Utilitas doubles the capacity of its BESS at the Tārgale hybrid power plant

SIA Utilitas Wind, currently Latvia’s largest wind energy producer and a pioneer of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Latvia, has successfully completed the expansion of its BESS in Tārgale, Ventspils Municipality.

With the completion of the project’s second phase, the facility’s capacity has doubled, reaching a total capacity of 20 MW and a storage capacity of 40 MWh.

The two-phase installation of the BESS, which, in accordance with the original plan, is located adjacent to the Tārgale wind farm, significantly expands Latvia’s electricity storage capabilities. The project was entrusted to SIA “C2” – one of the leading BESS technology companies in Latvia, which will also provide future technical maintenance and upkeep of the system.

“The completion of this expanded energy storage battery system is another significant step in Latvia’s determined transition to a sustainable energy system. With double the operational capacity, we can ensure even greater grid flexibility and make a more significant contribution to strengthening Latvia’s energy security. This project demonstrates that renewable energy developers are capable of delivering both scale and reliability, thereby strengthening Latvia’s energy independence,” notes Renārs Urbanovičs, a member of the board of SIA Utilitas Wind.

To better understand the amount of stored electricity – the expanded system’s 40 MWh capacity allows for the storage of enough energy to supply approximately 6,000 households with electricity for one day, or for a single electric vehicle to travel a distance of 230,000 km, or for a household washing machine to complete 38,000 wash cycles.

A key achievement of the project is the certification of AS “Augstsprieguma tīkls” (AST) to operate in balancing power markets. This allows the BESS to fully participate in providing balancing services to Latvia’s electricity grid, promoting system stability and the efficient use of resources. Given that the battery system is located adjacent to the Tārgale wind farm, the Tārgale hybrid park is currently the largest hybrid park in Latvia.