Further details about Brazil’s largest battery storage project to date have been revealed including its integrators and equipment providers.

The inauguration of the 30MW/60MWh system took place last year, on the networks of transmission system operator (TSO) ISO CTEEP, as reported by Energy-Storage.news in November.

ISO CTEEP claimed it as the first large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) on Brazil’s transmission grid. The project required a total US$27 million investment. The transmission operator is permitted by regulations to earn up to US$5 million revenues from the asset each year.

It will help increase hosting capacity to cope with expected increase in demand on a congested network enabling the TSO to defer from investing in a more expensive traditional transmission line, making this project an example of a ‘non-wires alternative’ or storage-as-a-transmission asset.  

It will also help reduce reliance on fossil fuel peaker plants, which can be among the most polluting and expensive generating units to run on the grid, despite typically having a low capacity factor through only coming into use infrequently during the year’s peak events.

The plant is sited at an ISO CTEEP substation in São Paulo.

US technology company Fractal EMS said yesterday that it worked on integrating the system, together with Brazilian energy storage solutions provider You.On, which was selected for the project through a competitive tender process.

Fractal EMS provided the energy management system (EMS) controls, SCADA and other components to system integrator You.On. Meanwhile You.On selected inverters from manufacturer Kehua, while the BESS is equipped with CATL’s liquid cooled battery storage solution.  

Fractal EMS CEO Daniel Crotzer said the Brazilian energy storage market “presents a significant growth opportunity,” claiming battery storage could “propel Brazil to 100% clean energy”.

You.On produced a short video ‘virtual 360° tour’ of the project (audio in Portuguese):