Denmark stalls large batteries as power grid strains

Denmark is struggling to expand large battery storage even as the technology could help ease pressure on the electricity grid, DR reports. Business organisation Dansk Erhverv says the country is almost an underdeveloped nation compared with the rest of Europe when it comes to battery investment.

Electricity prices reached almost seven kroner per kilowatt-hour on Monday evening, the highest level in nearly two years. Earlier that day, the price had been 1.70 kroner.

Large batteries connected to wind turbines could help reduce such price swings by storing electricity when wind production is high and prices are low, then releasing it when demand is greater.

“You see massive investment in batteries across the rest of Europe, but not in Denmark. In that respect, we are almost an underdeveloped nation,” said Ulrich Bang, deputy director and head of climate, energy, environment and construction at Dansk Erhverv.

Energinet, which manages Denmark’s electricity system, has struggled to keep up with demand for power. In March, it paused new large connections to the electricity grid. The pause also covers batteries.

That has frustrated Gunnar Lisby, owner of Lisby WP. He was the first person in Denmark to retrofit a battery to an existing wind turbine, at Kikkenborg in Lemvig Municipality.

Lisby was allowed to store electricity from his own turbine and draw power from the wider electricity grid. Since the pause was introduced, however, he has been refused permission to draw electricity from the grid for a second battery, which is twice the size of the first.

“The business case becomes significantly worse. And that reduces the incentive to install more batteries,” Lisby said. He is now hesitating about starting work on a third battery.

Batteries can move electricity from periods of high wind and low prices to periods of higher demand. They can also reduce the need to curtail wind turbines, respond quickly to help stabilise the power system, make better use of existing cables and grid connections, and ease local bottlenecks in the grid.

However, batteries do not produce new energy. They move electricity that has already been generated, and some energy is lost during charging and discharging. They also cannot automatically relieve the grid, replace power plants one-for-one or guarantee lower electricity bills and shorter connection waiting times.

Professor Brian Vad Mathiesen of Aalborg University highlighted the Netherlands as a country where batteries are prioritised. He called for intelligent technical solutions that would allow batteries to do more than simply respond to electricity prices.

“Energinet and the grid companies view batteries as dumb and as something that puts more strain on the electricity grid than it provides benefits. That should not be the case,” Mathiesen said.

Energinet said it wants more batteries connected to the grid and is working to realise their potential as quickly as possible. Kim Willerslev Jakobsen, chief executive of Energinet Systemansvar, said new battery projects that also need to draw electricity from the grid are subject to the same restrictions as other large electricity consumers.

Climate, Energy and Utilities Minister Samira Nawa also supports batteries. She said they must be used intelligently and can relieve pressure on the electricity grid when used correctly.