Bondalti will have greater flexibility and energy independence with batteries that store renewable electricity produced locally. The storage project is in addition to the solar power stations installed at the Estarreja industrial complex, which already supply Bondalti with clean electricity.
Bondalti and EDP, leader in the development of decentralised solar energy in Portugal, have teamed up on a pioneering project in Portugal, called BESS - Battery Energy Storage Systems, which involves the installation of two batteries to store renewable energy for self-consumption at Bondalti's industrial unit in Estarreja.
With a total power of 12 MW and a storage capacity of 12 MWh, the batteries are capable of charging and discharging electricity in just one hour, guaranteeing flexibility and an immediate response to Bondalti's energy needs. This is the first project of its kind in Portugal and one of EDP's bets to support the decarbonisation of business and residential customers in the coming years.
This energy storage project will allow Bondalti to take advantage of local renewable energy production, reducing the influence of intermittent solar energy and ensuring that all the energy produced is used, contributing to independence from the electricity grid and reducing energy costs.
The batteries were installed in a system of modules of 2 MWh each, which allows for greater flexibility and adjustment to the size and other conditions of the sites where they are installed. The modules are housed in compact and robust containers, guaranteeing mobility, safety and more agile implementation, while respecting the conditions of the site where they are installed.
This project is part of Bondalti's decarbonisation roadmap, which aims to consume electricity from 100% renewable sources by 2030. The two batteries installed at the Estarreja Chemical Complex give Bondalti, an electro-intensive company, reliable access to energy at competitive prices in the absence of wind or solar energy production, guaranteeing the continuous operation of the industrial units.
‘At Bondalti we believe that the energy transition is critical for our future and for the future of the chemical industry. Lower energy costs, less dependence on electricity grids and a reduced carbon footprint are key factors in our competitiveness. That's why we believe it's essential to include innovative energy management systems, such as energy storage, in order to successfully deal with all the changes underway,’ says Luis Delgado, Bondalti's executive administrator.
‘The implementation of storage systems in companies will be a decisive step in Portugal's energy transition, accelerating the use of renewable energy and making investments in solar production increasingly profitable and efficient. We are therefore proud to see a pioneering company like Bondalti continuing to pave the way for innovation and sustainability in the country, reducing its consumption of electricity from the grid and its environmental footprint. By providing a solution that allows us to store and use renewable energy in an optimised way, we are empowering our customers to contribute to a cleaner and more resilient energy sector,’ says António Araújo, EDP's administrator for corporate customers.
With this installation, Bondalti now has an advanced tool to maximise operational efficiency, reduce energy costs and contribute to a more sustainable future. Energy is managed by an intelligent system that takes advantage of price differences, managing the energy needs of the grid and the surplus energy from the solar plant. As well as operating autonomously and intelligently, this system also allows Bondalti to analyse and validate the data collected by the system, giving it total control over optimising battery use.
These batteries complement the two solar power stations installed by EDP between 2018 and 2020 on Bondalti's land, with a combined capacity of 2 MWp. In total, more than 4,400 panels have been installed, enabling them to produce more than 3,000MWh of renewable energy per year.
