Developer Monsson Group and system integrator Prime Batteries Technology have inaugurated a 6MW/24MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Romania, the country’s largest.
Monsson inaugurated the 4-hour project in Constanta County this week and is co-located with 35MW of solar PV and a 50MW wind park, which will be connected to the grid by the end of 2024. The company will control the hybrid plant via proprietary software.
The BESS unit, provided by Prime Batteries, will charge at peak production times and discharge when production tails off. The announcement claimed the batteries were produced locally.
Marcin Wasilewski, CEO of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) InnoEnergy in Central and Eastern Europe, commented: “On a highly competitive Romanian market, Prime has managed to beat their competitors and win a major contract with their locally developed and manufactured solutions.
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“I’m thrilled to observe their advancements! A perfect proof that European battery and ESS producers can successfully challenge their Asian and global competitors. A re-industrialised and energy-secure Europe is within reach!”
Prime Batteries CEO Vicentiu Ciobanu said the project would be increased to 216MWh in 2025. Ciobanu and other attendees claimed the project is in the top five largest hybrid plants of its kind in Europe, and when increased to 216MWh of storage capacity would be the largest.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the ambassador of Sweden to Romania, Therese Hyden, as well as a representative from the the EIT.
Hyden said that Monsson Group is developing similar projects in Sweden in partnership with Swedish lithium-ion battery manufacturer Northvolt. The manufacturer is mainly targeting the EV market but does have a dedicated ESS assembly facility in Poland.
George-Madalin Chitaru, project manager for local contractor Emergy and also attending, said that it is the largest BESS in Europe built exclusively with equipment produced in the EU.
Romania was also in the news recently for reopening a competitive solicitation for large-scale BESS projects, seeking 240MW/480MWh of projects.
