Operation of Energy Nest launched in Czech Republic
Decci Group is starting the operation of a hybrid energy source of ancillary services (AnS) with the largest battery storage in the Czech Republic. Energy nest has a total installed output of 52,4 MW including the battery storage.
It combines innovative technologies with a custom-developed software system that stabilises the transmission network.
This modern energy source flexibly responds to surpluses or deficits in the grid, and outside of
active service, remains in standby mode with a zero-emission footprint, eliminating the need for
inefficient fuel usage. Energy Nest is a flexible and innovative solution and an environmentally
friendly energy source.
Changes in the energy mix, the planned phase-out of conventional energy solutions, and the
increasing share of renewable energies will be a source of instability and fluctuation in the
electrical grid. Therefore, new sources of ancillary services (AnS) for power balance, stability,
and security of the electrical grid are currently being sought. The hybrid energy source, Energy
Nest, with a total current output of 30 MW to the grid, represents such a solution by combining
gas turbines and battery storage. It opens a range of possible solutions for providing ancillary
services for power balance.
Energy Nest Reacts to a Changing Energy Environment
“By 2030, renewable energy sources are expected to account for a quarter of electricity
production. However, these sources cannot provide ancillary services and ensure grid stability.
On the other hand, coal-fired power plants, which account for nearly 60% of electricity
production and ensure grid stability, are scheduled to be decommissioned.
“If we want to maintain a safe and stable electrical grid in the future, we must look for new sources. Energy nest separates electricity production from providing ancillary services (AnS) for power balance and represents a solution that responds to future energy needs today,” says Darina Merdassi, CEO of Decci Group, a.s., and member of the board of E.nest Energy a.s., about the project, adding, “Energy nest will be able to secure ancillary services (AnS) to the same extent as those provided by a 300 MW coal-fired power plant, and thus, contributing to achieving national
climate goals.”
The innovative nature of the solution lies in the combination of different technologies
Gas turbines with a total output of 32,4 MW from aircraft engines and a battery storage system, with
an output of 20 MW and a capacity of 22 MWh, are the largest in the Czech Republic. The
technologies communicate with each other using a software system and eliminating
weaknesses.
Czech Transmission System Operator (ČEPS) analyses show that the current development of
the energy sector could lead to a dramatic decline in regulatory power for providing ancillary
services (AnS) for power balance.
The hybrid energy source can provide any combination of ancillary services, namely: Frequency Containment Reserve (FCR), automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve (aFRR+), or manual Frequency Restoration Reserve (mFRR+) up to a total output of 30 MW.
Providing any combination of these services that does not exceed the same limit is also possible. In the future, the extension of provided services is available up to 52,4 MW, while using the current technologies.
The facility could produce green hydrogen in the future
“The Energy nest source was designed to allow for capacity increase, if needed, or easy
expansion with other similar hybrid systems. Thanks to its container design, it is a modular,
scalable, and easily replicable solution that occupies only one area of one hectare. At the same
time, it exhibits top availability and reliability parameters. In the future, the facility can also
produce green hydrogen,” explains Darina Merdassi, highlighting further advantages of Energy
Nest.
The hybrid energy source construction was carried out by Siemens, s.r.o., with the main
technology suppliers being the British company, Centrax Ltd, UK, and the German company,
SMA Altenso, GmbH. The project also significantly involved Czech consulting firms Euroenergy,
s.r.o, Nano Energies, and OSC, a.s.
The Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics, and Cybernetics (CIIRC), at the Czech Technical
University (CTU), developed a custom software system for the energy project.
Group Decci obtained a club loan of 750 million CZK from leading banking institutions, Česká
spořitelna a.s. and Komerční Banka a.s., for project financing.
