Topic 2: Combining wind parks and batteries to participate in the aFRR market.

Company description:

Enova was founded in 2005 and is based in Capelle aan den IJssel. The company specializes in developing, delivering, and maintaining energy management software for large businesses and providing grid management services.

The company offers a complete energy management software package through its SaaS (Software as a Service) Energy Management Software (EMS). Additionally, Enova’s Grid Management Service (GMS) provides grid balancing services for transmission system operators, by pooling the reserves of its customers' energy consumption and/or production units.

Enova currently has over 250 customers in the Netherlands, UK, and France. The GMS business has been growing rapidly due to the increasing need to balance power supply, while the EMS business has also seen steady growth. The client base today is mainly in the Dutch horticultural sector, but also other sectors such as cold stores, wind and solar parks.

In February 2023, Enova was acquired by Nasdaq Stockholm-listed Swedish company Vitec Software Group.

Topic description:

Imbalance prices in the Netherlands are determined by the aFRR market, where Tennet activates BSPs to regulate power upwards or downwards. However, it is also possible to adapt electricity consumption and production based on imbalance prices. Production units such as PV panels and wind turbines are dialed down when imbalance prices are low, which causes fluctuations in electricity supply. These fluctuations have been increasing significantly in 2024, causing more cases of “regulation state 2”, where TenneT activates both upwards and downwards regulation within a 15 minute period. Combining batteries with wind or PV parks could provide possibilities to participate in the aFRR market. This would contribute to grid stability and could potentially increase profit on sustainable electricity production.

A potential research question could be:

• What is the potential of combining batteries and wind parks to participate in both the uncontracted as well as the contracted aFRR market?

Assignment:

Develop a model to assess the potential of combining a battery and a wind park to participate on the aFRR market.

Key questions that need to be answered?

• What battery size is required (in relation to the wind park) to participate on the contracted aFRR market?
• How does aFRR participation affect the profit of a wind park?
• What is the battery payback time for different scenarios (contracted and uncontracted aFRR participation, small and large batteries).

Profile:

Master student with an affinity for energy and sustainability, preferably with an interest in modeling energy systems. Known for being entrepreneurial, analytical, innovative, and a collaborative team player.

Practicalities:

• Preferred timeline: February 2025 until Summer 2025
• Language requirement: Dutch and English
• Reimbursement: 800 EUR per month
• Future opportunity: Fulltime position within Enova