First hydroelectric-solar microgrid in Patagonia
Press Release
First hydroelectric-solar microgrid in Patagonia
Tesvolt delivers storage system for Patagonia National Park
Chacabuco/Chile, Wittenberg/Germany, 09/09/2020 – A “run-of-the-river” hydroelectric power station, photovoltaic installation, and battery storage system have been combined to provide facilities in the Patagonia National Park with electricity from renewable energy sources. The park is part of one of the most important nature conservation projects in the world. It was established by the founder of North Face, Douglas Tompkins, and his wife Kristine, previously CEO of the outdoor clothing company Patagonia. The aim of their foundation, Tompkins Conservation, is to rewild the region after decades of heavy overgrazing and desertification.
Press images for download: https://www.tesvolt.com/en/press/first-hydroelectric-solar-microgrid-in-patagonia.html
Renewable energy for outstanding nature conservation project
The Patagonia National Park is one of the most important nature conservation projects in the world. It owes its existence to the vision and financial means of Douglas and Kristine Tompkins. The two Americans moved to Chile in the early 1990s to push for the preservation of some of the most impressive wild landscapes in the world. Together, they helped create and extend 15 national parks in Chile and Argentina and eventually worked with both governments to protect over 14 million hectares of land.
The Patagonia National Park is located an enormous distance from the nearest public utility grid. The power requirements of the park’s facilities have to date been provided by diesel generators – an expensive and environmentally damaging solution.
“Combining run-of-the-river hydroelectric power and a photovoltaic installation is technically very demanding,” explains Gonzalo Rodriguez, engineer at the Patagonian installation company SyR Energía who planned and executed the project. To achieve a total output of 115 kilowatts peak (kWp), two hydraulic turbines were combined with a solar system, both with AC coupling. The lithium-ion battery storage units have a capacity of 144 kilowatt hours (kWh).
In winter and spring, the Patagonian rivers are swollen by heavy rainfall and snowmelt from the Andes. The two micro-turbines convert the energy from the water into electricity. In summer, the water level in the rivers drops significantly and the required electricity is then supplied by the photovoltaic installation. Excess electricity is temporarily stored in the battery storage systems from the German manufacturer Tesvolt.
Sustainable tourism in a natural paradise
The Patagonia park encompasses over 300,000 hectares of grassland plateaus, forests, wetlands and alpine regions. As with the majority of the region, intensive livestock farming on sandy, dry ground in the Chacabuco valley has resulted in extensive desertification. Since purchasing the area in 2004, the Tompkins Foundation has been committed to restoring the original grassland and establishing native plant and animal species. The Estancia Valle Chacabuco sustainable hostel, a restaurant, camping sites, hiking trails, and an information centre and museum allow tourists to immerse themselves in nature and take a vacation with minimum environmental impact. Tompkins Conservation donated the park to the Chilean state and today, the park is maintained by the Chilean National Forestry Corporation (CONAF).
“We are very excited about the construction of the most advanced hydroelectric-solar microgrid in Chile which will continue to provide clean power for the park for many years to come. This alternative energy system minimises the park’s CO2 footprint and therefore contributes to the fight against climate change,” says Carolina Morgado, Executive Director of Tompkins Conservation Chile.
Hydroelectric-photovoltaic storage system runs faultlessly
“The park is so remote that it was extremely important to install installation components of high quality that therefore require minimum maintenance,” explains Rodriguez. “We therefore decided to install storage systems from Tesvolt who lead the field in terms of quality. This has paid off. The installation has now been running without no problems at all for exactly one year.”
Tesvolt specialises in battery storage system solutions for trade and industry. Thanks to the company’s own intelligent battery control, Tesvolt storage systems operate with outstanding efficiency and have a long expected lifespan of 30 years. They are also exceptionally safe thanks to system control down to the cell level.
About Tesvolt
Tesvolt specialises in battery storage systems for trade and industry. The innovative company from Wittenberg produces lithium storage systems with prismatic battery cells from Samsung SDI based on nickel manganese cobalt oxide. Tesvolt storage systems are always a good match, for high or low voltage, on- or off-grid. They can be used with all renewable energy sources or with combined heat and power units or fuel cells.
Tesvolt has won accolades including received the German Entrepreneur Award in the “Rising Stars” category. Tesvolt also received “The smarter E AWARD” in the “Outstanding Projects” category and the international Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) award for a project supplying off-grid power supply to an avocado farm in south-west Australia.
More about Tompkins Conservation: www.tompkinsconservation.org
Video clip about the vision and life of Douglas and Kristine Tompkins:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sfyGCzqGMc
press contact:
Vera Neuhäuser
Tel. +49 30 – 221 83 82 49
Mobile +49 178 – 53 68 425
Email: vera.neuhaeuser@sunbeam-communications.com
ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE: Trade fair and conferences showcase new thermal storage technology
Press Release
ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE: Trade fair and conferences showcase new thermal storage technology
Düsseldorf, 12 August 2020. Innovative materials and components for latent and chemical storage systems are creating new momentum in the field of thermal storage. These new types of technology tap into fields of application that have, as yet, been little explored. The high-temperature sector, which is especially important for industrial applications, is one of these.
Images for download: https://www.eseexpo.de/pressphotos
Innovations in thermal storage technology take centre stage at the ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE conferences and the IRES sessions with top-class participants that will take place in Düsseldorf from 16–18 March 2021. At the accompanying trade fair, which is held in parallel, established companies and international technology start-ups will exhibit their solutions and products in a special area created specially in order to respond to demand. ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE offers users a comprehensive overview of the latest storage solutions that are making production processes more efficient.
“There are a range of remarkable innovations in technology for thermal energy storage. For example, using vacuum super insulation technology enables thickness to be reduced by over 90 percent at temperatures above 300°C. This innovation boost also stimulates the market: In the past two years alone, the number of thermal storage companies in the Federal Association for Energy Storage Units (Bundesverband Energiespeicher, BVES) has doubled,” says Dr Andreas Hauer, Head of the Energy Storage Division at the Bavarian Centre for Applied Energy Research (Bayerisches Zentrum für Angewandte Energieforschung e.V., ZAE).
