Visit the HBM GmbH web site

Batteries hold renewable energy

A Saft Industrial Batteries product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 14, 2008

The Terracon Energy Container integrates a complete hybrid renewable power system within a standard 6.1m ISO shipping container.

Saft Industrial Batteries' Sunica.plus rechargeable nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries have been specified by Terracon Energy to provide the vital energy buffer for a self-contained, transportable Energy Container, designed to provide an almost instant source of up to 10kW of renewable energy in remote locations.

The Terracon Energy Container integrates a complete hybrid renewable power system, comprising wind generator, photovoltaic (PV) modules, diesel generator, batteries and associated control and monitoring systems and inverters, within a standard 6.1m ISO shipping container.

On arrival at site the container simply has to be craned into the required position.

There is no need for a base plate and the container also acts as the foundation for the 15m high wind generator.

This makes the power system fast to set up and it can be ready to produce electricity in less than a day.

The Energy Container generates electricity from the sun and wind and, if necessary, supplements this with the diesel generator.

The Saft Sunica.plus battery system provides the vital balance between the energy generated and the energy consumed to ensure continuity of supply.

It acts as a buffer to make up the difference when the available renewable energy is less than the demand, supplies all the energy needed when there is no renewable energy available and stores the excess energy when demand falls below the output from the wind generator and PV modules.

If needed, the battery is also recharged by the diesel generator.

The Energy Container guarantees a peak output of 10kW and a continuous output of 5kW.

Efficient use of renewable energy sources alone enables it to produce between 5000 and 15,000kWh per year and in combination with the diesel generator it could supply up to 37,000kWh.

Terracon anticipates that the Energy Container will be installed in a wide range of applications where the lack of a fixed electricity grid calls for an easy to transport, self-contained power system.

The majority of installations will be in remote locations, subjected to extreme environmental conditions with limited access for maintenance.

This called for a battery that was highly efficient, reliable and with low maintenance requirements Saft Sunica.plus Ni-Cd batteries proved to be suitable for Terracon as they are designed specifically for renewable energy applications, especially in remote installations.

They offer exceptional performance including high-efficiency, low-maintenance (with topping up intervals extended to four years, depending on the application) and absolute reliability combined with the capability to operate in extreme temperatures (from - 50 to +70C) and at any state of charge, while also offering a completely predictable 20-year service life.

The exact specification of the Saft battery installed in each Energy Container will vary according to specific customer needs.

Typically, it will be a nominal 48V and 800Ah capacity.

Find out more about this article. Request a brochure, download technical specifications and request samples here.

Not what you're looking for? Search the site.

Back to top Back to top

Contact Saft Industrial Batteries

Tel +33 1 49 93 1807

Other Saft Industrial Batteries stories

Newsletter sign up

Request your free weekly copy of the Engineeringtalk email newsletter ...

Visit the HBM GmbH web site

Articles by product category

All suppliers A - Z

A Pro-talk Publication

A Pro-talk publication