Will Hitachi energy supply a battery energy storage system in the Faroe Islands?

Image: SEV. Hitachi Energy has been selected to supply a large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) for a wind farm in the Faroe Islands, as the remote archipelago targets a goal of 100% renewable energy. The North Atlantic islands, between Norway and Iceland and north of Scotland, are home to about 50,000 people.

How is energy produced in the Faroe Islands?

In the Faroe Islands, energy is produced primarily from hydro and wind power, with oil products being the main energy source. Mostly consumed by fishing vessels and sea transport.

How much electricity is renewable in the Faroe Islands?

In the Faroe Islands, more than 80% of the power for the main grid was renewable on 50 days in 2022. The municipality-owned company SEV is the main electricity supplier, providing approximately 90% of the total production, with private producers contributing the remaining percentage.

Can the Faroe Islands import or export electricity?

The Faroe Islands cannot import or export electricity since they are not connected by power lines with continental Europe. Per capita annual consumption of primary energy in the Faroe Islands was 67 MWh in 2011, almost 60% above the comparable consumption in continental Denmark.

Does the Faroe Islands have a solar park?

The Faroe Islands have a solar park with a 250 kW capacity in Sumba. It is expected to produce 160 MWh/year (i.e. a capacity factor of 7.3% and equivalent to 35 tons of oil), mainly in the summer when rain and wind are low.

Why are the Faroe Islands buried underground?

Due to extreme weather conditions and lack of interconnections, the Faroe Islands experience one to three total blackouts annually, a ratio higher than that of continental Europe. Most of the powerlines have therefore been buried underground as cables for better protection and improving grid stability.