Technologies Supporting Growth in Energy Storage
Those looking to implement battery energy storage systems (BESSs) in distributed grid applications need to find the right technologies. While needs might be different depending on the scale of an installation, and many battery energy storage manufacturers sell complete systems, the performance of the following technologies will affect the performance of energy storage systems as a whole.
To maintain both performance and safety, batteries must be cooled. There are a wide range of cooling technologies deployed in energy storage systems depending on the power density of a particular installation. Air conditioning is a good solution for many systems. Air cooling is becoming more efficient, and many companies are taking a look at the refrigerants they use to make them more environmentally friendly. For installations with higher energy density, liquid cooling is often a better option due to superior efficiency and effectiveness.
Liquid Cooling is a spectrum of technology pioneered by the data center industry but extremely useful in energy storage as well. In data center applications, it ranges from using chilled liquid lines to supplement the performance of air cooling to completely submerging equipment in nonconductive liquid. Liquid cooling is an effective cooling technique because liquid provides a much greater heat transfer capacity than air. It can also be pumped closer to the source of heat, capturing and transporting heat out of the system from the point at which it is generated. This helps liquid cooling increase power usage effectiveness, manage heat loads effectively, reduce energy costs and contribute to environmental sustainability.
Liquid cooling works in BESS applications by using a chiller to pump cooled fluid through the system in a closed loop, with precision control adjusting fluid temperature and flow rates to maximize efficiency. Hot or cold liquid is pumped through hoses and manifolds to racks of batteries. Liquid is then pumped through cooling lines to each individual battery and back to the chiller where it is cooled and recirculated. The entire system is a completely closed loop, so risks of leaks or liquid coming into contact with electrical infrastructure are minimized. However, to reduce the risk of leaks, reliable systems are a must.
In the same way data center managers want to prioritize using power on computing instead of cooling infrastructure, BESS manufacturers want to reduce the total cost of energy (TCOE). This represents the cost of running an energy storage installation including the supporting infrastructure. By raising the cooling capacity of energy storage systems with liquid cooling, battery module manufacturers can fit higher energy dense batteries closer together and increase the total power capacity of their installations without extreme increases in the cost of energy spent on cooling.
Flexible Conductors
Even with batteries appropriately cooled, they need to be connected to one another, and to whatever applications they are powering. Traditional cable solutions, while appropriate in some applications, can be difficult to use when footprint reduction is a primary concern because they often do not have a safe bending radius to accommodate tight turns in small spaces. In these instances, flexible conductors, such as flexible busbars or braids, can offer more design options due to their reduced cross-section and minimal bend radius requirements. These busbars can be prefabricated to save time and labor on job sites.
Advanced Battery Technology and Materials
The development of advanced materials and environmental protection, such as lightweight and durable enclosure materials, reliable gasketing and enclosure designs, thermal cable coatings, fire-resistant materials and low-smoke zero-halogen insulation, contributes to the safety, efficiency and longevity of BESSs. The development of battery technology itself, alongside the technology that supports it, is fundamental to these systems. Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used due to their high energy density, scalability and relatively long lifespan. Lithium iron phosphate technology has come a long way and is helping reduce TCOE for energy storage users.
The demand for energy storage will continue to grow as government investments in infrastructure increase around the world, and microgrids become more common. Data centers are built to support the expansion of artificial intelligence, and EVs are experiencing widespread adoption. Reducing the footprint of an energy storage system, while providing reliable environmental protection, liquid cooling and efficient electrical distribution and grounding for such systems will be a challenge for battery module manufacturers, power companies, commercial buildings and more. Thinking about these challenges and developing technology to address them now will help energy storage companies get out ahead of the competition.
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