For the third time running, the ees AWARD is set to be presented for outstanding solutions and innovations in energy storage technology. This year, the prestigious prize received a record number of submissions. Ten of these can now pride themselves on having been nominated as finalists. The winner will be announced at the Innovation and Application Forum at ees Europe, the continent’s largest exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems, on June 22, 2016. The event takes place in parallel with Intersolar Europe, the world’s largest exhibition for the solar industry and its partners from June 22–24, 2016 in Munich.
Energy storage systems are an important cornerstone of the global energy transition. As volatile energy sources, such as solar or wind power, do not consistently generate electricity, batteries will ensure stability and supply safety in the power grid of the future by decoupling generation from consumption in private and commercial usage. To celebrate the industry’s innovative strength, the ees AWARD pays tribute to outstanding products and solutions in the field of energy storage. Submissions ranged from new materials to innovations in the areas of production, systems technology, applications, second-use concepts and recycling.
Submission trends
The many submissions for the ees AWARD revealed several trends, such as a new generation of domestic storage systems. These use JH3 lithium-ion cells developed specifically for stationary batteries, and a special separator to guarantee the highest degree of safety. The finalists clearly demonstrate that wireless interfaces, for example smart meters and control options using Apps, are gaining in importance in the energy storage industry. One submission succeeded in closing a gap in the inverter market: A transformerless, high-voltage inverter offering a high level of flexibility for both retrofit projects and new installations. In general, flexibility and diverse fields of application are key topics in the industry. This is why storage devices, which can be used on and off-grid, or are available for both low-voltage (48V DC) and high voltage systems (400V DC), are amongst the finalists.
The industry has also been working on solutions to stabilize weak power grids. Submissions included technologies to establish microgrids (local, decentralized power grids) as active grid components, and solutions combining photovoltaics and wind power. Why? When the sun does not shine, conditions for wind turbines are often ideal. In this context, energy storage systems to guarantee supply safety, so that clean energy can be used even in weak power grids or off-grid regions.
ees Europe award ceremony
The winners of the ees AWARD will be announced on Wednesday, June 22, at ees Europe at Messe München. Their awards will be presented alongside the Intersolar AWARD at 4:30pm at the Innovation and Application Forum. Visitors have the opportunity to meet the finalists before then, as they will be holding short presentations about their submissions and will be on hand to answer any questions between 10:30am and 3:00pm.
An overview of the ees AWARD finalists
- Ampere Power Energy S.L. (Spain): Easily installed storage device with wireless connection to the smart meter and corresponding App.
- BOS Balance of Storage Systems AG (Germany): Additional lithium-ion batteries for energy storage systems based on led batteries extending the entire system’s life span through smart connections.
- Digatron Power Electronics GmbH (Germany): Improved battery tester efficiency using silicon carbide semiconductors.
- Ferroamp Elektronik AB (Sweden): Bidirectional inverter for different PV strings, batteries and DC consumers. A high-voltage DC nanogrid connects different producers, such as sun, wind and water, and minimizes transmission losses throughout the entire system.
- Green Power Technologies, SL (Spain): Storage solutions on a megawatt-scale, where various producers can be integrated to help stabilize weak power grids.
- LG Chem (Korea): New generation of domestic storage systems with high energy density using advanced cell technologies (JH3 cells).
- Morningstar Corporation (USA): Charge controller for a wide variety of storage technologies with 98% efficiency.
- SMA Solar Technology AG (Germany): A transformerless high-voltage inverter, this innovative battery inverter closed a gap in the inverter market and is ideal for retrofitting existing PV installations with storage devices.
- SOCOMEC (France): Storage solution which can be operated both in the grid and in stand-alone mode — ideal for use as a microgrid in off-grid regions.
- Sonnen GmbH (Germany): sonnenCommunity connects decentralized renewable energy producers with storage system operators and consumers throughout Germany, enabling its members to remain completely independent of the public power grid.
ees Europe 2016 takes place alongside Intersolar Europe at Messe München from June 22–24, 2016.
Further information on ees Europe 2016 can be found at www.ees-europe.com
