Saft announced that it is focusing attention at ESNA on its Intensium® Max containerized Li-ion battery system, now capable of delivering an 1.8 MW peak power in a 20 foot container. The upgraded Intensium® Max 20P High Power (IM 20P) is suited to address the ramp rate challenges of renewable energy resources, especially large scale solar PV installations.
Visitors to Booth 201 at ESNA will be able to find out more about Saft’s complete Intensium® Max range of containerized solutions covering the full spectrum of energy storage needs including high energy (up to 1000 kWh) and medium power that offers a combination of 580 kWh and 1.1 MW peak power. Saft experts will also be on hand to update on the latest worldwide deployments of the company’s grid scale energy storage systems.
Meeting the ramp rate challenge
The increasing penetration of large scale PV installations presents a significant challenge for the power grids they feed as their power output can exhibit severe and rapid fluctuations or “ramping.” For example, cloud cover can cause a 70 to 80% fall in output in only one minute. In weak or islanded grids this rapid drop can cause instability, especially if the frequency fluctuates beyond acceptable limits. Without suitable measures to meet minimal technical requirements (MTRs) for grid connection, PV installations can be subjected to curtailment, which prevents them contributing their full output capacity to the grid.
Energy storage systems offer the proven capability to address ramping issues by providing the power support needed for a smooth and controlled ramp-down of PV output, allowing voltage and frequency stability to be maintained. A typical MTR might call for a controlled reduction in output of 10% a minute, so that a rapid 70% loss of output is rendered over 7 minutes.
Providing ramping support with a reliable, cost-effective source of short duration, high power
Saft has focused on further increasing the high power capability of its Intensium® Max ready-to-install containerized solution that provides a complete, fully integrated battery system comprising Li-ion battery modules, power management and control interfaces, air conditioning and safety devices. This containerized solution for energy storage systems has already achieved considerable commercial success worldwide in medium to large scale on-grid solar and wind power installations.
Saft has increased the peak current capability of the IM 20P to 3000 A – a current level believed to be twice that of competing systems of similar size. This provides a usable peak power output of 1.8 MW available for several minutes within the footprint of a 20 foot container, while meeting the frequent charge and discharge cycling profile typical of dynamic grid support applications. The power increase has been achieved by extensive upgrading and redesign of the overall thermal management and heat dissipation measures at the battery module level, supporting the higher current rating while ensuring total safety and reliability over a service life of up to 20 years.
The key customer benefit of the IM 20P is that it offers high peak power without the need to increase the energy capability (MWh) and consequent size of the installation. The result is a very competitive solution that enables Saft to meet the application’s required power profile within a smaller footprint and volume.
The 3000 A version of the IM 20P is fully engineered and will be delivered in the near future for an active project. Saft is already working on the design and development of future versions capable of providing even higher power.