active filters and only
compensate for the negative effects of the welding line on the grid. The idea of using battery storage and an inverter for these purposes only emerged during the solution of the problem,” describes Veselý.
The future in batteries and renewable sources
For the future, PKS energo has developed two more projects for the installation of battery storage systems, which will perform a different function than the existing system. The company also plans further development in the field of renewable energy sources, including the construction of new photovoltaic and wind power plants.
In the field of energy, the company sees the future in its shift to the IT sector. “It will be necessary to process data on production and consumption in real time and respond flexibly to network requirements. Industrial complexes will evaluate their needs in real time and provide their capacities for the needs of flexibility in the network,” mentions Veselý.
Expert studies by the EGÚ predict that the Czech Republic will change from an exporter of electricity to an importer in the foreseeable future. According to Veselý, the situation in the field of flexibility must therefore improve, which is mainly directed towards the construction of battery rio storage.
“The approval of the amendment to Lex OZE III represents a major breakthrough for the development of battery storage and flexibility in the Czech Republic. After years of waiting, we are finally introducing a legislative framework for energy storage and aggregation, which will significantly support projects similar to the one implemented by PKS energo,” says Jan Fousek, director of the Energy Storage Association AKU-BAT CZ. “Battery storage facilities, such as the one in Velké Meziříčí, are exactly the type of innovative solutions that the Czech energy sector needs. In the coming months, it will be crucial to focus on simplifying the process of connecting battery systems to the distribution system so that dozens of projects under preparation can be implemented faster and on a larger scale,” emphasizes Fousek.