A modular battery energy storage converter for integration with renewable generation

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A global shift away from traditional fossil fuel based electrical energy networks has resulted in explosive growth of the renewable energy sector. However, many renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, produce only intermittent power output. Thus to provide continuous, reliable power to consumers these energy sources are predominantly back-stopped either by combustion based or nuclear power plants. Looking forward, grid connected energy storage promises to significantly reduce societies reliance on traditional power plants. Market research shows that by 2017, 60% of the annual energy storage that is being grid-connected will be in the form of power electronically interfaced lithium ion battery systems. Massive investment in lithium ion battery technology over the past decade has resulted in major cost reductions, but comparable cost improvements have not been seen in the power electronic systems that interface batteries to the grid. According to Sandia National Laboratories in the USA, approximately 40% of the equipment costs associated with grid connected battery systems is now associated with the power electronic interface. The aim of this research is to demonstrate a newly invented power electronic technology that enables battery energy systems to be directly integrated into existing and planned solar photovoltaic power plants, resulting in a 75% cost reduction in the battery's power electronic interface. This will be accomplished by, first, implementing and testing a full-scale prototype of the proposed technology. Thereafter the prototype will be integrated into an existing solar photovoltaic power plant, thus validating interoperability of the combined solar/storage power plant and confirming the system cost reductions that have been projected based on a small-scale laboratory test system.