Grid Scale Battery Storage System
About
Grid scale battery storage, often referred as utility scale battery storage, grid scale energy storage or large-scale battery storage, is a system primarily designed to store excess electricity of large power plants for later use and to ensure grid stabilization.
These systems play crucial role in balancing electricity supply and demands, which is especially needed during integration of renewable energy sources like solar or wind power plants. The mentioned power sources are not as predictable as traditional coal, gas or nuclear power plants and cause huge imbalance on the power grid when do not come together with energy storage systems. In order to enable connection of numerous solar or wind power plants, public grid needs to be supplied by energy storage systems to provide grid services like frequency regulation, capacity reserve and optimization of power curves. By storing excess electricity when production exceed consumption, releasing when a high immediate demand come, battery energy storage systems support reliability and resilience of power infrastructure.
How does a Grid Scale Battery Storage System work?
Working principle of grid scale battery storage systems is similar to RESS and C&I energy storage systems. Typically, grid scale battery energy storage system is working on a MWh level, which differentiates it from the previous mentioned systems, which are much smaller compared to the utility scale system. Grid scale battery is storing excess energy from different kind of power sources, most commonly solar or wind power plants during off-peak hours and release it when the demand rises. Energy is being stored as direct current (DC) in battery systems, which on grid scale are most commonly assembled in large sea containers for easy transportation handling. Grid scale battery systems always go together with transformers and Power Conversion Systems (PCS), which handle the transformation between AC/DC and DC/AC. An inseparable element of each installation is Energy Management System (EMS), which by monitoring grid parameters and connection to grid operators, manage the charge and discharge operations of battery system.
What a typical Grid Scale Battery Storage System consist of?
Grid scale battery storage system is similar to C&I energy storage systems but on a much larger scale. Instead of smaller cabinets, large sea containers are being used and are equipped with all necessary equipment. Grid scale battery containers consist of:
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Battery packs
Battery packs which are made out of battery cells and BMS units, most often packed into rack enclosure for convenient handling and assembly. Optionally, a battery pack can be equipped with liquid cooling system plate.
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Battery rack
A set of battery packs connected together in a pre-made space in the container, designed for good air flow or optionally with connections to liquid cooling system.
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Battery Management Unit (BMU)
Head of battery operations, monitoring each battery pack in the set and communicating with BMS systems of each battery pack. Allows connection of whole battery rack to central Power Conversion System (PCS) or central Battery Management Unit (BMU), depending on connection type to central PCS (DC or AC).
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Power Conversion System (PCS)
Conversion of AC to DC and DC to AC, allowing connection to different energy sources and handling battery charge and discharge operations.
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Energy Management System (EMS)
Head of operations of whole grid scale system, managing charge and discharge periods of the battery. Allows monitoring and setting parameters of the system.
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Control cabinet
Consisting of connection, safety and protection equipment on electronical side of the system.
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Fire protection system
Sensors to detect smoke, fire, thermal runaway and other related signals to trigger an alarm and activation of fire extinguish system.
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Cooling system
Most often air conditioning system to provide stable working conditions for the system and extend system efficiency and lifespan. Optionally it can be a liquid cooling system, which is much more efficient and less energy demanding.
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Enclosure in the form of sea container
Protection of the system from environmental factors by providing high IP protection level.
Enhanced grid stability
Peak shaving
Frequency regulation
Delayed infrastructure investments
Environmental benefits
What are the benefits of using Grid Scale Battery Storage Systems from owner and operator perspective?
Products
PotisEdge Grid Scale Battery Storage System offerings
PotisEdge offers a wide range of grid scale battery products using self-developed BMS and EMS systems, patented Intelligent Cell Connection Systems (iCCS) and years of experience in the energy storage industry.