New materials and chemical reactions
Current fields of research and development also include new composite and sorption materials such as metal-organic frameworks as well as chemical reactions such as magnesium oxide/water or strontium bromide/water reactions at temperatures between 200 and 400°C and 30 to 90°C. These are investigated with respect to their workability and new suitable applications for them.
In the phase change material sector, R&D activity is focusing on new categories such as sugar alcohols, polymers and fatty acids in addition to paraffins and salt hydrates in order to cover application-oriented temperature ranges.
Latent thermal storage methods such as these can also help to optimise electricity storage: In a lithium-ion storage container, they prevent premature ageing processes caused by the battery overheating. Here, the melting temperature of the storage material dictates the temperature inside the container. In cooperation with the Bavarian Centre for Applied Energy Research, the Technical University of Munich has launched a project which is already implementing this technology.
New component designs
New areas of application such as industrial waste heat recovery or flexible sector coupling require new temperature ranges in order to operate thermal energy storage solutions. For instance, the use of renewable electricity offers the option of generating and storing very high temperatures, right up to 1000°C. This requires new storage materials and components as the usual solutions are not suitable for these high temperature ranges. In this context, power-to-heat-to-power systems, also known as Carnot batteries, are proving to be an additional application for thermal energy storage units.
From an industrial perspective, high-temperature thermal storage units can be used in foundries to improve energy efficiency. For example, in an ongoing project, the waste heat from a cupola is stored at temperatures above 200°C. It is subsequently used for the drying and preheating processes, which take place when the cupola is not in operation. Low-cost rock and thermal oil are used as storage media, and the latter also functions as a convector fluid that transports heat from the furnace to the storage unit.
About ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE 2021 | Messe Düsseldorf
ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE is the leading trade fair for the global energy storage industry with a focus on energy storage system applications and industrial decarbonisation. The concurrent international conferences provide the world’s largest conference programme on all energy storage technologies. They include the 9th ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE Conference (ESE) by Messe Düsseldorf and the 14th International Renewable Energy Storage Conference (IRES) by EUROSOLAR e.V. The focal points are economics and finances (ESE) as well as science and research (IRES).
Press Contact
Messe Düsseldorf GmbH
Press Department
Daniel Krauß / Desislava Angelova / Sabrina Giewald
Phone +49(0)211 4560 598
Fax +49(0)211 4560-87598
E-Mail: KraussD@messe-duesseldorf.de
Sunbeam Communications
German Lewizki
Phone +49(0)30 2218382 - 50
Fax +49(0)30 2218382 - 99
E-Mail: lewizki@sunbeam-communications.com
ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE Combines Event with Leading European Trade Fair for Retail Technology
Press Release
ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE Combines Event with Leading European Trade Fair for Retail Technology
Düsseldorf, 2 July 2020. The next trade fair for energy storage systems ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE (ESE) will take place from 16 to 18 March 2021 alongside EuroCIS, Europe’s leading trade fair for retail technology. This cooperation leverages synergies in the areas of energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gases in retail. With the new trade fair partnership, ESE is further expanding its application and industry focus. The partner network now includes a total of six trade fairs for energy storage users.
Images for download: https://www.eseexpo.de/pressphotos
“The who’s-who of the retail industry will be attending EuroCIS in Düsseldorf. This gives our exhibitors the opportunity to present their products and services to another very interested user group at no extra effort. The visitor tickets are valid for both events,” states Dr. Andreas Moerke, Executive Team Manager of ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE.
ESE’s focus on solutions for energy efficiency, supply security, and climate protection in industry and commerce is also reflected in new exhibitor groups. These include specialist engineering firms and financial institutes with offers for climate protection measures. In addition, providers for recycling energy storage systems will present their services in Düsseldorf.
Benefits for Visitors to Both Trade Fairs
With their tickets, visitors and exhibitors at ESE receive free access to EuroCIS 2021, which will take place at the same time in the exhibition halls directly adjacent to the energy storage trade fair. This gives them the opportunity to visit two trade fairs on the same date, learn about the topics and technologies currently being discussed in the retail sector, and thus explore possible applications for their products and services.
In turn, the visitors to EuroCIS, numbering over 13,000, will receive an overview of the use of energy storage systems, energy management solutions, and low-emission technologies for industrial logistics at ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE. To this end, the Decarbonization Hub, a separate exhibition area with consulting services, originally planned for ESE 2020, will be expanded. In addition, there will be a specialised lecture programme for storage users in the exhibition hall forum, which is accessible free of charge.
About ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE 2021 | Messe Düsseldorf
ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE is the leading trade fair for the global energy storage industry with a focus on energy storage system applications and industrial decarbonisation. The concurrent international conferences provide the world’s largest conference programme on all energy storage technologies. They include the 9th ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE Conference (ESE) by Messe Düsseldorf and the 14th International Renewable Energy Storage Conference (IRES) by EUROSOLAR e.V. The focal points are economics and finances (ESE) as well as science and research (IRES).
www.eseexpo.com
Press Contact
Messe Düsseldorf GmbH
Press Department
Daniel Krauß / Desislava Angelova / Sabrina Giewald
Phone +49(0)211 4560 598
Fax +49(0)211 4560-87598
E-Mail: KraussD@messe-duesseldorf.de
Sunbeam Communications
German Lewizki
Phone +49(0)30 2218382 - 50
Fax +49(0)30 2218382 - 99
E-Mail: lewizki@sunbeam-communications.com
TOP 100: Tesvolt wins leading innovation prize for SMEs
Press Release
TOP 100: Tesvolt wins leading innovation prize for SMEs
The battery storage system manufacturer has been named “Top Innovator 2020”
Wittenberg/Germany, 19 July 2020 — Tesvolt, the manufacturer of electricity storage systems for trade and industry, was named on Friday Top Innovator of the Year” in the TOP 100 competition. It secured first place in its size category in this leading innovation contest for German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In addition to the young company’s rapid growth and agile organisational form, the 31-member jury was also impressed by the innovative technology that underpins Tesvolt storage systems. This was the competition’s 27th instalment.
