Applied Storage Systems

Our fields of work within the topic "Applied Storage Systems":

Due to the increased market penetration of battery storages, the necessity of quality assurance (QA) is increasingly coming into focus. The consequences of inadequate QA, which can range from limited usability to system failures and devastating accidents, increase public awareness and demand for holistic quality assurance from the cell to the battery storage. Due to the complexity of battery storage systems, it is becoming increasingly difficult, even for experts, to distinguish between high-end and low-quality products and systems. In addition, the widespread use of this technology increases the overall risk of accidents or damage caused by faulty installations or poor operational management.

With our long-term experience and expertise in the field of technical safety and fire protection of battery storage systems, we offer testing and certification services in close cooperation with VDE Renewables, covering battery cells, all peripheral components, and up to complete systems.

Our main areas of work include:

• Development of test standards and test infrastructure for charge controllers and battery applications (e.g. Solar Home Systems (SHS) and PV battery packages, PV diesel hybrid systems, battery storage devices)
• Testing and certification of power supply systems in the laboratory and in the field – from Pico PV through Solar Home Systems to PV Diesel Systems
• Holistic, independent, third-party technical due diligence
• Testing and certification of PV battery systems and battery storage devices
• Monitoring of battery systems and analysis of performance in the field
• Consulting, development and setup of test laboratories including development of training concepts and provision of training courses

The findings from the performance and aging tests of our "LabBatteries" are incorporated into our very detailed battery models. These data-based, realistic battery models are included in our simulation frameworks, which also incorporate peripheral components enabling a holistic view and optimization of the overall system, allowing for the evaluation of the technical design and the profitability of the underlying business models for standard or customized battery applications.

Among other things, our work includes:

• Conception, development and validation of models for the simulation of power storage facilities in power grids with a high share of renewable energies
• Scientific investigations for the development of new fields of application and business fields
• Technical design, verification and optimization of battery systems in interaction with renewable producers on the basis of system simulations
• Design of optimized energy management strategies and management of thermal management systems to increase battery life and effectivity
• Profitability calculations and operational optimization on the basis of monitoring data

Our "agile" development processes and flexible simulation modules enable us to develop customer-specific software.

Our simulation and modeling activities include the code development of customized solutions on generic programming languages like Python, Matlab or Modelica. On the other hand, we offer our customers the conception and design as well as the technical and economic analysis of energy systems with the help of professional software tools such as HOMER, PVSyst or DIgSILENT PowerFactory. The simulation team has many years of experience and a broad track record with these simulation tools.

In modern households, office buildings and production facilities, the various components of the energy system must share information with one another in complex ways. Battery storage systems play an increasingly important role in increasing flexibility, reducing the operating costs of energy supply, and ensuring stability of power supply in complex energy systems. In order to fully exploit this potential, the components are linked via a central energy management system (EMS) and are controlled intelligently.

In this field, Fraunhofer ISE offers the following services:

• Customer-specific development and implementation of operational management algorithms
• Analysis and evaluation of existing management strategies
• Integration of the components into the overall system (assessment of communication and energy architectures)
• Investigation of the impact of different operational management strategies on higher-level grid structures
• Development and implementation of energy management services for grid-connected and off-grid, as well as stationary and mobile applications

In addition to the topics that concern "Applied Storage Systems", Fraunhofer ISE also deals specifically with the optimization of building operation.

Fraunhofer ISE has many years of experience in designing system technology and selecting components for innovative storage-supported power supply concepts in stationary and mobile applications. All project phases are covered and technical support or the full implementation of the respective project phase is managed. The following are examples of areas of application in which system planning and implementation can be handled by Fraunhofer ISE:

• Off-grid power supply of single objects
• PV hybrid isolated grids
• Grid-connected PV battery systems
• Energy storage systems in neighborhoods
• Commercial and industrial battery systems
• Electromobility applications
• Light Electric Vehicles (LEV)