GE has launched its ‘GE Reservoir’, an energy storage platform that offers a suite of customised storage solutions to help users ‘address new challenges and seek new opportunities in a rapidly transforming power grid that is becoming more highly diversified and distributed.‘
The product, says GE, already has a 20 MW, 80 MWh pre-launch commitment, and builds on previous success. Last month, GE announced a new project with the Arenko Group to build one of the world’s largest energy storage systems in the UK.
Eric Gebhardt, vp and Strategic Technology officer at GE Power, commented: “GE’s Reservoir platform enables cost-effective distribution, storage, and utilisation of cleaner, more reliable power where and when it is needed most. It can fit into most any setting, from centralised grid systems to the most remote villages and communities. The Reservoir also allows energy providers new degrees of flexibility for more intelligently managing and getting the most out of all their power assets.”
The platform is described as a flexible, compact energy storage solution for AC or DC coupled systems, combining its maker’s advanced technologies and expertise in plant controls, power electronics, battery management systems and electrical balance of plant, backed by performance guarantees.
The 1.2 MW, 4 MWh Reservoir storage unit is the fundamental building block of GE’s Reservoir platform. It is a modular solution that integrates the company’s ‘Battery Blade’ design (module stack design) with key technologies from across the company’s portfolio to achieve an industry-leading energy density, footprint and lifetime performance. GE’s own Blade Protection Unit is said to actively balances the safety, life, and production of each battery Blade, extending battery life by up to 15 % and reducing fault currents by up to 5X.
The modular system has multiple installation and cabling options including pad or pier and is designed to minimise operation and maintenance expenses over the life of the project with an all-weather design and high-efficiency cooling system. It is factory built and test to reduce project installation time and costs.
The offering of customised solutions through the platform gives customers unprecedented levels of flexibility, resilience and operational efficiency in hybrid generation, grid operation and energy management. The storage system, says GE, also enables other diverse applications that include, managing higher levels of renewable power, grid stabilisation, peak demand management and controlling energy flow.
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