Power Solutions for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
CONTENTS
Today's energy grids are faced with an unprecedented set of challenges paired with the more impellent need to transition away from fossil fuels towards more sustainable renewable energy sources. The increased electrification of electric vehicles has also resulted in spiking energy demand, even though the energy infrastructure is not always the most stable or advanced.
As sustainability becomes even more crucial, there is a growing need for efficient energy consumption. However, renewable energy is not always available or is still highly affected by harsh weather conditions and other factors. This is where a battery energy storage system comes into play to ensure a more stable and efficient energy supply. It is no wonder then that the battery energy systems (BESS) market is growing rapidly worldwide and is expected to reach up to 100GW by 2025. Below we will review more details about BESS, and what power supplies are required for these applications.
The Importance of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
The energy transition to more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy solutions is paramount to reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The most common renewable energy sources include solar and wind power.
BESS are devices that enable energy from renewable sources to be stored and then released when customers need power most. The advances in battery technology make BESS a light and affordable solution for both residential and commercial use, including smart homes, large-scale industrial facilities, and utility grids. A typical BESS includes several battery modules, which are controlled by a battery management system (BMS), an energy management system (EMS), and a power conversion system (PCS).
There are also several configurations available for BESS, depending on their application. In terms of power supplies, BESS includes inverters to facilitate the flow of electricity between the AC line voltage and the DC battery terminals. These inverters convert power between the AC and DC states, allowing the system to both charge and discharge the batteries.
These energy storage systems are of most interest to solar PV producers and power grid owners, as BESS help them solve a crucial challenge related to this type of energy source. In fact, renewables are intermittent in nature, as production goes up when the sun is shining but goes down when the day is overcast. On the current grid, on-demand gas power is still needed to fill in the gaps, especially at night or with adverse weather conditions. As more renewables are contributing to the grid in order to meet ambitious clean energy goals, energy storage technologies can help ensure a more stable, steady supply of energy.
Some of the benefits associated with BESS systems include but are not limited to higher resilience and environmental efficiency, smarter energy consumption, more planned cost-cutting, and resource-saving strategies. BESS can also be used in emergency response systems or for storm outages, enabling smarter frequency regulation, ramp rate control, peak shaving, and reduction of grid congestion, among many others. Being able to store excess energy is also a financial benefit to renewable energy producers. In this case, curtailment can be stored instead of having to curtail or waste the energy produced.
Despite the many benefits of employing this technology, there are also several common hazards and safety considerations associated with BESS systems, especially for those employing li-ion batteries. For example, there is always the danger of impacting the personnel's safety during installation and maintenance. Other risks to be considered include the exposure of batteries to high temperatures, the risks of short circuits, and electric shock through accidental touching or arc flash events.
To assure a stable and reliable use of this new technology, safety and reliability must be considered during all the phases of a BESS life cycle, from initial design to manufacturing up to the actual operations. This can also be achieved by considering some of the most relevant safety standards and regulations, including the UL 9540, UL 9540A, NFPA 855, IEC 62933, and UL 1741.
Considering all the potential hazards mentioned above, engineers and manufacturers should make informed decisions on the selection of highly reliable power supplies for their BESS projects. Relying on an experienced power supply solutions provider is one of the most crucial aspects to consider for achieving proper risk mitigation.
MORNSUN's Power Supply Solutions
Despite the challenges, BESS systems can be extremely beneficial both in terms of lowering the impact on the environment and cutting unnecessary expenses. In particular, a BESS can enhance usability, reduce operating costs, and improve the reliability of the system in which it is used. The key here is to select the right power module provider with certified, long-term experience in this industry.
With over 24 years of experience, we at MORNSUN put our professional team's knowledge at the service of electrical engineers working on projects for a wide range of industry applications. In relation to BESS, MORNSUN can provide economical, efficient, and reliable power solutions for BESS, which are applicable to power plants, utilities, and commercial and residential buildings.
Our BESS power supply solutions include a series of ultra-high, ultra-wide voltage input DC/DC PV converters, AC/DC converters, DC/DC converters for IGBT/SiC drivers, and CAN/RS485 transceivers that can meet the various needs of BESS developers.
Contact us to request more details or to receive a sample of our reliable, certified power supplies for BESS applications.