You can find press images here:
www.tesvolt.com/en/presse/top-100%3A-tesvolt-wins-leading-innovation-prize-for-smes__prr41.html
“Germany lives on innovation. From a global perspective, Germany is a highly innovative country. But we must work to ensure that this remains the case and that we constantly reinvent ourselves. The key to these efforts are SMEs, which are the driver of our economy – and therefore the foundation of our prosperity,” says Ranga Yogeshwar, TOP 100 mentor. “Tesvolt has leapt into the ranks of the top innovators for 2020 – and did so with its first entry in the competition.”
Scientific selection procedure
TOP 100 honours businesses for their successful innovation, examining every stage of the innovation process as well as the climate of innovation and the extent to which management promote innovation. In total, the jury considers 120 parameters when selecting the winners. The panel is made up of experts from business, academia, the media and politics – including consultant Roland Berger and politician Gregor Gysi, for example – and selects an “Innovator of the Year” in each of the three size categories. The competition is led by Nikolaus Franke from the Vienna University of Economics and Business, one of the world’s leading innovation researchers.
Impressive company growth
In explaining its verdict, the jury said: “The founders of Tesvolt were quick to recognise the demand for powerful energy storage systems in commercial and agricultural applications, and they developed the first prototypes literally in their garage. Tesvolt has now moved to series production at Europe’s first gigafactory for commercial storage systems. Over 1,000 customers worldwide are now using the patented energy storage systems – impressive company growth within a few short years.”
Technological USP
The jury was also impressed by the intelligent battery management system developed by Tesvolt’s engineers, which delivers exceptionally high efficiency of over 92% and a long expected lifetime of 30 years. “With this Tesvolt has achieved a technological USP in the marketplace,” the jury’s statement continued.
A climate of innovation at the company
Two years ago, Tesvolt opted for an agile organisational form. Since then, the company has dispensed with a bottleneck of managerial staff so that all decisions are now taken as a team. This allows each individual to maximise their contribution and unleash their potential without restrictions. The jury takes the view that “this unusual organisational form allows for a high degree of innovation.”
“We’re incredibly proud to have won this demanding competition! Our agile organisation means that all of our staff ultimately contributed to this victory. The success of Tesvolt is based on the commitment of every single individual, and I would like to thank the entire team for their efforts,” explains Daniel Hannemann, CEO and co-founder of Tesvolt. “But it is not simply a desire to innovate that motivates us. Rather, we’re driven by the vision of bringing affordable, clean energy to every corner of the world with the help of efficient storage technologies – and innovation is the foundation for doing so.”
About Tesvolt
Tesvolt specialises in battery storage systems for trade and industry. The innovative company from Wittenberg produces lithium storage systems with prismatic battery cells from Samsung SDI based on nickel manganese cobalt oxide. Tesvolt storage systems are always a good match, for high or low voltage, on- or off-grid. They can be used with all renewable energy sources or with combined heat and power units or fuel cells.
Tesvolt has won accolades including received the German Entrepreneur Award in the “Rising Stars” category. Tesvolt also received “The smarter E AWARD” in the “Outstanding Projects” category and the international Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) award for a project supplying off-grid power supply to an avocado farm in south-west Australia.
About TOP 100
In 1993, compamedia began awarding the TOP 100 seal of approval in recognition of exceptional innovation and outstanding innovative success in SMEs. Since 2002, scientific management of the award has been in the hands of Prof Nikolaus Franke, who is the founder and Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. The mentor for TOP 100 is the science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar, and the project’s partners are the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Fraunhofer Society for the Advancement of Applied Research) and the BVMW (German Association for Small and Medium-sized Businesses).
press contact
Vera Neuhäuser
Tel. +49 30 – 221 83 82 49
Mobil +49 178 – 53 68 425
vera.neuhaeuser@sunbeam-communications.com
Production starts in Europe’s first gigafactory for energy storage systems
Press Release
PI Berlin introduces deep dive quality assessment for lithium-ion battery production
Reducing risk for solar power plant operators and investors
Berlin/Germany, Marlborough/USA, June 16, 2020 – PI Berlin has developed a unique process that for the first time allows a deep dive assessment of the production quality of lithium-ion batteries used for solar energy storage. Since an energy storage system is only as good as the batteries which are used, the demand for reliable quality assessments has increased as the number of energy storage projects grows. Evaluating a complete energy storage system without an in-depth review of battery quality is often not sufficient to detect battery-related risks. Not only can battery performance sometimes lag far behind expectations, but poorly produced batteries can cause safety hazards in the field. PI Berlin’s new assessment process reveals weaknesses in battery production and provides specific risk mitigation advice for owners and investors.
Press images are available here www.pi-berlin.com/battery-diligence/
Global boom in the number of solar power storage projects
The number of solar energy storage projects is rising rapidly around the world, with international growth rates for photovoltaic storage reaching between 70 and 150 percent in recent years, according to BloombergNEF. Lithium-ion batteries have been the dominant technology to date. The number of battery manufacturers is also growing quickly, with many new suppliers based in Asia.
Risks resulting from battery production
“Batteries are the greatest performance risk in any energy storage system. Recent cases of system under-performance have highlighted this risk,” explains Ian Gregory, Managing Director of PI Berlin North America. Batteries are complex systems. The chemical electrolytes must be sufficiently pure, electrode coatings must be very uniform and all raw materials must be stored, processed and assembled at the right temperature and humidity.
