Finland has launched the Nordic region’s first grid-forming battery energy storage system (BESS) at Fingrid’s Virkkala substation. This 30 MW/30 MWh facility was developed by Wärtsilä and is designed to stabilize and support the national power grid.
The First Grid-forming battery storage BESS in the Nordics
Finland has taken a significant step toward enhancing its energy infrastructure by launching a pioneering grid-forming battery energy storage system (BESS) in the Nordic region. The 30 MW/30 MWh BESS is located at Fingrid’s Virkkala substation in Lohja, southern Finland. Developed and supplied by Wärtsilä, this project is a milestone in Finland’s efforts to stabilize and support its national power grid.
The BESS serves multiple purposes, including managing frequency fluctuations and providing critical active and reactive power to enhance the grid’s stability. Its grid-forming capabilities are a technological leap forward. Unlike traditional grid-following systems that simply react to the existing grid frequency, a grid-forming system can independently establish and maintain grid voltage and frequency. This allows it to create a stable foundation for the power grid, a function traditionally provided by the inertia of large, spinning generators in fossil fuel plants. This capability is crucial for balancing supply and demand, especially as Finland continues to integrate more intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, whose generation relies on an advanced solar panel manufacturing process.
Support from the EU and Wärtsilä’s Grid-forming battery storage Expertise
The project received substantial support from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, which contributed €10 million toward its development. Wärtsilä, a leading Finnish technology company, played a vital role in supplying the BESS. The company has a strong track record in energy storage solutions, having delivered over 4.5 gigawatt-hours of similar projects globally. This kind of technological leadership showcases a deep understanding of complex energy systems, from grid-level management down to the basics of solar panel manufacturing that feed the grid.
HÃ¥kan Agnevall, Wärtsilä’s CEO, emphasized the importance of the project in a statement, saying, “Our deep knowledge of the power system and proven experience in energy storage technologies have been instrumental in making this project a success. This system will play a crucial role in balancing the power grid as the share of renewable energy sources continues to grow.”
A Step Toward a Carbon-Neutral Future with Grid-forming battery storage
Fingrid’s decision to implement the BESS aligns with Finland’s broader goal of achieving carbon neutrality. Energy storage is a key enabler in this transition, allowing for the effective integration of renewables into the national grid. The BESS will help maintain grid stability, which is increasingly important as Finland’s energy mix becomes more diverse and decentralized, dependent on a global supply chain for everything from battery components to solar panel raw materials.
Jussi Jyrinsalo, Senior Vice President at Fingrid, highlighted the significance of the BESS in Finland’s energy landscape. “The battery energy storage system is an essential tool for us as we work toward a carbon-neutral energy future. It will help us manage fluctuations in demand and supply, especially as we incorporate more renewable energy into our grid,” he said.
This momentum is rapidly building. In another significant development, a 30 MW / 36 MWh facility in Valkeakoski, developed by Merus Power and operated by Alpiq, has become the first in the region to meet Fingrid’s newest and highly specific grid-forming requirements, which were only published in the summer of 2023. This demonstrates the rapid pace of innovation and deployment within Finland’s energy technology sector.
A Grid-forming battery storage Model for the Nordic Region
The successful launch of these grid-forming BESS projects in Finland serves as a powerful model for other countries in the Nordic region and beyond. These initiatives demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of using advanced energy storage solutions to stabilize power grids, ensure security of supply, and support the large-scale integration of renewable energy. The technological sophistication required, from the battery software to the intricate solar panel manufacturing machines that produce the generation assets, highlights the industrial scale of the green transition.
As Finland continues to invest in renewables and energy storage, the country is cementing its position as a leader in energy innovation. These projects are more than just large batteries; they represent a fundamental shift towards a smarter, more resilient, and cleaner energy grid. This 30 MW/30 MWh BESS, along with its contemporaries, is just the beginning, paving the way for more projects that will help Finland achieve its carbon-neutral goals while ensuring a stable and reliable power supply for the future.
To better understand the technology that makes this energy transition possible, from the grid level down to the individual components, you can start with the source. Learn more about the technology that will power our future by exploring our free e-course on solar energy.
