CEZ Group launches the largest battery system in Czechia in Ostrava-Vítkovice

CEZ Group has launched the largest battery system in the Czech Republic in Ostrava-Vítkovice. The battery can store enough energy to cover the daily consumption of 1300 households, while also helping to stabilise the grid and ensure the required electricity parameters. The system cost more than 200 million korunas to build. CEZ Group representatives told journalists today.

The facility consists of 1360 battery modules and contains 90 tonnes of lithium. It has an output of ten megawatts and, thanks to its unique design without an internal aisle, has 20 percent more capacity than standard battery storage systems. The system operates in conjunction with the gas-fired power units at the modernised Energocentrum. It was built by ČEZ Energetické služby, part of the ČEZ ESCO holding. It will be operated by ČEZ Energo, also part of the holding. IBG Česko contributed to the supply and commissioning of the battery system.

„The battery is part of the Energocentrum in Vítkovice, located in the Energetické služby complex. Its primary function is to regulate frequency in the energy grid. That means that when electricity demand is high, the battery can supply electricity to the grid and thus stabilise the rise in frequency. Conversely, when there is a large supply from photovoltaic power plants, the battery can store that energy,“ said Martin Václavek, CEO of ČEZ Energo.

The battery is charged by gas-fired cogeneration units. „When heat is being produced, electricity is generated as well, and this charges the battery. But it can also store energy at night, when prices are low, sometimes even negative, or on sunny days when there is excess output from photovoltaic power plants. The battery can store that energy and then feed it into the grid, of course at more favourable prices, during the day, when output is significantly higher,“ Václavek said.

IBG Česko CEO Aleš Zázvorka said the battery is unique mainly because of its design. „The containers are fitted from the outside, so there are no aisles inside. A special liquid cooling system is also used to make this design possible. This has allowed us to fit around 20 percent more capacity into the containers,“ Zázvorka said.

ČEZ ESCO CEO Kamil Čermák said that the Czech Republic’s largest battery in Vítkovice is only the beginning, and that ČEZ is now preparing further systems. „ČEZ Group’s aim is to build 6000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity and 300 megawatts of energy storage by 2030,“ Čermák said.