Energy storage systems: Power around the clock

Batteries, power-to-gas and power-to-heat systems promote power supply independence, free up the power grid, and incorporate the mobility and heat sectors in climate protection — and all rely on WAGO controllers.

Storage systems capture excess energy and release it when necessary. This allows them to increase private consumption of solar energy by households and companies, to cap demanding current peaks and to supply operating reserves to compensate for short-term fluctuations on the grid. WAGO technology allows control of storage systems.

Home storage systems: Connect batteries quickly while minimising space
The market for home storage systems is not only being stimulated by homeowners seeking to reduce their use of electricity from the grid by a combination of photovoltaic and battery storage. Suppliers also drive the sales of equipment as they can develop new business models. If batteries are sold together with solar modules and they are interconnected as a swarm, grid load can be reduced. WAGO provides the solution for installation of home storage. WAGO TOPJOB®S Rail-Mount Terminal Blocks can connect the system to a home’s power distribution system.

Local grid, large and industrial storage systems: Reducing peak loads
Local grid storage systems regulate the voltage in a low-voltage grid to a preset value. A clear rise in voltage is concerning, especially at lunchtime when photovoltaics are running at full speed. Using local network storage that takes in excess energy is an alternative to feeding it into the medium-voltage level and to expanding the local network. In the evening or when the sky is overcast, the stored energy can be fed back into the grid. Load peaks in the network can be reduced. In addition, the grid operator can provide system services through the storage system such as operating reserves to generate additional revenue.

Mass storage systems are primarily used for frequency regulation. Transmission grid operators can supply operating reserves. If the mains frequency within Europe’s integrated grid system spikes due to excess energy, the storage systems take in energy. If the frequency falls because too little energy is generated, the storage systems release energy.

Industrial storage units cover capacities from a few kilowatt hours to several megawatt hours. Industrial storage units are primarily used to stabilise networks and among other purposes, are used in virtual networks to cap load peaks, i.e., “peak shaving,” for load management and for combination with volatile generators, such as wind turbines and controllable consumers. They are also used as sources for electric filling stations, where solar energy can be obtained around the clock.

WAGO technology is used for safe, space-saving storage unit connection. Our telecontrollers are applied as gateways for access to the energy network. Various sensors on the field level can connect to the Internet via these gateways and make their data accessible on the cloud. These are the advantages of WAGO controllers as a central element of measurement and control technology:

• WAGO-I/O-SYSTEM 750 is ideal in the distribution grid, e.g., for serial communication with inverters or for 3-phase power measurement.
• Convenient measurement and monitoring of generation or consumption rates (e.g., voltage, reactive power, active power, current, cos , frequency, and energy flow direction)
• Generation and load management
• Integration of the Battery Management System (BMS) via CAN or MODBUS into the controller
• Programmable controller per IEC 61131 or Linux® platform
• Bundling supply rates by adaptation to central control systems
• Connection to external market participants, such as suppliers and public utilities, direct marketers or virtual power plants via telecontrol in accordance with IEC 60870-5-101, -103 /-104, 61400-25, 61850-7-420, DNP3, VHPready
• Cybersecurity: PFC100/PFC200 Controllers comply with current IT security regulations for grid operators and can be hardened as described in the BDEW whitepaper.
• Cloud connectivity: Connection to the cloud thanks to an MQTT software upgrade.

Power-to-X: Safely converting electricity to heat and gas
If power is stored not only for short, but over longer periods, power-to-heat and power-to-gas systems are available. They convert excess power to heat and into storable hydrogen and methane. These products can be stored in the existing natural gas network that supplies heating systems, power stations, and gas stations. Power-to-heat is ideal for use in applications generating high amounts of heat, e.g., district heating grids. Power-to-gas systems and electrolysers also work if a dense network of hydrogen filling stations is planned in a region or reliable access to the natural gas network is available. Advantages of WAGO’s telecontrol solution are:

• Connection of generators and heat accumulators via controller; grid-connected integration of electrolysers for storing large amounts of electricity
• Multiple interfaces: PROFIBUS, CAN, Ethernet IP, IEC 60870/61400/61850, MODBUS, etc.
• Convenient measurement and monitoring of generator/accumulator parameters, e.g., active power, temperature and storage volume; regulation of process values, such as pressure regulators and product gas separators with explosion-proof modules • Integration of current consumption forecasts and weather data
• Programmable per IEC 60870-5-101/-103/-104, 61400-25, 61850-7-420 and DNP3
• Easy parameter setting via configurator
• Scalable via more than 500 different I/O modules for many applications, e.g., 3-phase power measurement for grid analysis
• Cybersecurity: PFC100/PFC200 Controllers comply with current IT security regulations for grid operators and can be hardened as described in the BDEW whitepaper.
• Cloud connectivity: Connection to the cloud thanks to an MQTT software upgrade • Standard I/O modules and intrinsically safe Ex modules in one controller (in a corresponding Ex housing depending on installation site)