Only if all manufacturing steps are carried out correctly will the battery be safe and provide reliable long-term performance. This in turn requires both highly specialized manufacturing processes and comprehensive quality control. “There is a lot of room for error on the path to the finished battery. Our assessment process is designed to identify these weaknesses.”
Factory audits examine 170 processes and materials
“International quality standards for battery manufacturing aren’t well developed, nor are they applied uniformly by the different manufacturers. Our factory audits check and benchmark over 170 processes and materials used in battery production,” explains Shaun Montminy, Technical Manager at PI Berlin. “We spent over 18 months developing this assessment process together with experts in battery chemistry and engineering. We have also incorporated our experience conducting more than 300 factory audits on other solar components.”
PI Berlin is offering the new service to all those who may be impacted by poorly-performing batteries, including the investors and owners of large solar power plants. This helps customers choose the right battery manufacturer while also ensuring they are able to proactively identify and manage risks in the batteries being purchased.
Independent quality audits
With its new production assessment, PI Berlin aims to support operators and investors of large solar plants around the world to systematically compare and benchmark battery manufacturers. To ensure independence, battery manufacturers cannot contract for audits with PI Berlin. They must be contracted by buyers or investors in order to avoid any conflict of interest. “However, a battery manufacturer can suggest an independent audit to its customers as a way of protecting their customers’ interests. It can also help convince banks and investors that a planned storage project will be safe and effective,” reports Gregory.
About PI Berlin
PI Berlin provides independent technical diligence and quality assurance services for
PV equipment and power plants. With an international team of over 60 engineers and scientists, the company offers a broad range of planning, inspection and evaluation services. Its focus is on risk management and quality assurance for complex solar systems.
PI Berlin has offices in Europe, the USA and China. To date, it has carried out more than 300 factory audits on over 125 manufacturers around the world with a total output of 90 gigawatts of solar power per year.
SolarBuyer, a leading provider of factory audits, merged with PI Berlin in 2018. PI Berlin was founded 14 years ago by the PV experts Prof. Dr. Stefan Krauter, Sven Lehmann and Dr. Paul Grunow, one of the founders of Solon and Q CELLS.
press contact
Benjamin Lippke
PI Berlin
Office.: +49 30 814 52 64 -117
Cell: +49 151 428 787 09
E-Mail: lippke@pi-berlin.com
Tesvolt supplies storage systems for Europe’s largest electric car charging park
Press Release
Tesvolt supplies storage systems for Europe’s largest electric car charging park
Charging with 100% green power at the Kreuz Hilden junction in Germany
Wittenberg/Hilden, Germany, 22 April 2020 — The German manufacturer Tesvolt is supplying energy storage containers offering a total capacity of 2 megawatt hours (MWh) for Europe’s largest electric car charging park at the Kreuz Hilden junction. Various companies will offer a total of 114 charging stations, including 40 V3 Tesla Superchargers and 22 fast charging stations from Dutch supplier Fastned. Every charging station will be supplied with 100-percent green power, sourced in part from a large rooftop photovoltaic installation above the charging park. The site will also host office buildings and a bistro with a vertical farming greenhouse. The Seed & Greet charging park will be operated by an organic baker from Hilden.
Press photos are available here: https://www.tesvolt.com/en/presse/tesvolt-supplies-storage-systems-for-europe%E2%80%99s-largest-electric-car-charging-park__prr40.html
Around 235,000 cars pass through the Kreuz Hilden junction connecting the A3 and A46 motorways in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, every day. This is where the largest charging park project in Europe will come to fruition, set to cover 12,000 square metres. Motorists will be able to charge their electric vehicles at 62 fast charging stations from Tesla and Fastned boasting charging power of up to 350 kilowatts (kW). In addition, there are another eight public charging stations with a charging capacity of up to 22 kW and 44 charging stations for employees and tenants that will be operated by organic baker Roland Schüren — the owner of the charging park.
While waiting for their cars to charge, motorists can enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat at the bakery and café, where bread and pastries are baked fresh on-site. Or they can visit the vertical farming greenhouse, which covers 1,000 square metres over four storeys and supplies lettuce, strawberries and blueberries for use in the bakery. The bakery’s waste heat is reused for the vertical farming project as well as for heating and hot water. The first phase of construction, including approximately half of the charging stations, is set to be completed in August.
Award-winning storage technology
The battery storage systems manufactured by Tesvolt in Wittenberg, Germany, will temporarily store electrical energy from the photovoltaic installation — rated above 700 kilowatts peak — and two small wind power installations to reduce costs associated with peak loads. They will also store green energy from the public grid when it is particularly inexpensive and relieve the grid when there is more energy available than is being drawn. Gregor Hinz, energy consultant and general technical planner for the project, expects that the two storage systems will have paid for themselves within just a few years. The federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia will also cover a portion of the investment costs as part of its progres.nrw funding scheme.
“Of course, it is particularly important that a charging park’s storage systems can be quickly charged and discharged at any time. Currently, only a very few storage products on the market are capable of this,” says Hinz. He had included three commercial storage system manufacturers on the shortlist for the charging park project. He says that Tesvolt set itself apart in the end because the TPS flex storage container offers impressive performance while being relatively compact and is one of the few systems on the market capable of fulfilling the high technical demands. The smart battery management system developed by Tesvolt engineers ensures that the cells are charged and discharged as efficiently as possible and gives the storage system a high life expectancy of approximately 30 years. Tesvolt has already won a number of awards for its innovative concepts and products.
Flagship project
“We bakers are really feeling the effects of climate change. The dry weather over the past few years has made the flour obtained from our organic farmers much harder to process. With the Seed & Greet charging park, I want to show that climate conservation is not only essential for environmental reasons, it also pays off economically,” Roland Schüren explains. The entrepreneur already outfitted his bakery in Hilden with a sophisticated, integrated energy system twelve years ago, for which he has garnered many accolades. He relies on electric and natural gas-powered vehicles to deliver his organic baked goods to 20 locations and employs a staff of 260. The Seed & Greet charging park is his latest project.
