The largest lithium-ion battery storage system in Bolivia is nearing completion at a co-located solar PV site, with project partners including Jinko, SMA and battery storage provider Cegasa.
Cegasa announced that it was participating in the project last week (12 January) in Cerro San Simon, in the municipality of Baures in the Bolivian portion of the Amazon.
The firm, which is based in Spanish Basque country and manufactures energy storage products for the off-grid, residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors, said it provided the lithium-ion batteries for the energy storage portion of the project, which totals 800kWh.
The attached solar PV array comprises 336 540Wp modules from Jinko, a 140kW inverter from SMA which also provided the battery inverter for the Cegasa battery pack. Jinko and SMA are amongst the largest producers of PV modules and inverters, respectively, in the world.
Although the announcement did not use the term, the project seems likely to be off-grid, with references to the ‘isolated’ area which previously used ‘fossil fuel generators’ that would occasionally only provide two hours of electricity a day.
Cegasa claimed this is the largest lithium-ion energy storage system in the South American country. This is feasible considering a scarcity of announcements – Energy-Storage.news’ reported on a much smaller project a few years ago.
It added that the battery unit would allow the 160 nearby families to have access to a reserve of electricity during episodes of adverse weather. It will be managed with an ‘intelligent measurement system’ that will optimise the use of the plant remotely.
The Inter-American Development Bank provided BOB10.3 million (US$1.5 million) in funding for the project. The Washington DC-based development bank has recently funded much larger energy storage projects in Guyana and Barbados, covered by Energy-Storage.news.
Other companies that worked on the project include Bolivian firms Sie SA and Mora which provide renewable energy solutions and civil engineering, respectively, and Spain-based TTA which provides consultancy and engineering services.
"At Cegasa we are very happy to contribute to improving access to electricity and quality of supply in isolated areas such as the aforementioned project in Bolivia,”said Ramón Ugarte, commercial director of lithium-ion batteries and systems at Cegasa.
Energy-Storage.news'' publisher Solar Media will host the eighth annual Energy Storage Summit EU in London, 22-23 February 2023. This year it is moving to a larger venue, bringing together Europe''s leading investors, policymakers, developers, utilities, energy buyers and service providers all in one place. Visit the official site for more info.
However, the rapid expansion of renewable energy generation also presents challenges for Bolivia’s power grid. The intermittent nature of solar and wind power can lead to fluctuations in the power supply, which can strain the grid and potentially lead to blackouts or other disruptions. This is where energy storage solutions come into play, as they can help to stabilize the grid by storing excess energy generated during periods of high production and releasing it during periods of low production or high demand.
There are several types of energy storage technologies that can be employed to support Bolivia’s energy transition, including batteries, pumped hydro storage, and thermal energy storage. Each of these technologies has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of which to use will depend on factors such as the specific requirements of the power grid, the available resources, and the costs involved.
Battery storage is perhaps the most well-known energy storage technology and has seen significant advancements in recent years, particularly in the field of lithium-ion batteries. These batteries offer high energy density, fast charging and discharging times, and a long cycle life, making them an attractive option for grid-scale energy storage. Bolivia is well-positioned to take advantage of this technology, as the country is home to one of the world’s largest lithium reserves, which could potentially be used to produce batteries for energy storage.
In conclusion, energy storage solutions will play a critical role in Bolivia’s transition to renewable energy, helping to stabilize the grid and ensure a reliable power supply as the country increases its reliance on solar and wind power. By investing in the development and deployment of energy storage technologies, Bolivia can not only meet its ambitious renewable energy targets but also contribute to global efforts to combat climate change and create a more sustainable future.
Currently under construction, the power plant, in Bolivia’s Pando province, is located in an area which is not connected to the national power grid and relies on diesel generators. The new plant, which will have a 5MW capacity for PV generation, will supply enough electricity to meet the demand of around half of Pando’s capital, Cobija.
Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) duties were carried out by Isotron, a subsidiary of Spanish company ISASTUR and the plant will be owned by Bolivian utility ENDE (Empresa Nacional de Electricidad), with another Bolivian company Eléctrica Guarachi, managing the project.
Inverter manufacturer SMA announced that construction of the plant was underway last week. SMA will supply the project with central inverters, battery inverters and an SMA Fuel Save Controller, a control system for the plant that SMA says “ensures the demand-oriented control of the photovoltaic system dependent on the plant’s load and genset characteristics”.
The area has a high level of solar irradiation which makes it suitable for the PV plant, but is also on a high altitude of around 4,000 metres above sea level, at which the inverters and other system components have to continue to perform despite the challenge this presents.
SMA senior vice president of off-grid and storage Volker Wachenfeld said the Fuel Save Controller, “acts as a demand-driven controller of solar power feed-in to the interface between the diesel generator, PV array and power load. The SMA Fuel Save Controller records the energy flows in the stand-alone grid and uses that information to determine the maximum permissible PV power.
SMA claims that its Fuel Save Controller "ensures the demand-oriented control of the photovoltaic system dependent on the plant''s load and genset characteristics". Image: SMA.Speaking to PV Tech Storage at the Intersolar Europe show in Germany in June, Wachenfeld said the company had gone for a standardised approach in developing its earliest solutions for off-grid systems.
A city in Bolivia which is currently powered entirely by diesel generators will be the home of a 5MW solar-diesel hybrid power plant fitted with battery storage, which inverter supplier SMA claims is the largest of its kind in the world.
About Residential energy storage bolivia
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Residential energy storage bolivia have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Residential energy storage bolivia for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Residential energy storage bolivia featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
Related Contents
