Battery energy storage systems (BESS) continue to play a vital role in the Nordic energy transition. Based on Marsh's experience in advising BESS owners in the Nordics, cold climate challenges, ensuring safety, and optimizing spacing are key topics that are discussed for BESS development in the region.
Image: Ingrid Capacity. While Norway once aimed to be the ‘battery of Europe’ it has since been overtaken other Nordic countries Sweden and Finland for BESS deployments. Research firm LCP Delta’s Jon Ferris explores the region’s energy storage market dynamics in this long-form article.
Optimizing Spacing: The Nordic landscape offers sufficient space for BESS installations, allowing the minimum spacing between battery containers and transformers to be met. This spacing reduces fire risks, enhances airflow and ventilation, prevents overheating, and simplifies maintenance and repairs.
However, several fundamental risk parameters specific to BESS projects in the Nordics needs to be addressed by the project owners. These include natural catastrophe (NatCat) risks from extreme weather, such as heavy snowfall, storms, or flooding that can damage installations and allow water to reach batteries, which must remain dry.
Nordic Batteries supplies battery modules, packs and energy systems for robust and secure energy supply to system integrators and various industries contributing to electrify their operations. The battery systems include software for control and operation of the containers with intelligent planning for optimized energy use at all levels.
BESS will have a large impact on energy systems in the Nordics, helping the move toward carbon neutrality. However, ignoring the specific needs for BESS installations in the region could slow down progress. For more information on how these risks may affect your business, contact your Marsh advisers.
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