Battery Storage 8
Steve Pester, BRE, looks at how energy storage is rapidly growing in importance and how we can harness this fledgling technology
Q: What have you got planned for the rest of 2013?
We will complete the field test of our brand new residential storage system and have it certified so that we can put it on sale. The system is based on our tried-and-tested marine combi range, of which more than 10,000 units are already in operation. It contains our own Li-ion battery with an integrated battery management system and is able to be retrofitted to existing solar plants without the need for the inverter to be replaced. We are also completing our SunMaster ES series with a 2.2 kW and 3 kW models.
Antaris Solar has released a new versions of its standalone, off-grid PV system.
PV manufacturer Winaico has added a new storage system to its product portfolio.
Head of Europe at Trina Solar, Ben Hill
Trina Solar is providing solar panels to support a joint aid project in Liberia carried out by the charities Project for Liberia and Engineers Without Borders.
Ambulances from southern England have become the first in the UK to be fitted with solar panels.
Kent-based Ecolution Energy Services has announced that it is to add a range of inverters from GoodWe (Jiangsu) Power Supply Technology Co Ltd to its stock holding.
Solar-power generator manufacturer Firefly Solar has announced the launch of its Cygnus Hybrid Power Generator (HPG).
FLIR Systems says it is adding more value to its i-Series and Ebx-Series entry level troubleshooting cameras with extra additions.
Xylem Lowara has launched a new solar powered submersible pump specifically designed for domestic applications.
GB-Sol’s managing director Bruce Cross
The University of Glamorgan will be partnering with PV manufacturers GB-Sol as part of their latest research project to develop what it calls ‘the next generation of battery pack’.
It is now possible to use generated solar energy even when the sun isn’t shining, says TRITEC following with the launch of TRI-CELL, a storage system for solar power.
TRITEC has launched its latest battery storage system for solar power – the TRI-CELL.
SolarWorld has announced the launch of the SunCharger . Three devices in one, it constitutes a power supply, replacement battery and solar charger.
British firm Crosskase has combined backpack and solar technology to develop the Solar 15 backpack – a versatile accessory which the company says is ideal for those who can’t live without their essential gadgets and need them to stay charged and protected away from the home or office.
Key Features of the Crosskase Solar 15 backpack:
* Integrated 3 Watt solar panel on the front of the bag soaks up natural light and stores the energy generated inside the internal battery.
* High capacity battery can charge most handheld devices on-the-go (phones, music players, GPS, pocket consoles)
* Speedy 2 hour charge time for many devices i.e. iPhone 4, iPod nano 6G, Samsung Galaxy, HTC, Nokia N95, Blackberry Curve.
* Stores enough power to charge most devices twice over and can be used again and again, as the battery will recharge from:
* Solar power (8 hours)
* Mains power (3 hours)
* USB power connection (4 hours)
Loughborough-based small wind turbine manufacturer Evance and Japanese wind manufacturers Zephyr have joined forces to provide complimentary products across Europe and Asia.
Azur Solar has been awarded the Plus X Award for “Best Product of the Year 2012” and “Most Innovative Brand of the Year 2012” for its product the Azur Independa.
PV manufacturers Phono Solar has signed an agreement to exclusively manufacture, sell and distribute POD PV solar lamps around the world.
The task force is currently being set up to explore ways in which CCS can become cost competitive with other low carbon technologies within the next 10 years. It will advise the government on measures needed to lower the costs of developing commercial CCS programmes and outline a vision for the next phase by early 2013.
CCTV, security and panic alarms, cat 6 cabling, heat pumps, underfloor heating and local cooling units were all fitted along with Grant solar thermal and PV systems as part of a council supported £3.5m investment scheme designed to reduce the building’s carbon footprint and energy consumption.
Bright future: Ian Draisey of Dulas looks beyond recent uncertainty in FiT
The recent Feed-in Tariff announcement has left many in the industry feeling disheartened and uncertain as to the future of the PV sector over the coming months. Whilst recognising the upset the cuts have created, Ian Draisey, of Dulas MHH, is finding positivity in the situation.
Sixty per cent of the world is now generating electricity using solar products manufactured in China. In latter years, made in China, left UK consumers distinctly unimpressed, but today companies such as the ET Solar Group, are producing a quality product at a lower cost. Now widely used in countries like Germany, where top quality manufacturing is the norm, Renewable Energy Installer (REI) witnessed the company’s operation first hand. Jane Hughes reports
Established in October 2006, the ET Solar Group is a one-stop solar power solution provider which employs 3,000 people across its 10 wholly-owned subsidiaries and three manufacturing plants. With local sales and marketing subsidiaries and offices in Asia, Europe, and North America, ET Solar provides solar modules, solar tracking systems and turnkey solution services to its customers in over 50 countries.
“We’re a young, vibrant company with a passion for renewable energy technology,” explained global marketing director, Santran Duan. “But passion is not enough, to that we have added excellence.”
Renewable energy installation is a multi-faceted operation and the role of installer has ramped up. Not only is there training to undertake, legislation to adhere to and technology to keep abreast of, but there is the added responsibility of acting as advisor to the customer.
Amid the day-to-day running of a renewables business, it can be easy to overlook the needs of the consumer and assume they come to you fully armed with a battery of energy expertise. However, they may not know which technology best suits their needs, FiTs may be getting them in a flap and they may feel confused cutting through the cowboys to find a company they can trust. This is where the you come in – it’s important to know the answers to your customer’s questions, allaying any queries they may have about investing in renewable technology.