In a world in the transition to renewables, energy storage is becoming a crucial component for balancing grids and optimising consumption, said Morten Schoyen, Global Sales Director at Pixii AS, at the conference “Stepping stones for the BESS technologies development”, organised by Energynomics. He argued that storage solutions not only improve the utilisation of renewable sources, but also provide stability to the energy infrastructure, helping to increase system reliability.
More than 90% of new cars in Norway are fully electric, an accelerated transition that is putting pressure on the electricity grid. Although there have been no major power outages caused by electric vehicles, outages often occur due to severe weather conditions, particularly in the west of the country. However, power quality remains a major challenge, especially in areas where demand is high.
“Norway has a strong electricity grid, but the accelerated growth of electric vehicles brings significant challenges, especially in terms of fast charging. We haven’t heard of outages caused directly by electric cars, but there are difficulties in maintaining optimal power quality, especially in areas with high loads,” explained Schoyen.
Pixii solutions for the integration of stored energy
Norwegian company Pixii AS develops modular energy storage solutions, which are already widely used in Norway and other international markets. These solutions help regulate consumption and production, optimising the use of renewable resources.
“Our solutions enable the integration of locally and centrally stored energy, providing benefits for both grid operators and consumers. With them, we can improve the utilisation of existing infrastructure and reduce renewable energy losses,” explained Schoyen.
A concrete example is the collaboration with the distribution operator Elvia in Norway. There, Pixii solutions were used to improve grid stability through active and reactive power compensation. “By installing our systems, Elvia was able to significantly improve the quality of power supply in areas where there were problems with grid overload,” Schoyen added.
Case studies: The positive impact of storage solutions
In addition to Norway, Pixii has also implemented storage solutions in other parts of the world to solve various energy distribution problems. One example is the case of a farmer in Norway, whose photovoltaic panels were producing excess energy during the summer, leading to overvoltages in the grid. Instead of a costly infrastructure upgrade, grid operator Lede implemented a Pixii storage system to balance power flows.
Also in Australia, where the increasing use of solar power and electric vehicles has created challenges for local grids, Pixii has helped develop community battery solutions. These systems allow the surplus energy produced during the day to be stored and utilised during peak hours, reducing the pressure on the grid.
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As energy markets become increasingly dynamic, energy storage becomes not only an operational necessity but also an economic opportunity. In Europe and Australia, batteries are being used to provide ancillary services to the energy market and to participate in frequency balancing mechanisms.
“Investment in storage systems is cost-effective, with payback periods ranging from two to eight years, depending on the market. The flexibility of these systems allows them to be deployed in ways that maximise returns, either by selling energy at times of high demand or by avoiding the high costs of peak-hour consumption,” explained Schoyen.
The energy transition requires innovative solutions to ensure grid stability and integration of renewables. The energy storage systems developed by Pixii demonstrate that these solutions are already viable and widely applicable. With a modular and flexible approach, Pixii contributes to optimised energy consumption and a more resilient and efficient electricity grid.
“The future is decentralised energy storage solutions, and the closer they are to consumers, the better. These systems not only ensure grid stability but also create new economic opportunities for investors and users,” concluded Schoyen.
The conference “Stepping stones for the BESS technologies development” was organised by Energynomics with the support of our partners: AJ Brand, Alive Capital, BCR, Big Store, Elektra Renewable Support, EnergoBit, Enery, Enevo Group, Enexus. EVOLVE Energy Management Solutions, Huawei, Nofar Energy, Photomate, Prime Batteries Technology, Pixii AS, Renomia Gallagher, smartPulse, SolarToday, SolaX Power, Think Blu Solution, Wiren, WTW Romania, YEO.