Verlume, a UK-based company specializing in underwater energy storage systems and power management, tested its 500 kilowatt-hour underwater energy storage system in Aaberlain. This test was conducted ahead of the planned deployment in the North Sea of the Netherlands, where this system will be introduced as the first underwater battery capable of grid formation alongside offshore wind energy.
Hydrostatic and Functional Tests
On October 1, Verlume announced that it had completed hydrostatic tests of its underwater Orah chamber at the JFD hydrostatic testing center in Aaberlain. This test is recognized as a significant milestone towards the deployment of the system at the Orange Wind offshore wind farm, which is being developed by RWE and TotalEnergies off the coast of the Netherlands.
The 500 kilowatt-hour underwater energy storage system is specifically designed to provide automatic support to the grid for offshore wind farms. Orah utilizes the latest battery chemistry and is controlled by Verlume's Axonn power management platform. These technologies are designed to create a modular energy storage solution and automatic grid support that can aid flexible and resilient marine energy systems.
Dimensions and Features of the System
This system, weighing 10 tons and measuring 7.2 meters in length, 2.4 meters in width, and 2.4 meters in height, is recognized as the largest device ever tested at the JFD hydrostatic center. The testing program included pressurizing the chamber under controlled conditions that represented its intended underwater operational conditions. This test focused on three key areas: pressure and depth verification, chamber integrity, and operational performance under pressure.
After the complete deployment of the 85-ton system at the Orange Wind offshore wind farm, this system will be recognized as the first underwater battery capable of grid formation alongside offshore wind energy.
