Transelectrica has started the tenders for the installation of photovoltaic panels and batteries in transformer stations

Transelectrica, the national transport and energy system operator, has launched tenders for the installation of photovoltaic systems and storage facilities in stations, a project financed by the PNRR.

The project has an allocation of non-reimbursable funds of 29 million euros and provides for the installation of energy production facilities through photovoltaic plants with an installed power of 11.25 MW and energy storage facilities with a storage capacity of 19.10 MWh at a power of 5 MW in 29 stations out of the total of 81 Transelectrica stations.

The photovoltaic plants and electricity storage facilities will be installed exclusively on the territory of the following C.N.T.E.E. power stations. Transelectrica S.A.: FAI, Gutinaş, Roman Nord, Bucureşti Sud, Domnesti, Fundeni, Ghizdaru, Gura Ialomiţei, Pelicanu, Stâlpu, Târgovişte, Teleajen, Brazi Vest, Turnu Măgurele, Gădălin, Stupina, Constanţa Nord, Tulcea Vest, Medgidia Sud, Isaccea, Craiova Nord, Târgu Jiu Nord, Işalniţa, Calafat, Turnu Severin Est, Bradu, Iernut, Paroşeni and Peştiş, without the need to acquire additional land.

Traselectrica launched the tenders in several packages. For example, a contract put out to tender refers to the placement of photovoltaic panels and batteries in “CEF stations zone 2 STT Bucharest – Electrical stations: 400/110 kV Pelicanu, 220/110/20 kV Turnu Măgurele, 220/110/20 kV Stâlpu, 220/110 kV Teleajen, 220/110/20 kV Târgoviște, 400/220/110 kV Brazi Vest”, a contract with a value of 26.4 million lei.

The installation of panels in the transformer stations ensures part of the internal energy needed for internal services (power supply of all components of the transformer stations – power transformers that use energy to power cooling fans, internal lighting in the stations, etc.).

The investment is an off-grid one in which the photovoltaic power plants and storage batteries will be used by Transelectrica only to supply electricity to its installations/devices that are operated in the electrical stations of the transmission network (for example: cooling the temperature of the power transformer, outdoor lighting in the station perimeter, air conditioning in the technical rooms where the electronic systems operate), as an alternative to purchasing electricity from the market.

“The technical design of the system (photovoltaic power plants – CEF – and storage facilities) will ensure that neither of the two components, i.e. CEF and storage, will inject/extract electricity into/from the public electricity grid. This is an off-grid configuration in which there will be no physical/electrical link connecting the system to the public electricity grid. This is a strict design requirement for the engineering phase of the project. The technical off-grid configuration does not physically allow Transelectrica to market the system capacities.

Therefore, the photovoltaic power plants and storage facilities will not be used by Transelectrica to cover transmission losses or to buy/sell electricity or other energy-related services (e.g. balancing, congestion management, voltage support, etc.). This would be impossible due to the off-grid concept incorporated in the technical design,” Transelectrica says.