Brazil’s Cemig has developed a ‘battery bank’ storage solution

Brazilian power company Cemig has developed a storage system using a remotely operated battery bank to support the traditional distribution network.

According to the company in a release, the system is a first of its kind for the country, providing greater network stability and reduced power outages, especially in locations with more specific demands. The company has already begun the process to implement the new technology in its network.

The Cemig battery bank system takes advantage of times of lower demand (such as at dawn) to store energy in high-capacity batteries, which can then be reinjected into the grid according to the needs of that location.

The equipment can be used for several functions, such as regulating voltage levels during peak hours and even taking over the power supply for a period of time in the event of grid outages for maintenance or due to external factors, such as extreme weather events.

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Said Cemig’s Distribution Asset Management engineer, Danilo Derick: “Very robust and innovative results were achieved in the research phase.

“We were able to carry out unprecedented operations in the energy distribution sector, using storage systems to support the grid, with emphasis on the island operation test, which is when there is a cut in the supply of the conventional grid, which represents an alternative for reducing interruptions in the energy supply.”

The project’s development began in 2016 with a call from the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) for research into energy storage systems.

After approval by the regulatory agency, Cemig began developing the project in partnership with the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), the Foundation for Technological Innovations (FITec), Concert Technologies and the Edson Mororó Moura Institute of Technology (ITEMM).

With the success of the project, Cemig began the process of implementing the first plant with the new system in its distribution network, initially for a community of around 500 consumer units. In this case, the solution will have a battery energy storage system coupled to a photovoltaic generator, producing clean and renewable energy for the system.

Said Derick: “The experience gained in the project helped Cemig in the analyses and decision-making for implementing this solution in a specific case of energy supply to a municipal headquarters.

“The solution seeks to improve the quality of energy supply to the municipality through the implementation of a microgrid.”