What paper are playing batteries in Audax’s growth?
In Audax, accumulation batteries are acquiring a key role in our energy growth and diversification strategy.
On the one hand, from our department of Strategy and transformationwe are developing Innovative projects in the field of self -consumption, incorporating artificial intelligence For intelligent demand management. This opens new business opportunities in markets such as flexibility services, reinforcing our position as a key agent in the new energy model.
On the other hand, from our division of Generationwe bet on the Hybridization of our solar parks with storage systems. This ability to manage energy dynamically not only improves profitability, but also positions us as a relevant actor in adjustment service markets.
What applications is the use of these batteries intended?
The approach with which we are developing hybridization projects is multifunctional, aimed at maximizing both operational efficiency and economic value. Among the main applications we would highlight:
- Price arbitration: The storage allows us to move the energy generated in low demand hours or reduced prices towards moments of greater value in the market, thus increasing the profitability of our plants. This capacity is especially relevant in an environment of high price volatility and growing renewable penetration.
- Network adjustment and regulation services: The batteries enable us to participate in auxiliary services markets, such as frequency regulation or rapid response to imbalances. This not only provides additional income, but also contributes to the stability of the electrical system as necessary as it has been evident after the blackout of April 28, which evidenced the need for more robust backup and regulation systems.
- Dispute reduction and congestion management: In certain locations, storage can help avoid energy discharges in times of network saturation, allowing greater integration of renewable production without compromising system stability.
What challenges have you found in the integration of the battery with your solar park depending on the load or shelf life cycles?
There are several both technical and economic and operational challenges on which we are working. Certainly the optimal management and download cycles It represents a challenge, since the useful life of batteries and their long -term performance depends directly. We are selecting the best technological solutions in the market that guarantee us efficient and robust management in order to maximize the useful life of the investment we will make.
It is also essential to align the Battery operation strategy. This requires integrated control systems that dynamically adapt the load and download, avoiding unnecessary or deep cycles that can accelerate cell wear. Here the incorporation of AI will play a very important role.
How can the batteries increase the ebitda of solar parks in the medium and long term?
The incorporation of batteries in solar parks provides a clear lever to improve EBITDA, both for income optimization and for the reduction of operational costs.
Starting with Improve the predictability in the sale of that energy to market that will reduce our deviations and increase the remuneration received.
As we have indicated, participation in adjustment service markets is a new source of income of our plants.
The company has as a strategic priority the improvement of Ebitda to be able to reinvest in innovative solutions such as these and thus, extend this type of projects to all of our solar assets.
Is Audax exploring alliances with battery manufacturers, system integrators or energy startups to accelerate implementation?
Definitely. As I mentioned, the selection of the best technology is crucial to guarantee the return on investment. In this context, our recurring participation in the feria Intersolar Europe guarantees that we can Identify the latest trends and innovations of the main manufacturers.
We are aware that collaboration with an integrator will provide us with agility and experience, specifically in the interoperability of each of the system’s equipment and components. However, for reasons of confidentiality and due to the strategic nature of these collaborations, we cannot reveal at the moment the identity of the partners we are working with, since these are still in the development phase that require maximum discretion until its definitive formalization.
What are the following steps in this regard?
The following steps we are taking in Audax renewables focus on consolidate the technical and operational learning of the pilot and in defining a scalable roadmap for the integration of batteries in other renewable assets of the group.
A key aspect in this phase is the participation in the call of Aid of the Miteco, managed by the IDAE and financed with FEDER funds, which represent a necessary impulse to accelerate the economic viability of these projects. These grants allow to reduce the initial capex and improve the profitability of storage investments, facilitating their deployment on a larger scale.