“E-mobility makes all the more sense when electric cars are charged with renewable energy. The Kreuz Hilden charging park is a fine example of this — we admire the project’s holistic approach and we are extremely proud to have been selected to provide the storage systems,” says Daniel Hannemann, CEO and co-founder of Tesvolt.
About Tesvolt
Tesvolt specializes in commercial and industrial battery storage systems. The innovative company from Wittenberg, Germany, produces lithium storage systems with prismatic battery cells from Samsung SDI, based on nickel manganese cobalt oxide. Tesvolt storage systems are always a good match, for high or low voltage, on- or off-grid. They can be used with any regenerative energy source or with combined heat and power units or fuel cells. Tesvolt produces its commercial storage system solutions in series in Wittenberg at Europe’s first gigafactory for battery storage systems, and delivers them all over the world. The company has already completed over 1,200 storage projects worldwide.
Tesvolt has won accolades including the German Entrepreneur Award for Rising Stars. The company also received The smarter E Award in the Outstanding Projects category as well as the international Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) Award for a project supplying off-grid energy to an avocado farm in southwest Australia.
press contact
Vera Neuhäuser
Tel. +49 30 – 221 83 82 49
Mobil +49 178 – 53 68 425
vera.neuhaeuser@sunbeam-communications.com
Production starts in Europe’s first gigafactory for energy storage systems
Press Release
Production starts in Europe’s first gigafactory for energy storage systems
Demand for storage systems on the rise despite COVID-19
Wittenberg/Germany, 1 April 2020 – Semi-automated production begins today in Europe’s first gigafactory for commercial battery storage systems, located in Wittenberg, Germany. Innovations in Tesvolt’s production process have enabled extremely flexible and efficient series manufacturing of its lithium-ion storage systems for industry and commerce. Production in the new factory is subject to stringent safety precautions. Additional measures are being taken to protect staff and customers from COVID-19.
Press images are available here: https://www.tesvolt.com/de/presse/erste-gigafactory-fuer-batteriespeicher-in-europa.html
On a production area of 12,000 m² Tesvolt manufactures battery storage systems in various size categories with storage capacities ranging from 9.6 kWh into the megawatt range. Its new production line will allow the company to produce storage systems with a total capacity of up to one megawatt hour (MWh) every day and 255 MWh each year. The factory is designed so that the production capacity can be expanded to as much as one gigawatt. Tesvolt will be gradually adding capacity to account for the current increase in demand, seeing as its order volume has almost tripled since the same quarter last year.
One of the most important innovations in the new production process is semi-automated full-cycling. Every battery module is fully charged and discharged and checked for anomalies in terms of temperature, voltage and internal resistance. After this step, fully automated end-of-line inspection ensures the highest possible quality. Every battery cell is checked and modules that do not meet high performance standards are automatically removed from the process.
Rising demand
“The coronavirus crisis is a major concern for us as a manufacturer as well as on a human level. We’re very grateful that we were able to close the first quarter with strong turnover figures”, says Daniel Hannemann, Managing Director and co-founder of Tesvolt. Demand has spiked in particular for storage systems with an emergency power function as well as for off-grid storage, according to Hannemann. “We don’t know how demand will change in light of the coronavirus crisis. We want to work closely with our customers to overcome these new challenges in a spirit of solidarity, creativity, flexibility and ingenuity.”
Production staff working in isolation
“When it comes to COVID-19, our employees’ safety is of course our top priority. Three weeks ago we asked all staff who can do so to work from home — including production planning staff. In production itself, meanwhile, employees are still at work but isolated from one another”, says Simon Schandert, Director of Engineering and co-founder of Tesvolt. “We’re lucky that production is continuing at our battery cell supplier Samsung SDI in Korea.”
Roadshow and training sessions via webinar
“We are taking COVID-19 very seriously. Following the outbreak of the epidemic, we decided to switch our European roadshow over to a webinar format. We were unsure whether a roadshow could work without face-to-face contact, but it’s proven to be a success. Lots of registrations came in within a very short period of time and the webinar participants have given us positive feedback”, says Thomas Franken, who is responsible for international marketing at Tesvolt. Tesvolt set up its own recording studio for the webinars. Its training sessions are now also being held online.
“Our staff put in some night shifts to quickly change everything over to an online format. We can only overcome this crisis by working together”, says Hannemann.
About Tesvolt
Tesvolt specializes in commercial battery storage systems. The innovative company from Wittenberg, Germany, produces storage systems with state-of-the-art prismatic lithium battery cells from Samsung SDI, based on nickel manganese cobalt oxide. Tesvolt storage systems function just as well at low voltage as at high voltage, and can be connected to all energy producers: sun, wind, water, biogas and combined heat and power — on-grid and off-grid. Tesvolt commercial storage system solutions are produced in Wittenberg at Europe’s first gigafactory for commercial battery storage systems.
Tesvolt has won accolades including the German Entrepreneur Award for Rising Stars. The company also received The smarter E Award in the Outstanding Projects category as well as the international award for rural electrification (ARE) for a project supplying off-grid energy to an avocado farm in southwest Australia.
press contact
Vera Neuhäuser
Tel. +49 30 – 221 83 82 49
Mobil +49 178 – 53 68 425
vera.neuhaeuser@sunbeam-communications.com
ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE: New storage technologies and multiple-use applications on the rise
Press Release
ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE: New storage technologies and multiple-use applications on the rise
Trade fair and conferences present numerous best cases
Brunnen/Schwyz, Switzerland, 19 January 2020. The technology company ecocoach has developed a comprehensive graphic solution for building automation and energy management using Beckhoff technology. The PLC-based automation system includes an encrypted and secure connection to the cloud and makes it possible to configure and control building technology components even without programming knowledge. A top-notch Smart Home and Smart Building app as well as a complete energy management module with seamlessly integrated energy storage are also available.
