Ushering in A New Era for Renewable Energy via Safety, Intelligence and Grid Forming

As Intersolar Europe, one of the world's leading solar industry exhibitions, prepares to open its doors, Huawei FusionSolar is poised to make a significant impact. The company held the Intersolar New Launch Live event to showcase its latest research and development (R&D) innovations to a global audience. This event featured the launch of the revolutionary Cell-to-Grid Smart String & Grid-Forming Energy Storage System (ESS) Platform, a significant leap forward in energy storage technology.

A New Era of Energy Storage: The Cell-to-Grid Smart String & Grid-Forming ESS Platform

Steve Zheng, President of the Utility Smart ESS Business at Huawei Digital Power, took the stage to introduce the new platform. The Cell-to-Grid Smart String & Grid-Forming ESS Platform is a comprehensive solution designed to address the evolving needs of the energy storage market. It comprises several key components:

• Smart String ESS: The core energy storage unit that uses string technology for efficient and scalable storage solutions.
• Smart String PCS (Power Conversion System): Converts stored energy into usable power with high efficiency.
• Smart Transformer Station: Integrates with existing power infrastructure to ensure seamless energy transmission.
• Smart Array Controller: Manages the array of storage units, optimizing performance and reliability.
• Smart Power Plant Controller: Oversees the entire power plant, ensuring efficient operation and integration with the grid.
• Smart Energy Management System: Provides advanced monitoring and control capabilities, leveraging digital technologies to enhance performance.

This platform is compatible with large-capacity lithium iron phosphate cells of various specifications, offering flexible capacity solutions suitable for different scenarios. It can be used in any C-rate (charge/discharge rate) scenario, significantly reducing the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) over its operational lifetime.

The Evolution of Huawei’s Energy Storage Solutions

Since adopting string inverter technology in 2013, Huawei has continuously innovated in the energy storage sector. The launch of the industry’s first string ESS in 2020 marked a milestone, using controllable power electronics technologies to address the inconsistencies and uncertainties associated with lithium batteries. Over the years, Huawei has refined its energy storage products, enhancing key capabilities in safety, grid forming, intelligence, and efficiency.

The new Smart String & Grid-Forming ESS Platform builds on these advancements, offering features such as full-architecture safety, all-scenario grid forming, full-lifecycle cost-effectiveness, and full-link digitalization. The platform is also built on an open ecosystem, promoting the high-quality and sustainable development of power plants in collaboration with partners throughout the lifecycle.

Key Performance Indicators of the ESS

To measure the effectiveness of an ESS, four key indicators are used: round-trip efficiency, constant power discharge range, availability, and State of Charge (SOC) precision. The Huawei Smart String & Grid-Forming ESS excels in these areas:

• Round-Trip Efficiency: The ESS boasts a round-trip efficiency of 90.3%, including auxiliary efficiency, thanks to a unique intelligent cooling system that reduces auxiliary loss by 50%.
• Constant Power Discharge Range: The pack optimization features 2.0 ensure real-time balancing of battery packs. The rack management architecture allows batteries to discharge energy at a constant power level regardless of the SOC.
• Availability: With a modular design, refined management, and minimal use of vulnerable parts, the ESS achieves 99.9% availability, ensuring reliable performance.
• SOC Precision: The ESS provides an SOC precision of less than 3%, ensuring accurate energy discharge.

These features collectively enhance the performance and reliability of the ESS, allowing for a reduced initial configuration while meeting stringent performance requirements.

Pioneering Grid Forming Capabilities

One of the standout features of the Smart String & Grid-Forming ESS Platform is its grid forming capability. This feature is crucial for improving the integration and consumption of renewable energy within the power grid. For instance, in a project in Qinghai, China, the ESS demonstrated its ability to increase renewable energy output by 40% when the Short Circuit Ratio (SCR) is 1.5. This capability underscores the platform's potential to significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of renewable energy systems.

The Strategic Importance of Energy Storage

Energy storage is a versatile resource essential for modern power systems, impacting power generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption. The grid forming capability of the ESS ensures reliable support for these systems, making it an indispensable component of future energy infrastructure. Huawei is committed to ongoing innovation and testing across various scenarios and specifications, aiming to provide superior solutions and create greater value for its customers.

Conclusion

Huawei’s unveiling of the Cell-to-Grid Smart String & Grid-Forming ESS Platform at Intersolar Europe marks a significant milestone in the energy storage industry. The platform’s advanced features, including full-architecture safety, all-scenario grid forming, full-lifecycle cost-effectiveness, and full-link digitalization, position it as a leader in the market. With its open ecosystem and emphasis on collaboration, Huawei is set to drive the high-quality development of power plants and renewable energy systems worldwide. The innovations presented at this launch highlight Huawei’s dedication to advancing technology and providing cutting-edge solutions to meet the ever-growing demands of the energy sector.