Gas engine in Budapest upgraded with energy storage

The Finnish engine manufacturer Wärtsilä has completed what it has described as its first engine and energy storage hybrid installation worldwide in Budapest, Hungary.

The project, which the company says is also its first engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) energy storage project in Europe, was built for Sinergy, a subsidiary of ALTEO Group, and has seen an existing power plant comprised of three Wärtsilä W34SG engines optimised with an energy storage solution.

The system incorporates an energy management system from Greensmith Energy, also a Wärtsilä company. The installation will enable ALTEO to participate in the Hungarian electricity market by providing frequency and secondary regulation to the country’s national grid, with the plant operating in virtual power plant mode.

The energy management system works to analyse changes in electricity market conditions and price structures to make the most of the energy storage investment, and to provide ancillary services.

Wärtsilä’s provided batteries, inverters and power electronics for the 6 MW/4MWh system.

Photo: Wärtsilä