PImages for download: http://medianet.messe-duesseldorf.de/press/energy-storage/
Storage in trade, plastic processing, metal production, and viticulture
At the trade fair forum, which can be accessed free of charge, users and manufacturers will present numerous decarbonisation projects in trade, plastics processing, metal production, and viticulture. For this purpose, ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE cooperates with the leading trade fairs in these segments.
The Canadian company Hydrogenics will showcase its “Don Quichote” multiple-use project. Here, Belgium’s largest commercial enterprise converts excess energy generated by local wind and solar power plants into hydrogen with the aid of two electrolysers. This hydrogen is then used to supply a public hydrogen filling station as well as 18 hydrogen cars and forklifts. Furthermore, the project helps counter shortages.
AEG Power Solutions will present its innovative, battery-based emergency power supply, which is used to secure the ventilation of an electroplating process for an automotive supplier. This storage system has replaced conventional, diesel-based emergency power generators and facilitates a carbon-neutral solution. Other applications such as industrial peak shaving are to be implemented soon.
Tobias Jung of the Jung & Knobloch winery will illustrate how his business is ensuring greater sustainability in viticulture with an innovative energy concept. Jung & Knobloch have recently been awarded as “lighthouse project for energy efficiency in agriculture” for this concept.
“ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE proves that storage solutions provide momentum for the decarbonisation of value chains in numerous sectors. The successful projects presented in Düsseldorf will show that quite clearly. But they also prove the advantages of an early involvement of storage system manufacturers and planners in the project development. This is why we will continue to work on connecting operators and storage experts,” says Dr. Andreas Moerke, Head of ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE.
Conferences provide in-depth, state-of-the-art knowledge
Whilst the forum in the trade fair halls offers first insights into selected exhibitor projects and technologies, energy experts from more than 15 countries will come together at the 14th IRES Conference by EUROSOLAR and the 9th ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE conference to discuss business models, business chances and international market trends as well as topics from the fields of science and technology. The themes range from thermal and electric storage systems, power-to-gas, flexibilities, and energy system analyses to standardisation issues and international markets.
Information on Energy Storage Europe 2020 | Trade fair centre in Düsseldorf
Energy Storage Europe is the trade fair for the global energy storage industry and focuses on applications and energy systems. The international conferences that take place in parallel offer the world’s largest conference programme on all energy storage technologies. They comprise the 9th Energy Storage Europe Conference (ESE) by Messe Düsseldorf and the 14th International Renewable Energy Storage Conference (IRES) by EUROSOLAR e.V. The focal points are economics and finances (ESE) as well as science and research (IRES).
Press contact
Messe Düsseldorf GmbH / Press Department
Daniel Krauß / Desislava Angelova / Sabrina Giewald
Phone +49(0)211 4560 598
Fax +49(0)211 4560-87598
Email: KraussD@messe-duesseldorf.de
Sunbeam Communications
German Lewizki
Phone +49 | 30 | 2218382 - 50
Fax +49 | 30 | 2218382 - 99
Email: lewizki@sunbeam-communications.com
ecocoach building automation using Beckhoff technology eliminates the need for programming
Press Release
ecocoach building automation using Beckhoff technology eliminates the need for programming
System solution offers Smart Home and Smart Building app, optional energy management and energy storage
Brunnen/Schwyz, Switzerland, 9 January 2020. The technology company ecocoach has developed a comprehensive graphic solution for building automation and energy management using Beckhoff technology. The PLC-based automation system includes an encrypted and secure connection to the cloud and makes it possible to configure and control building technology components even without programming knowledge. A top-notch Smart Home and Smart Building app as well as a complete energy management module with seamlessly integrated energy storage are also available.
Solar systems and charging stations for electric vehicles can be integrated, monitored and controlled quickly and easily as needed. An additional module includes professional analysis and invoicing for all loads in larger buildings and housing estates.
“With the ecocoach system, installers and system integrators can use tried-and-tested Beckhoff automation components in their buildings and profit from the industry standard, even if they lack programming knowledge. By eliminating the need for PLC programming and the creation of a graphic app interface, we have reduced total installation time by at least 80 percent, meaning that even experienced Beckhoff experts can benefit from the system,” explains Florian Oechslin, head of projects at ecocoach AG.
The ecocoach system is technology independent. In addition to its graphic interface, it offers a direct interface to the Beckhoff automation software TwinCAT 3 for integrating customer function blocks. After the new function blocks have been thoroughly inspected, ecocoach incorporates them into the graphical environment, so that they can be reused again and again without the need for additional programming.
Configure building automation using drag and drop
The combination of Beckhoff hardware and ecocoach software makes automation projects simple. Solar engineers, qualified electricians and system integrators use a project-specific electrical schematic to implement the necessary Beckhoff components and the desired functions. To do this, they integrate pre-programmed function blocks into the project using drag and drop, define the inputs and outputs and specify the default settings.
ecocoach’s ecoSetupTool then independently writes the PLC code onto the controller and in a matter of minutes it’s ready to go. The last step is to use the graphic interface to parameterise the integrated components and systems such as the energy management system in accordance with customer requirements.
With its open system architecture and flexible expansion options, the system can easily be adapted to any future changes to the building and can also be expanded to include additional devices. Tech-savvy owners can implement numerous changes themselves with the help of the SetupTool, eliminating the need for programming tasks in this area as well. The investment in hardware and software is secure thanks to our reliance on the industry standard with guaranteed backward compatibility and long-term parts availability.
Operation via Smart Home and Smart Building app
The ecocoach platform features an intuitive Smart Home and Smart Building app that is easy to configure and can be used to control the optional energy management features. Settings for an entire flat can be stored in the app as scenes, so that the perfect ambiance is just a click away. The app also controls comfort features such as lock and security systems, blinds, lighting and room temperature. In addition, it visualises energy flows in the building and gives users and building operators the option to adjust the energy system as they wish.
