Energy Storage Systems
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Energy storage has been an integral component of electricity generation, transmission, distribution as well as consumption for well over many decades. Today, the power landscape is changing dramatically with the growing renewable energy generation. This shift to renewable sources also makes delivering power reliably, where and when it’s needed, a bigger challenge than ever before.
Energy storage systems provide a wide array of technological approaches to manage our supply-demand situation and to create a more resilient energy infrastructure and bring cost savings to utilities and consumers.
Infineon’s unique expertise in energy generation, transmission, power conversion, and battery management makes us the natural partner to advance Energy Storage Solutions (ESS) in terms of efficiency, innovation, performance, and optimal cost. Our discrete OptiMOS?, CoolMOS?, and CoolSiC? MOSFETs and IGBTs modules, as well as highly integrated 3-level Easy 1B/2B modules, functionally integrated EiceDRIVER? gate driver ICs, XMC? controllers and security solutions are ideal in a wide range of energy storage system designs.
Broad segmentation of Energy Storage Systems along the energy supply chain
Battery-based ESS technology can respond to power drop-outs in under a second, making use of clean energy sourced from collocated solar or wind plants. In such before-the-meter cases, ESS functions as bulk storage coupled with either renewables generation or transmission and distribution systems. In residential and commercial situations, ESS plays a role as behind-the-meter.
Discover the different segmentation in the interactive graphic
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Before the meter
Bulk storage: 1 MW – 10 MW
Unstable grids and full-blown blackouts due to natural disasters and technical problems in aging infrastructures. Through ESS grid reliability and power system stability can be ensured.
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Before the meter
Substation: 500 kW – 10 MW
The growing demand for electricity, especially during peak periods, stretching the grid to the limit. For example, air conditioner usage at noon.
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Before the meter
PV: 500 kW – 5 MW / Wind: 500 kW – 10 MW
The boom in wind and solar PV leads to massive weather-dependent fluctuations and distributed generation. Hence the mismatch of supply and demand is growing. ESS is needed to smooth-out such fluctuations.
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Behind the meter
Commercial & residential PV – up to 250 kW
Installed in offices, factories, and supermarkets, mostly for self-consumption. Excessive non-self-consumed energy generated by rooftop PV is stored in batteries for later consumption or fed back to the grid.
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Behind the meter
Charging stations up to 350 kW
Electric cars require low-cost, high-density, and safe battery storage and could become part of a smart grid (“vehicle-to-grid”).
Typical structure of Energy Storage Systems
Energy Storage Systems are structured in two main parts. The power conversion system (PCS) handles AC/DC and DC/AC conversion, with energy flowing into the batteries to charge them or being converted from the battery storage into AC power and fed into the grid. Suitable power device solutions depend on the voltages supported and the power flowing.
The battery management system (BMS) handles cell charging, balancing, and health monitoring, complemented by a microcontroller providing system control and communication. Essential elements to integrate ESS into larger systems.
CoolSiC? MOSFET 650 V and 1200 V in Energy Storage Systems
Our CoolSiC? MOSFET cutting losses by 50% for extra energy. As the battery bank makes up the major portion of the total system costs for Energy Storage Systems, a change from super-junction MOSFET to CoolSiCTM MOSFET can lead to approx. Two percent extra energy without increasing battery size.
New white paper: Trends and solutions in Solar, Wind and Energy Storage Systems
Learn about the application and power semiconductor requirements for solar, wind, and energy storage systems. Understand how Infineon responds to the trends in the market of renewable energies and storage systems, e.g., inverter integration with CoolSiC? MOSFETs. Get an overview of different solution offerings for solar, wind, and energy storage systems.
From Solar and Wind to Energy Storage: Trends and Solutions
Learn about the application and power semiconductor requirements for solar, wind and energy storage systems. Understand how Infineon responds to the trends in the market of renewable energies and storage systems, e.g. inverter integration with CoolSiC? MOSFETs. Get an overview of different solution offerings for solar, wind and energy storage systems.
On-demand webinar: From solar and wind to energy storage
In the webinar, you will gain insight into renewables and the emerging applications of energy storage. Learn more about application trends and requirements, and understand Infineon's solution offerings for these applications.
