An ice rink with a grid challenge

Rotterdam faces severe grid congestion: there is virtually no capacity left in the city for new large-consumer connections. Schaatsbaan Rotterdam encountered a different, less visible challenge. The rink utilizes its high-capacity grid connection intensively for only four months a year, while the connection remains available, and therefore underutilized, for the rest of the year. Director Tijs Nederlof sought a way to make this inactive capacity productive, rather than focusing solely on reducing consumption.

The solution: a 1MW battery container with smart control

ChargeBlock supplied the battery container that forms the foundation of the solution: a 1-megawatt system installed on the premises of the ice rink. Eneco controls the container via its Virtual Power Plant platform, which automatically determines when the battery charges and discharges based on market prices, weather forecasts, and grid conditions.

• During the skating season, the battery cushions peaks, ensuring that the operation of the rink does not place additional strain on the grid

• Outside the season, the freed-up connection capacity is used to purchase energy at low rates, store it, and feed it back to the grid when demand is high

• The system thus contributes to reducing local grid congestion year-round, even when the ice rink itself is inactive
  
  

The results in figures

• 1 MW battery container, supplied by ChargeBlock

• Energy bill of approximately €200,000 per year reduced toward a virtually cost-neutral energy system

• Investment of approximately €250,000 after subsidy, with an expected payback period of about 2.5 years

• Year-round utilization of a grid connection that was previously left largely unused for eight to nine months of the year

  
  

What this project demonstrates about resolving grid congestion

Schaatsbaan Rotterdam demonstrates that a battery container not only yields cost savings but can also serve as a revenue model, specifically for organizations with a highly seasonal energy profile. By combining storage capacity with smart energy management, an existing grid connection remains productive all year round instead of sitting idle for months. For businesses facing the same limitations of grid congestion—whether due to peak loads during part of the year, increasing energy consumption, or the goal to become less dependent on the grid—this serves as a practical example of how a battery container for large-scale energy storage provides a solution that lowers both energy costs and grid load.

Frequently asked questions

What was the size of the battery container at Schaatsbaan Rotterdam?

This involves a battery container with a capacity of 1 megawatt, installed on the premises of the ice rink and connected to the existing high-capacity grid connection.

What does a battery container yield outside its primary season?

Outside peak periods, a battery container can be utilized to purchase and store energy at low price points, and feed it back when demand—and market prices—are high. This generates an additional revenue stream from capacity that would otherwise remain idle.

Is a battery container only of interest for large, seasonal peaks?

No. Businesses with a constant peak load, a constrained grid connection, or the objective to become less dependent on the grid also benefit from a battery container. The scale and configuration are tailored to the energy profile of the organization.

Interested in what a battery container can achieve for your organization?
Request a non-binding consultation and discover how ChargeBlock can mitigate energy costs and grid congestion for your business.


Source: Change.inc, article on Schaatsbaan Rotterdam, in collaboration with Eneco (paraphrased). https://www.change.inc/partner/schaatsbaan-rotterdam-weet-met-slimme-investering-congestie-te-verlichten-en-energie-kostenneutraal-te-worden