In commercial enterprises, the Smart Building app controls lighting and blinds as well as room temperature and access. The solution also provides visual monitoring. Optionally, all energy flows and consumption of electricity, hot and cold water and heating etc. can be measured using calibrated smart meters and transmitted to an end-to-end encrypted cloud solution with data download.
Energy management with integrated storage system
The optional energy management system optimises energy flows in the building to ensure efficient energy use. Since the system was designed to maximise renewable energy consumption and accommodate electric vehicles, integrating and controlling solar systems and charging stations is especially easy.
The cascading lithium-ion energy storage device is developed and built by ecocoach and boasts capacities of between 13 kWh and 65 kWh. It can be seamlessly integrated into the system, increasing both the self-consumption of solar power and the self-sufficiency of the building and saving additional costs.
ecocoach press contact:
Mattias Gienal
Chief Marketing Officer at ecocoach AG
Tel. +41 41 811 41 41
mattias.gienal@ecocoach.com
About ecocoach
ecocoach AG is a technology company from the heart of Switzerland. ecocoach offers the first integrated Smart Energy, Smart Home and Smart Building System. From the very beginning, it combines renewable energies, a storage system and eMobility charging infrastructure with building automation and a cloud platform. The headquarters of ecocoach and the production plant ecovolta Swissfactory are located in Brunnen.
Electric excavator with Caterpillar machinery runs on ecovolta batteries
Pressemitteilung
Electric excavator with Caterpillar machinery runs on ecovolta batteries
New electric mini excavator enables pollutant-free work with reduced noise in places with stringent requirements for exhaust and noise pollution. Standardised and certificate-compliant ecovolta battery packs save time for construction vehicle conversion company Avesco and reduces costs for users.
Brunnen/Basel, 14 January, 2020. ecovolta’s standardised lithium-ion traction batteries have found a new application in mini excavators with Caterpillar machinery. The Swiss battery system manufacturer was commissioned by Avesco AG to take the foundation of a Cat 301.7 model and equip it with an electric drive, supplying its battery system for the series. This mini excavator will enable carbon-neutral and low-noise work in city centres and other locations with restrictive pollutant and noise emission thresholds and is set to be presented to the public at the Swissbau exhibition in Basel from 14 to 18 January 2020. ecovolta drive batteries are already in use in lorries, vans, forklifts and boats.
For users, the electric mini excavator means more freedom in their construction work. They also benefit from lower operating costs, which are reduced by two-thirds compared to those associated with equipment running on combustion engines according to Avesco. One reason for this is that electricity is cheaper per operating hour than diesel. Plus, the electric excavator is extremely low-maintenance. Maintenance-intensive components such as v-belts and motor oil systems become redundant and wear to the electric drive is minimal.
Up to 4 hours of stand-alone use and recharging while in operation possible
The base model for the new construction machine is a mini excavator from the latest Caterpillar model series, the Cat® 301.7. The dimensions, furnishings and other specifications correspond with those of the original diesel-driven vehicle. ecovolta’s 96-volt evoTractionBattery has been chosen as the energy-storing component. With its capacity, the vehicle can be operated autonomously for up to 3 or 4 hours, depending on its function.
If the stored energy starts to run low at the job site, the batteries can be plugged in via a 400- or 230-volt line and charged while still in operation, allowing the machine operator to continue their work.
Mini excavator contributes to emission-free construction site
“The electric mini excavator is particularly suited to work in cities with high levels of exhaust and noise pollution, but it is just as good for construction work in residential areas and near hospitals as well as night-time work,” says Pirmin Reichmuth, Managing Director of ecovolta.
Converting excavators is a step in towards establishing emission-free construction sites, an important industry goal. Right now, mini excavators are the main focus of this electrification transition. Because of their simple design and their relatively low energy requirements, switching out their diesel motors for an electric drive is notably easier than in the case of larger vehicles. What’s more, manufacturers are using this as an opportunity to test out the reception of electric construction equipment in general. The standardised and certificate-compliant overall solution ecovolta’s will ease and accelerate the conversion of construction equipment to electric drives. The batteries do not need to be developed separately and conformity with certifications is already ensured. This saves time and cuts costs in the development phase and allows the manufacturer to introduce its electric excavator to the market more quickly and cost-effectively.
The mini excavator will be available to order from spring 2020. After their use in construction equipment, the battery packs can be recycled and used in storage systems for renewably sourced energy.
ecovolta press contact
Mattias Gienal
Chief Marketing Officer at ecocoach AG
Tel. +41 41 811 41 41
mattias.gienal@ecocoach.com
About ecovolta
The Swiss ecovolta produces customised high-capacity battery systems and e-mobility solutions. The company’s patented design enables the fully automated series production of high-current capable batteries which do not need active cooling. Battery and drive solutions are developed and tested in the in-house research and development area. ecovolta is a division of the technology company ecocoach AG and has its headquarters in Brunnen/Schwyz, where the production plant ecovolta Swissfactory is located.
www.eco-volta.com/en
www.ecocoach.com
Avesco press contact
Thomas Wermelinger
Director of Compact Construction Equipment at Avesco
Tel. +41 79 934 08 60
thomas.wermelinger@avesco.ch
About Avesco AG
Avesco AG is active in the area of industrial products and is a leader on the Swiss market for construction equipment with a central focus on customer service. As an innovative company committed to quality, Avesco AG works with commercial products which are undeniably among the best on the global market. The family-owned company is rich in tradition, boasting a history of over 145 years in operation, but it is continuously undergoing development and experiencing new breakthroughs.
