Tomorrow's power grid in the Norwegian Sea

The mtu EnergyPacks QL with an output of 4.25 MVA and a capacity of 3.79 MWh are to stabilize the power grid in a research project being undertaken by Norwegian utility Arva. Two of the three battery storage units will be installed on Husøy. This unique island lies off Senja and is home to Senja's most active fishing village. Until a few years ago, the island could only be reached by boat. Now there is a pier and a tunnel connecting it to the island of Senja.

In the village itself, people are rarely seen. Instead, thousands of seagulls buzz around the returning fishing boats. The fish is processed in highly industrialized fish factories, which are located on the outskirts of the island and do not fit neatly into the magnificent natural panorama. The work there is energy-intensive. As Senja is located at the very edge of Norwegian utility Arva's supply zone, short-term voltage drops in the power grid repeatedly lead to production losses.

mtu battery container offering buffer storage

The three mtu EnergyPacks – two in Husøy and another one in Senjahopen – will soon be installed and hooked up to the grid. From autumn/fall onwards, they will act as buffer storage units to solve quality problems in the power supply and compensate for fluctuations in the grid. They can supply local businesses and private households with electricity for up to one hour at a time in the event of a power failure, or be used to compensate for additional electricity demand. Modern power management systems in companies and private households are to be integrated, as are local solar power systems. The findings from the research project are to be used to help improve security of supply across the entire Arva grid.