As one of the first airports in Europe, Copenhagen Airport has had a battery installed for storing green power.
It is a milestone achieved as partners in the EU project ALIGHT have succeeded in managing the risks associated with installing a battery in an airport’s critical infrastructure.
Maria Skotte, Vice President of Sustainability, Copenhagen Airport says: “We are pleased that we have succeeded in installing the battery in Copenhagen Airport. It is an important step towards more sustainable operations at the airport.
“Now we need to start testing different scenarios and find the best solution for energy storage at the airport, which we can then further develop on a larger scale in the airport.”
The risks associated with operating a battery in an airport are numerous. Through the collaboration between Copenhagen Airport, Danish Technological Institute, and Hybrid Greentech, all partners in the ALIGHT project, it has been possible to minimize the risks that hindered the installation and upcoming commissioning of the battery.
Lars Overgaard, Project Manager, Technical Institute says: “Fire and smoke development, data leaks, and legal issues are some of the risks and barriers associated with setting up a battery in an airport environment.
“Therefore, at Danish Technological Institute, we are pleased to have contributed to specifying the battery system and conducting unique safety tests that have helped make it successful at Copenhagen Airport.”
Hybrid Greentech is behind the energy management system that will be used to operate the battery at the airport. This also requires security measures.
“The control system delivered by Hybrid Greentech has been tested for functionality and operational reliability in our EnergyFlexLab,” says Lars Overgaard.
“In this way, we have tested the management in a secure environment, reducing the risk of inadequacies in the airport’s critical infrastructure.”
Christoffer Greisen, COO, Hybrid Greentech says: “With our advanced control, the battery system at the airport will interact with charging stations and other facilities.
“This combines the airport’s own CO2 reductions with indirect contributions to the overall energy system through so-called system services, which intervene quickly when the grid experiences disturbances,”
“The ALIGHT project allows us to raise the bar and show how these cloud-based functions can work in conjunction with the secure systems used in critical infrastructure.”
For Copenhagen Airport, it’s important to have smart management that can ensure optimal utilization of green power through battery energy storage.
“With the 1350 new charging stations for electric cars that Copenhagen Airport will have in the coming years, it is crucial to embrace battery technology and build experiences with the many possibilities available,” says Maria Skotte.