Focus on climate protection through energy storage at the ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE 2020 conferences
Press Release
Focus on climate protection through energy storage at the ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE 2020 conferences
Keynote speeches by Bosch, Salzgitter AG and the World Bank bring together climate policy and business
Duesseldorf, Germany, 11 December 2019 – Climate protection and the decarbonisation of value chains using energy storage and hydrogen are focus topics of the 14th IRES conference by EUROSOLAR and the 9th ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE conference. This dual conference will take place from 10 to 12 March 2020, concurrently with the ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE trade fair in Düsseldorf. The IRES Conference is the world’s largest and most important scientific storage conference. For further information on the programme and to purchase tickets at an early-bird rate (only available for a limited period), please visit www.eseexpo.com/conference
Press photos are available here: www.eseexpo.com/pressphotos
Keynote speeches on strategies, management approaches, methods and technologies
At the dual conference, practice-oriented approaches take centre stage. During the session “Linking Climate Protection and Business: The CEO’s View,“ Dr. Christian Fischer, managing director at Robert Bosch GmbH, will be talking about the company’s efforts to reach worldwide carbon neutrality by 2020. Matthias W. Send from the energy provider ENTEGA AG will likewise share his insights. In another keynote, Dr. Volker Hille, Head of Corporate Technology at Salzgitter AG, will explain how the company aims to reduce its CO2 emissions by employing hydrogen and wind power. In the “International Markets” session, Rory McCarthy from Wood Mackenzie, an international management consultancy, will present the results of a modelling of the Central European energy markets’ flexibility needs.
“The upcoming conference bridges the gap between the discourse on climate protection and corporate management, a highly fascinating and relevant thematic field, particularly for managers,” says Dr. Andreas Moerke, who took over as head of ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE this year. “Participants can also expect a comprehensive scientific programme within the framework of IRES in Düsseldorf, and representatives of storage manufacturers will furthermore meet at the German Energy Storage Association’s workshops.”
Professor Peter Droege, EUROSOLAR President and Chairman of the IRES Organising Committee, states: “We are delighted that in 2020 almost 150 selected top-level German as well as international experts from almost 20 countries will present their latest findings and innovations in over 22 different thematic sessions. The ESE and the IRES have a great social and economic impact: Without a rapid switch to renewable energies, climate stabilisation is inconceivable. Investors and companies around the world are on the right track for purely economic reasons. Storage systems are the prerequisite for the regenerative world.”
All storage solutions under one roof
The conference sessions will again cover a wide range of electrical and thermal storage technologies as well as numerous effective storage and decarbonisation projects. Thermal storage, sector coupling, the topic hydrogen and successful concepts as well as business models incorporating storage use will also be main points.
In cooperation with IRES, the Energy Agency NRW is also organising a lecture series in German on the topic of “Structural change – What will the energy regions of the future look like and what role will storage play?”
For more information on ENERGY STORAGE EUROPE and the International Renewable Energy Storage Conference IRES by EUROSOLAR, please visit https://www.eurosolar.de/en and https://www.eseexpo.com/conference
DHYBRID presents new storage solutions for hybrid power plants and microgrids
Press Release
DHYBRID presents new storage solutions for hybrid power plants and microgrids
Uninterruptible power supply for regions with challenging climates
Munich, Germany, 10 December 2019: DHYBRID — the specialist in hybrid power plants — is enhancing its hardware and software portfolio with microgrid-optimized lithium-ion storage solutions. The new storage systems work seamlessly together with DHYBRID’s Universal Power Platform (UPP), which controls the interaction of solar systems, storage units and diesel generators in local power grids. In combination with the UPP, the storage systems allow for a truly uninterruptible power supply. Such supply is necessary when computers or devices must be prevented from losing power during problems with the grid, for example. This sets the solution apart from a conventional storage-supported back-up power supply, which can sometimes still experience brief interruptions.
Press photos are available here: https://www.dhybrid.de/en/press-article/dhybrid-presents-new-storage-solutions-for-hybrid-power-plants-and-microgrids
Special requirements for storage systems in hybrid microgrids
Unlike conventional energy systems, hybrid microgrids must be able to switch seamlessly between different energy sources. This also changes the master and slave roles in the system and places special demands on the control system and on storage-relevant components such as the battery inverter.
“We adapt the configuration of our storage systems individually to each project in order to optimize them for the respective Microgrid. We use data from more than 70 projects that our team has been working in more than 20 countries. The UPP, which orchestrates the components in the system, ensures the necessary flexibility and the technology-agnostic approach,” says CEO of DHYBRID Benedikt Böhm.
Customizable all-in-one solution
The new storage solutions are installed in 10-, 20- and 40-foot air-conditioned containers and can be seamlessly monitored using a SCADA system with VPN access, making them particularly suited to guaranteeing supply security in areas with no grid connection or with a challenging climate. The storage capacity is between 100 kWh and several MWh, with a charging and discharging rate of up to 2C.
The systems use high-quality lithium-ion cells from manufacturers such as Samsung and LG, depending on the performance required as well as the area of application. These manufacturers also provide battery management to ensure safe control of the battery cells and modules to the highest possible standard in all operating states. The integrated battery inverter, too, is custom-planned and specially configured for each project.
Success story in Africa
The new storage system can be seen in use at South Africa’s Kruger National Park. This particular system has a capacity of 1 megawatt-hour and works together with three solar installations with a combined output of 300 kW as well as a 150-kVA diesel generator to supply the Cheetah Plains Lodge’s microgrid with three-phase electric power. DHYBRID’s Universal Power Platform (UPP) monitors and controls all important grid parameters and enables automated system operation. The project was realized in collaboration with DHYBRID’s local partner Blockpower.
About DHYBRID
DHYBRID is a specialized international solutions provider of renewable and hybrid energy systems for islands, industry and utilities with headquarters in Munich, Germany. The company offers turnkey solutions and individualized control systems for hybrid energy projects. DHYBRID combines conventional energy supplies such as diesel generators or utility grids with renewable energy systems and storage technology – perfectly controlled and comprehensively visualized.
Press Contact
Marja Anacker
TEL +49 89 899 481-112
MAIL m.anacker@dhybrid.de