With more attention placed on sustainability, renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly relevant in the global energy production field. As a consequence, energy storage systems have also become a matter of interest for their ability to stabilize the energy grid.
In particular, the market of energy storage power solutions is expected to spike to $5.1 billion by the year 2024 from the $720 million of current worth. In this article, we will review some application challenges of commercial energy storage.
Commercial Battery Energy Systems
Commercial battery energy storage systems enable electricity storage for later uses whenever and wherever needed. They are usually integrated with various components, which can be grouped based on their functions as shown here below.
Battery Pack
The battery pack of commercial battery energy systems protects cells from hazardous current, temperature, and voltage operations to ensure safer and more reliable operations. It also balances the different states of charges of the cells within the connection also by relying on its internal battery management system.
Battery Rack
In energy systems applications, the battery rack refers to a structure on which individual batteries are installed. It is usually formed by a group of series-connected battery modules; each battery rack controls, protects, and manages each level of battery modules through its integrated battery management system.
BMS
As the name suggests, Battery Management System (BMS) refers to a management scheme with the function of monitoring, controlling, and optimizing the individual and overall performance of the battery modules included in an energy storage system. The BMS can monitor individual cells included in the battery pack and battery rack of a BESS to reduce the causes of degradation and improve the system’s overall performance.
Inverters
AC/DC power inverters are classified by the waveform category they produce or their ability to connect with the electrical power grid and the final application.
Benefits of Battery Energy Storage Systems
Many are the benefits of using commercial battery energy storage systems. Here below we have listed some of the main ones:
Energy Demand Management
Energy storage systems can be utilized to store energy that was purchased or generated at lower rates. They can also be switched on when the energy demand is higher or configured to deliver an uninterrupted power supply.
Stable Power Supplement
Power supplement is essential for keeping sufficient and steady electricity supply at hand in case of power outages or natural calamities.
Environmental-Friendly Option
Commercial battery energy storage systems increase the capacity and efficiency of the electric grid, resulting in lower GHG emissions and a reduced carbon footprint. Moreover, the grids can be made more flexible to integrate different energy sources for higher resource capacity.
Challenges Associated With Battery Energy Storage Systems
Battery energy storage systems represent an efficient, flexible, and effective way of storing large amounts of energy. However, BESSs can become a serious safety risk or result in high maintenance costs if incorrectly designed, installed and operated. Therefore, design engineers working on BESSs projects should pay particular attention to their safety and maintenance costs.
Below we will review more in detail the repercussions of each challenge on a BESS’s design.
Safety Threats
Battery energy storage systems can become potentially dangerous as there are serious risks associated with their improper installation and handling, a malfunctioning battery management system, or other similar circumstances.
In particular, the security threats associated with BESS can be divided into three main categories: damage to the equipment, an unsafe system integration, and a compromised environment. Below we will review each type more in detail.
First of all, battery energy storage systems can become potentially dangerous when the equipment is flawed or damaged for either intrinsic or extrinsic reasons. A key element that guarantees the safety and reliability of a BESS is its battery management system (BMS). A battery management system is a battery monitoring device that can take actions to protect the battery from certain usage and other conditions that could damage or shorten the life of the cells in a commercial battery energy storage system.
The risks associated with flawed or damaged materials are only one side to consider. Increased security risks can also generate from overly complex design setups that include a complex net of wires to store energy in the BESS.
Besides an overly complex and poorly-assembled circuit design, another cause of potential danger is associated with improper handling and installation of this equipment. The consequences can be space from electric shocks, fire, flash burns to explosions and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
A compromised environment is one of the other elements that could impact a BESS’ performance and security levels. This often takes the form of the excessive heat generated within the battery module as a consequence of Li-ion batteries exposed to high temperatures, short circuits, or electrical/mechanical problems. If unprotected, this can cause the release of gases that are toxic and flammable, possibly resulting in a person’s physical harm or asphyxiation. Other potential risks include electric shock or electrocution through accidental touching or arc flash events.
In particular, higher equipment resistance and electrical insulation can be guaranteed with high-insulation DC/DC converters. MORNSUN has designed a series of DC/DC converters for supplying power to BCU in photovoltaic energy storage systems. This collection of DC/DC converters is characterized by high isolation voltage, reinforced insulation, and high levels of safety.
Unnecessary Costs
Energy storage systems can effectively enhance usability and reduce the operating costs associated with the power grid. However, this type of equipment comprises a series of installation and maintenance costs that should not be overlooked.
In fact, energy storage systems with overly complex designs can raise the maintenance costs of the whole equipment. Reducing the wiring and construction costs is not only beneficial for the projects’ owners but can also impact the overall performance and safety levels of the energy storage systems.
MORNSUN has designed a series of power supply solutions that streamline the circuit design of the energy storage systems projects for which they are employed. These reliable power supplies ensure the higher security of the whole BESS system and each of its components. With fewer incidents and malfunctions associated with the compromised security of this system, it is possible to decrease the long-term costs associated with BESS maintenance.
How is MORNSUN Helping
MORNSUN has over 23 years of experience in the power supply industry and we have applied for more than 1300 patents for inventions. We have helped electrical engineers across a plethora of industries to design reliable, efficient, and high-performing power supplies for their projects.
MORNSUN is familiar with the design challenges associated with battery energy storage systems, both for commercial and residential applications. We can provide a series of economic, efficient, reliable power solutions designed especially for battery energy storage systems and all their related components. Our power solutions have already been used in power plants, utilities, as well as commercial and residential buildings.
Our DC-DC solutions are designed for a higher efficiency of 93%, which promises a reduction in the working loss of the battery energy storage system. In addition, they deliver an isolation voltage of 4000VAC, and they are highly insulated to deliver better safety standards.
In the AC-DC solution, this power supply adopts the reinforced insulation design. It can withstand isolation voltage up to 4000VAC to promise secure insulation between the AC and BCU power grids. MORNSUN also optimizes the temperature range of -40-degrees Celsius to +70-degrees Celsius to comply with the IGBT temperature rise, different climatic conditions, and location altitude.
Besides being able to provide reliable power solutions for energy storage systems, we can also help to make your electrical project even more stable and safer thanks to our BCU power solutions. As we have described above, the battery control unit plays a key role in ensuring the smooth and dependable employment of a battery energy storage system, especially in solar photovoltaic power generation applications.
For this reason, you will need reliable power modules for the BCU in the battery container of your energy storage system. Our BCU power solutions for energy storage systems are known for their high-isolation voltage, high reliability, reinforced insulation, and multiple protections. With BESS, it’s always better to invest upfront in the most reliable power components rather than dealing with the detrimental consequences on the safety of the people and equipment involved.
Contact us to know more about our power supply solutions designed for BESS and BCU applications.
For more information, please visit www.mornsun-power.com
