Co-located storage systems can help achieve net-zero targets, Equinor executive tells Masdar Talks

watch video

Combining renewable energy projects with co-located storage systems will help governments reach their net-zero objectives, senior executives from Masdar and Equinor said on the fifth edition of the Instagram Live Masdar Talks series. 

“Flexibility will be key to maintain stability in the energy system as we are aiming to achieve the net-zero targets with increased renewable deployment,” said Egil Dino Hansen, Business Development Lead - Energy Storage & Green Hydrogen at Equinor, one of the world’s largest energy companies. “There is clear potential for co-located storage with renewable generation to play a bigger role in providing power in line with system needs.”

Masdar and Equinor are partners in both the Hywind and Batwind projects in Scotland – respectively the world’s first floating offshore wind farm and the first battery storage system connected to an offshore wind farm. The 30-megawatt Hywind project powers approximately 22,000 homes in the surrounding community and mitigates over 63,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. Wind production is connected directly to the Batwind battery system, enabling power to be controlled before it is delivered to the grid. 

“Batwind was developed as a pilot project, aimed first and foremost to establish a platform for us to learn how co-located storage and offshore wind can perform and to develop a deeper understanding on how such hybrid systems can be optimized,” Hansen said. 

Dr Alexander Ritschel, Head of the Technology team in Masdar’s Clean Energy division, said the project had provided “invaluable learnings” around co-located projects. “Our continuing research will enable us to fully capitalize on the benefits of combining battery energy storage with future renewables projects,” he said.