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Estonia Activates Giant Heat Battery, Pivoting from Fossil Fuels
Energy firm Utilitas has inaugurated an €8 million, 1100 megawatt-hour heat accumulator in Tallinn, a major step in Estonia's strategy to enhance grid stability and decrease reliance on imported fossil fuels with the help of EU recovery funds.
- —Utilitas has inaugurated the largest heat accumulator in the Baltic States at its Väo energy complex in Tallinn, with a capacity of 1100 megawatt-hours.
- —The new heat accumulator, capable of storing 20,000 cubic meters of water, aims to smooth out daily energy production fluctuations and reduce the use of fossil fuels.
- —This project, costing 8 million euros, is co-financed by the Estonian Centre for Environmental Investment (KIK) with 675,000 euros from the EU's NextGenerationEU recovery fund.
- —Utilitas has already commissioned a similar heat accumulator in Jõgeva this year and plans to build two more in Tallinn at the Mustamäe CHP plant and the Paljassaare heat pump station.
Recap
The launch of this large-scale heat accumulator is a strategic move by Estonia to bolster its energy independence and resilience. By creating a buffer against energy production volatility, the system directly reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels, mitigating exposure to price shocks and supply disruptions. This project positions Estonia as a regional leader in energy storage technology and sets a precedent for similar infrastructure investments across the Baltic states.