Vingeanne, a region of high wind energy production, was chosen as the location for a battery with 12 MW/24MWh a storage capacity, equal to the output of five wind turbines. Installation began in January this year, with commissioning and testing due by March 2021.
Designed as a ‘virtual power line’, Ringo will ultimately operate at three different locations within the RTE network. The battery capacity at each site will be of 12 MW / 24 MWh. The overall power storage experiment has been approved by the French regulator CRE for a total investment of € 80 million.
Storing excess wind power
At times of strong winds or plain sunshine, renewable energy supply tends to peak and often exceeds the transport capacity of the French national power grid. By storing the excess, the Ringo battery prevents the loss of green electricity. The system also allows RTE to better manage the electricity grid, avoiding congestion at times of peak demand.
The batteries used are of the NMC (Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt) high energy density lithium-ion type. Nidec will also supply some power electronics converters and its specific control system. Similar NMC batteries will be used that two other sites.
Nidec, for its part, underlined its customized offer was instrumental for having secured this order. Other companies in charge for the lots are Bolloré for lithium-metal-polymer batteries and SCLE-SFE, part of Engie Ineo, for the power electronics.
Going forward, RTE and its partners are seeking to develop large-scale electricity storage as an integral part of modern electricity grids.