Renewables + Storage
Renewable energy represents a special challenge for grid operators. Consumer and policy maker demand for higher generation capacities and the highest degree of low-carbon decentralized production increasingly clashes with the core responsibility of grid operators: ensuring the supply of high-quality electricity at sufficient capacities, at all times, and in every situation. Critical pain points for utilities include, when curtailment of renewables without storage jeopardizes economic viability of projects and when electricity price volatility on wholesale market undercuts project profitability. CellCube’s high-capacity, long-duration energy storage and discharge capabilities put the economics back in line by reducing curtailments, saving costs through peak shaving, and generating revenues through energy trading on the Day-Ahead and Intraday Market.
Energy Storage-as-a-Service (ESaaS)
CellCube provides a simple and affordable energy storage-as-a-service (ESaaS) model, which allows grid operators to use the flexibility of the storage while meeting regulatory requirements on an annual rental basis.
Reliable Resilience for Critical Infrastructure
Whether it be a hospital, the military, a fire department, police or other emergency services: when it comes to these critical infrastructure facilities, the CellCube system guarantees the highest security of immediate supply – and a long-term backup power solution – in the event of a catastrophe. CellCube’s vanadium flow storage system, which cannot burn or explode under the most extreme conditions and is capable of supplying numerous hours of electricity within milliseconds, can prove to be the difference between life or death in the event of a disruption or blackout. Even when the grid fails, CellCube can continue to operate these critical infrastructures using existing storage or decentralized and renewable energy.
Carbon-Free Peaking Capacity
Renewable generation is often at its maximum when consumer demand is at its minimum. Capture your excessive solar and wind power when energy prices near 0 $/kWh and dispatch it to capture peak intraday prices. By charging our vanadium flow batteries up to 200% of rated power with your cheapest solar and wind power, you can provide the peaking capacity needed for grid stability without adding diesel engines or gas-fired peaker units – and all the controversy over greenhouse gas emissions that come with them.
Frequency Control
Alternating current power grids have a certain frequency that grid operators must always maintain… precisely. The tolerance range is within only a few tenths of a hertz. This is only possible by controlling the frequency precisely to the second, requiring a reaction to grid fluctuations within a few seconds, but generally much faster. This frequency control is the first type of balancing energy to be activated and can be provided by the CellCube system. In fact, CellCube’s multi-hour energy storage system can provide energy for primary control power, and also play a role in secondary control power. We can create an energy storage system that enables you to play an active role in this market.
Reactive Power
The grid often needs reactive power to help counterbalance unforeseen events. Reactive power is used for local voltage collapses but also for plants in extensive high-voltage networks to help reduce the Ferranti effect. CellCube can provide this power using our alternating current system. Using reactive power to ensure stability reduces wasted energy and the associated costs. This is generally achieved using capacitors. But our system saves unnecessary expenses in other applications as well. The AC CellCube system is capable of supplying both inductive as well as capacitive stability. We are happy to provide further details.