In our “New Technology” column, we are featuring the “Erdene” Solar Power Plant, which not only supplies uninterrupted electricity to the entire Zamyn-Uud soum but also introduces a technology that is considered a global and national first. Located in Erdene soum, Dornogovi aimag, the 30 MW “Erdene” Solar Power Plant, equipped with a 20 MW power capacity and an 80 MWh battery storage system, was commissioned last year. The renewable energy facility, consisting of a battery energy storage system, inverters, and a 110/10 kV substation, is situated 15 km from Zamyn Uud soum.

The project’s research and feasibility study began in 2016. Phase I was implemented in the second half of 2023, followed by the construction of Phase II from July to November 2024. “Erdene” is Mongolia’s first solar power plant with a high-capacity battery storage system. By operating in combination, it not only ensures the stable supply of power to the grid but also enables regulation of transmission line operations and voltage, while reducing transmission losses. A notable feature of the plant is its ability to operate independently and continue supplying reliable power during outages or failures in the central energy system (CES). Experts have emphasized that a test conducted under the supervision of the National Dispatching Center (NDC) on April 2, 2025, marked a world first in certain technical specifications. Specifically, the test successfully used the battery storage system’s black start and grid forming functions to supply electricity to Zamyn-Uud soum independently from the CES through a 110 kV, 15 km transmission line.

This achievement makes it the first renewable energy source in Mongolia to implement this technology.

The project successfully introduced the world’s first string architecture solution that integrates both black start and island mode energy supply capabilities into a 110 kV substation using a battery energy storage system. This technology, known as “Grid AED,” allows for rapid and autonomous restoration of power supply independently of the main grid in the event of a network outage. The process of restoring voltage from the battery storage system to the 110 kV network takes approximately one minute. Following this test, during transmission line maintenance in April and May, and on two other occasions, the battery energy storage system operated in conjunction with the solar power plant to fully supply electricity to Zamyn-Uud soum over an extended period. This collaboration with the battery system enables the “Erdene” solar power plant to independently and continuously supply electricity to all of Zamyn-Uud soum.

A distinctive feature of the “Erdene” solar power plant project is that it was entirely financed through domestic private investment, with loan support from Khan Bank. Moreover, the plant was developed entirely with Mongolian engineering solutions-Bayasaltugs LLC served as the main contractor, with Monhorus LLC and Ilch Khangai LLC participating as subcontractors.

Sidenote: A 5 MW solar power plant in Aldarkhaan soum, Zavkhan province, and a low-capacity 3.6 MWh battery energy storage system in Uliastai city were commissioned in 2022.

• #Сэргээгдэх эрчим хүч