Hitachi
Contact UsContact Us
Environment Business Division — North America
Customer Story

Faroe Islands, Denmark

Helping the Faroe Islands aim for 100% renewable energy by 2030

Full backup battery energy storage

Resilient and Sustainable Energy

The Faroe Islands in the Kingdom of Denmark are isolated from their nearest neighbors by hundreds of kilometers. Nevertheless, this small nation is setting an example for the entire world with its progress towards reaching an audacious goal: 100% sustainable energy by 2030. SEV is the Faroese utility company responsible for achieving the sustainability deadline while continuing to deliver power to everyone on the archipelago, 24 hours a day. Faced with the challenges of sourcing reliable, high-quality electricity while integrating multiple renewable sources and safeguarding energy security, SEV partnered with Hitachi Energy.

To meet this challenge, SEV installed Hitachi Energy's e-mesh™ PowerStore™ Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a 6.25 MW / 7.45 MWh battery that provides full backup for the Porkeri Wind Farm on the archipelago’s southernmost island, Suðuroy.

Challenge

Integrate the 6.3 MW Porkeri wind farm, to reduce both diesel consumption and CO2 emissions, while improving power quality

Solution

e-mesh™ PowerStore™ Battery Energy Storage (BESS) solution to maximize the use of available wind energy and help it move closer to its long-term sustainable energy goal

Outcome

SEV is owned by all the Faroese municipalities, and thereby owned by the people. SEV’s profit from the electricity sale is mostly spent on future extensions of the system.

Sustainable, reliable energy for remote communities

Solution

  • e-mesh™ PowerStore™ Battery Energy Storage (BESS)

Key Benefits

  • Frequency variations have significantly improved.
  • Wind utilization improved from 38% to 77% during the first 3 months of BESS in operation.
  • Even with multiple days with only inverter-based generation (wind and PV), SEV had several days with 100% sustainable energy generation on Suðuroy, and that number continues to grow.
  • The storage capability has allowed SEV to take its thermal power plant on Suðuroy temporarily offline and reduce emissions from thermal diesel generation, while powering the island using only energy derived from a mix of renewable sources that include wind, hydro, and solar.
SEV has tracked significant improvements in its power availability and quality after bringing the BESS fully online.
Hakun Djurhuus, Chief Executive Officer, SEV