Energy storage solution to balance the grid for the Scottish Shetland Islands

A reliable electricity supply is essential to the local community living on the Shetland Islands, a subarctic archipelago in the Northern Isles of Scotland. The Lerwick Power Station is the main generator for the grid, with an obligation to deliver uninterrupted power to the island community.

The introduction of energy storage will enhance the islands’ security of supply and reduce operating hours on the diesel generators. Wärtsilä’s 8 MW / 6 MWh battery energy storage system and GEMS Digital Energy Platform are enabling an increased integration of existing renewable power into the power system, which will help lower CO₂ emissions. A combination of flexibility solutions is setting the Scottish archipelago on a path towards a cleaner energy system.

Who	SSEN
What	8 MW / 6 MWh energy storage system
Where	Shetland Islands, Scotland

This is what we are achieving

8 MW

and 6 MWh of energy storage capacity

The Wärtsilä energy storage system will enhance the islands' security of supply, while at the same time lowering our carbon footprint.
Darren Hitchin Embedded Generation Manager, Lerwick Power Station

How we did it

Challenge

Ensure a balanced grid for the secure supply of (reserve) power
Upgrade existing infrastructure
Integrate renewables to support a reliable islanded grid

Solution

Reduce the operating hours on current diesel generators and displace spinning power generation
Modernise the grid by providing extra energy supply via the storage solution that can instantly deliver power if there are power supply interruptions
Integrate and optimise penetration of wind turbine-generated electricity into the grid with the GEMS Digital Energy Platform

Benefit

Enhanced security of power supply
Improved utilisation of existing wind power into the system
Further energy infrastructure stability, and reduced CO₂ emissions and fuel costs

Questions? Contact us

The main details

Customer	Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Distribution (SSEN)
Site size	8 MW / 6 MWh
Site location	Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK
Application(s)	Island Grid+, grid reliability, renewables integration
Scope of services	Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), Lifecycle services
Delivery	2021