Rabbalshede Kraft invests in automated maintenance at its first battery storage sites

With its first three battery storage sites in place, Rabbalshede Kraft is also developing new ways of working and maintenance strategies for the next generation of energy parks. As part of this initiative, Gomero has installed its SIPP Node solution, which automates the measurement and draining of transformer bunds and is part of Gomero’s broader offering for predictive maintenance.

Rabbalshede Kraft, one of Sweden’s leading wind power companies, is expanding towards energy parks that combine several types of generation with energy storage. The company’s first three battery storage sites mark the beginning of its collaboration with Gomero.

“The timing works well, as we are now developing our operating strategies for energy parks that include battery storage,” says Marie Magnusson, Chief Operations Officer at Rabbalshede Kraft.

As energy parks take in more types of generation and energy storage, the amount of data and the number of systems grow. That places new demands on how the work is organised:

“As we move from wind farms to energy parks with several types of generation and energy storage, operations become more complex. That also increases the need for digital solutions that help us handle more data and optimise the operation of the energy park as a whole. In parallel, we are developing our own ways of working in operations and maintenance, so that we can be more efficient and direct our efforts to where they make the most difference.”

Each transformer has a bund designed to contain oil in the event of a leak. For it to do that, there must be room in the bund. Rainwater that collects there takes up space and needs to be drained, while the oil must stay in place. Without automation, the bund has to be inspected and emptied manually.

With SIPP Node, the oil content of the water is measured continuously and the bund is drained automatically of clean water. This preserves the bunds’ capacity to contain oil in the event of a leak. The solution also reduces the need for manual checks and gives Rabbalshede Kraft up-to-date information on the status of the bunds. SIPP Node complements the routines and systems already in place at the sites, including the technicians’ annual inspections and electrical rounds.

“Predictive maintenance solutions, where we get our information at the right time and can schedule actions, make our work more efficient,” says Marie Magnusson.

Automating the transformer bunds is one example of how digital solutions can relieve the day-to-day maintenance workload. When routine checks happen automatically, technicians can focus on the tasks that call for specialist expertise.

The installation covers all 13 transformer bunds at Rabbalshede Kraft’s first three battery storage sites and can be extended to further sites as the energy parks develop.

“Batteries are a new technology for us, and from the start we want to create good conditions for efficient and reliable operation,” says Marie Magnusson.