Battery storage and smart grid equipment: consulting and planning
Battery storage and smart grid equipment: we give manufacturer-independent, technology-neutral advice on selection, planning and integration.
The right plant technology is decisive for a stable, efficient and future-proof smart grid. We advise you, independent of manufacturers and open to all technologies, on the selection, planning and integration of all relevant components of your storage and grid project.
A large-scale storage system comprises battery cells and racks, a battery management system, inverters, transformers, an overarching energy management system and an enclosure, usually a container with cooling, ventilation and fire detection. Safety behaviour differs depending on cell chemistry: lithium iron phosphate is considered thermally more stable than nickel manganese cobalt. Fire protection adds gas sensors with coupled ventilation, extinguishing systems and pressure relief areas on the outer wall or roof, whose walls must retain their fire-protecting function. UL 9540A can be used as a test method for assessing thermal runaway and possible fire propagation; whether it is relevant for the project is agreed with the authority, the fire protection planner and the insurer. Surge protection limits transient overvoltages, high DC short-circuit currents require short-circuit and disconnection technology designed for them, power and cooling redundancy are planned depending on availability requirements, and energy management also requires an IT security concept with access control, network segmentation and rules for remote access. Fan output, and thus noise emission, also depends on the outside temperature, which must be considered for cooling and siting. In operation, patch, configuration and change management as well as regular audits count.
Our focus is on a holistic view of your energy system. We analyse existing infrastructure and identify optimisation potential. In doing so, we look not only at economic viability and system compatibility but also at compliance with all normative and grid-technical requirements. In terms of grid technology, requirements increase with capacity: requirements for active power limitation depend on the applicable TOR, the grid connection agreement and the grid operator's project-specific requirements; communication runs over defined interfaces; and the requirements for real-time data are to be determined on the basis of the applicable TOR, the plant class and the connection conditions. Whether an external grid decoupling protection or a central plant controller is required depends on the plant class, grid level, metering concept and the grid operator's connection conditions, and the grid operator may require earth fault monitoring. Our experts cover all necessary disciplines and know the requirements of authorities and experts. We support you in communication with the plant manufacturer. For battery storage and dynamic feed-in limitation, the response times and permissible control deviations of the control system are to be determined on the basis of the technical connection rules applicable in each case and the grid connection agreement. Required disconnection and emergency stop devices are determined for the specific project with the grid operator and the competent authority. Execution plans and data point lists, for example for Modbus interfaces, are provided by grid operators; they must be kept up to date. Reused batteries require a risk assessment beforehand.
The selection of plant technology is also legally relevant: construction or a substantial modification may only begin once the approval has become final, and expert support for modification procedures helps here. The selection made forms the basis for the tender for storage components (BESS). System design includes the load profile analysis and hybrid park planning. For wind farms, we advise on the equipment of wind turbines.
