EWEC mentioned the BESS would offer flexibility to the system and ancillary providers akin to frequency response and voltage regulation. The BESS is essential to the utility’s plan to extend photo voltaic PV capability to 7.5GW by 2030, a part of an purpose to cut back carbon emissions by 42% by 2030 from 2019 ranges, it added.
Othman Al Ali, CEO of EWEC, mentioned: “In comparison with conventional grid storage options, BESS affords unmatched benefits, together with elevated flexibility, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and improved effectivity. EWEC continues to see BESS as a important funding to handle system operability when massive quantities of renewables are synchronised to the ability system.”
Al Ali didn’t make clear what he meant by conventional options, however most vitality storage capability is pumped hydro vitality storage (PHES), however that is usually slower reacting than BESS and has a decrease round-trip effectivity (RTE). Dubai Electrical energy and Water Authority (DEWA), a utility within the neighbouring Emirate of Dubai, is constructing a 250MW PHES plant for a reported 2024 operation.
The undertaking will contain the event, financing, development, operation, upkeep and possession of the BESS system and related infrastructure, with EWEC then getting into right into a long-term energy buy settlement (PPA) for the undertaking’s offtake.
It follows EWEC’s advice made this time final yr that the UAE ought to deploy 300MW/300MWh of BESS capability by 2026. It didn’t reveal when it hoped the 400MW (MWh capability undisclosed) would come on-line, so it’s not clear whether or not that is a part of a longer-term goal or whether or not its forecasted wants have elevated.
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