Smart Communication Optimizes Battery Energy Storage

Building a connected Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

Building a connected Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

Smart connectivity and communication between BESS components ensure efficient, long-term BESS performance. More than just a container of batteries, a BESS contains environmental sensors and controls, battery cell monitoring, and power conversion. Each of these subsystems interfaces with an energy management system (EMS), the brain of the operation that provides monitoring, optimization, and a user interface.

Energy Storage System (ESS)

EMS

An energy management system optimizes operation with data from the entire energy storage system, including the battery management system (BMS), power control system (PCS), and other components. The EMS also serves as the ESS’s user interface.

ECS

An environmental control system is an edge computer that contains environmental controls to maintain stable operating conditions and communication systems to enable data transfer between the various components of the ESS and external systems, such as the power grid.

PCS

The power conversion system is the heart of the energy storage system, responsible for converting the DC power stored in the battery to AC power that can be used in homes, industrial, and commercial sites.

BMS

A critical component of an energy storage system, the BMS is responsible for monitoring and controlling the battery cells' performance to ensure optimal operation and prevent damage. Ethernet switches enable real-time communication between the BMS and the EMS.

BESS

The battery energy storage system stores electrical energy for later use.

Behind-the-Meter

Energy storage systems on the customer side of the meter provide:

  • Energy cost control by optimizing & shifting energy use
  • Backup power during outages
  • Lower carbon footprint
  • Greater control over energy usage & supply
  • Added revenue with energy trading back to the grid
  • Includes: electric vehicles, prosumers, industrial and commercial customers

Front-of-the-Meter

Energy storage systems on the supplier side of the meter provide:

  • Greater flexibility when adopting solar energy
  • Grid stabilization to balance supply/demand & improved reliability
  • Integration of renewable energy sources into grid
  • Power quality management using waveform data
  • Battery optimization to maximize ROI
  • Includes: utility grids and renewable energy solar and wind power

BESS factors for future energy management

Decarbonization initiatives due to global warming

To minimize emissions, BESS leverages renewable energy resources more effectively for less reliance on carbon

Decentralization of grids toward distributed resources

Management of distributed energy such as solar and wind power drives the need for micro grids and BESS

Decentralization of grids to meet real-time demand

With advances in IoT, BESS plays a key role in optimizing and balancing real-time power supply

Components that enable smart battery energy storage communication

ADAM-6060 Ethernet I/O Modules

Smart web Ethernet I/O and mixed I/O modules that provide intelligent functions designed to accelerate automation development

ECU-150 High-Performance Quad Core IoT Gateways

i.MX8M based high-performance IoT gateway with quad-core processor, two RS-232/485 isolated serial ports, two 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports and USB 3.0 port

UNO-2271G IoT Edge Gateways & Accessories

Pocket-size edge IoT gateway featuring Intel® Celeron® dual-core N6210/Pentium® quad-core N6415 processor with 4GB/8GB DDR4 onboard memory

UTC-115 Touch Panel Computers

Ultra-slim, lightweight all-in-one touch computer providing an interactive touchpoint for customer-facing services and operation

EKI-2525 Industrial Switches

Provides 5/8 fast Ethernet ports with Auto MDI/MDI-X and supports 10/100Mbps auto-negotiation

ICR-3241 Industrial IoT LTE Router & Gateways

4G LTE Cat.4 VPN gateway to connect IP or serial devices to a cellular network for Industrial IoT applications