Sungrow’s James Li discusses liquid cooling for ESS – pv magazine International

pv journal: Nice to see your announcement of the PowerTitan 2.0 ESS. Are you able to inform us what has modified from PowerTitan to the brand new PowerTitan 2.0?

James Li: The principle change is predicated on the precious suggestions we obtained from prospects within the UK, Israel, and different locations. They expressed the necessity for increased energy density, particularly in areas with restricted land availability. Because the storage wants of residential and concrete areas method, the price of land will increase, and noise turns into a priority. They demand a smaller system footprint. That is why we’re introducing the PowerTitan 2.0, which affords a 5 MWh battery and a pair of.5 MW PCS.

We doubled the density whereas becoming all the pieces, together with the PCS, right into a 20 foot container. It is wonderful to have the entire system in such a compact container, which makes logistics simpler.

pv journal: Did the change to liquid cooling make this alteration? Or is there one thing else?

Li: Once we first launched the primary era, we already had future product choices in thoughts. It required important engineering efforts to rapidly incorporate liquid cooling into our product. That is our first time utilizing liquid cooling for all the system, changing the earlier air cooling technique.

Liquid cooling is used within the PCS and battery storage, which supplies benefits when it comes to thermal administration. In air cooling, there’s a temperature distinction of about 10 levels, whereas in liquid cooling, it decreases to about 2.5 levels. This interprets into a long life of roughly two years, which is important. As well as, the string PCS permits particular person charging and discharging of the battery racks, leading to greater than 7% improve in vitality capability throughout the life cycle and improved total effectivity.

pv journal: What was the primary problem you confronted in introducing liquid cooling to the market?

Li: Designing air cooling techniques is simpler when it comes to warmth administration and warmth move for cooling all the system. Alternatively, liquid cooling requires extra intricate design concerns, together with pipe structure to make sure environment friendly cooling and correct move path. This course of takes time and cautious management. Regardless of the extra design constraints, liquid cooling supplies higher total management, making it very efficient. It’s significantly appropriate for utilities dealing with land limitations, particularly these searching for installations with greater than 20 MWh of vitality storage.

For a 100 MWh vitality storage venture utilizing PowerTitan 2.0, it would solely occupy roughly 1,200 sq. meters, vastly decreasing the required land footprint.

pv journal: How does this method differ from different options in the identical market section? How efficient is it?

Li: PowerTitan 2.0 is an expert integration of Sungrow’s energy electronics, electrochemistry, and energy grid assist applied sciences. PowerTitan 2.0 distinguishes itself when it comes to 20ft container dimension, which is the smallest out there section. The excessive density of the system positions us because the main alternative for transportation and logistics. Though it’s heavier than the primary era, it will possibly nonetheless be simply transported inside a 20-foot container.

One other essential facet is the adoption of liquid cooling for the PCS and the battery. It not solely supplies superior warmth administration but in addition reduces noise. As we see a shift in the direction of storage techniques positioned nearer to residential areas, the noise degree discount of round 4 dB, on a log scale, which makes it quite a bit, turns into extra helpful. The brand new system operates at roughly 75 dB, in comparison with the earlier 79 dB.

Nonetheless, crucial benefit lies within the environment friendly use of land, which is our primary focus.

pv journal: Do you continue to supply the unique PowerTitan together with the PowerTitan 2.0?

Li: To keep away from confusion, we proceed to supply the unique PowerTitan to all prospects. Nonetheless, the PowerTitan 2.0 is barely accessible as an choice in sure areas. These areas embody Israel, the UK, the Nordics, and Eire, the place there may be excessive demand for storage however restricted land availability. In these areas, prospects require increased density and longer length for his or her storage techniques.

PowerTitan 2.0 is particularly designed to satisfy these buyer necessities and isn’t accessible in international locations corresponding to Germany, the place the grid capability is bigger.

pv journal: Is the liquid cooling choice dearer?

Li: General, we imagine that providing a liquid cooling resolution in PowerTitan 2.0 will save prices. The smaller dimension, increased density batteries, and the mixing right into a 20-foot container ends in total financial savings for patrons when contemplating all capital and working prices. This discount in dimension of roughly 30% and the lengthy service lifetime of two years contribute to actual financial savings.

Whereas the PowerTitan 2.0 could have the next unit price, contemplating all capital and working prices, it has confirmed to be an efficient resolution.

pv journal: Based mostly in your expertise with PowerTitan installations within the area, what sort of suggestions have you ever obtained from prospects?

Li: Prospects have gotten extra skilled of their method, and we’re additionally turning into extra skilled in response to their wants. For instance, prospects are more and more demanding extra safety in the case of hearth extinguishing techniques. Our system meets or exceeds all necessities and carries CE marking. Nonetheless, some prospects, particularly within the USA working with consultants, additionally search UL certification. We repeatedly attempt for full compliance in all areas, offering proof and check studies to offer prospects the very best degree of confidence.