COST EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS FOR ACCELERATING ENERGY TRANSITION

Project Information

TALENT

Grant agreement ID: 864459

DOI

10.3030/864459

Project closed

EC signature date 2 August 2019

Start date 1 October 2019

End date 31 July 2023

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 3 974 906,25

EU contribution

€ 3 974 906,25

Coordinated by

FUNDACION CARTIF
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - TALENT (COST EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS FOR ACCELERATING ENERGY TRANSITION)

Reporting period: 2021-04-01 to 2023-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The electric sector needs to be adapted to the coming penetration of renewable power generation by means of increasing the grid flexibility, guaranteeing its stability and supply security and making the energy affordable for all citizens.
To meet this purpose, the integration of electric storage batteries along the different stages of the power supply chain is crucial because they play a key role when it comes to adjust the variability of the generation coming from renewable sources and the end-users demand. Further to the integration of the proper technology into the grids, its correct management is utterly necessary, and thus the development of suitable tools.
TALENT project aim has been to promote a wide and cost-effective integration of batteries in the grid that should lead to an increase of the flexibility in the energy system and will be based on new technological developments in scalable and modular power electronics topologies, power electronics devices for different voltage levels, and an interoperable software as a service for energy resources management. The project main objectives have been:
• Flexible battery systems for multi-home applications. Develop and validate a common intelligent power electronic module called iBatt for flexible set-up of battery storage systems in multi-homes. The iBatt features a multiport converter
• Cost efficient integration for large scale photovoltaics (PV) and storage power plants. Development of a new generation of semiconductor devices (IGBT and FWD) with a break-down voltage of 2-2.2 kV. Design and build new power electronics topology using those semiconductor devices for kV-class batteries embedded into PV plants.
• Cost efficient high voltage battery storage systems. Develop and prototype a high voltage (3 kV) converter based on SiC power electronics modules and new design of busbar and filters to minimise parasitic and assure the isolation.
• Modular battery for multiple voltage ranges applications. Build batteries for 800V, 1500V and 3000V applications using the iBatt modules.
• Management software for decentralised and hybridised energy systems. Develop a distributed architecture that enables the interoperable software as a service (iSaaS) paradigm for the management of decentralised and hybridised energy systems. This includes the development of a stationary battery digital twin.
• Cost assessment. Evaluate the cost reduction that can be achieved with the TALENT developments

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The results obtained according to the project objectives are:
1. Flexible battery systems for multi-home applications. The iBatt concept has been defined, developed and validated. It is an intelligent power electronic module that allows for the system scalability at different voltage and power levels. Two different technologies have been addressed: Si-MOSFET and GaN-HEMTs. It consists in an 8.6 kWh battery (upgradable to 13.2 kWh by using different cells) connected to an isolated DC-DC converter with a rated output voltage of 400 V, regardless of the battery voltage. Based on the iBatt, a multiport converter has been designed for multi-home applications.
2. Cost efficient integration for large scale photovoltaics (PV) and storage power plants. A new generation of semiconductor devices (IGBT and FWD) with a break-down voltage of 2-2.2 kV has been developed and manufactured. It has been used as a key component for the three-port power electronics converter, that has been developed and tested as well.
3. Cost efficient high voltage battery storage systems. A high voltage (3 kV) converter based on SiC power electronics modules has been designed and fully implemented
4. Modular battery for multiple voltage ranges applications. Battery set-up prototypes for 800V and 1500V have been built, based on the iBatt modules developed.
5. Management software for decentralised and hybridised energy systems (DHEMS). A management software to control decentralised and hybridised energy systems has been developed and successfully validated. The main components are a cloud and local DHEMS, and a Virtual Power Plant. This software architecture enables the interoperable software as a service (iSaaS) paradigm. Two versions of a stationary battery digital twin have been implemented as well. They estimate the performance and degradation of a stationary battery.
6. Cost assessment. The cost reduction that can be achieved with the TALENT developments has been evaluated through a number of use cases. Two tools have been developed: an algorithm to estimate the wholesale market electricity price and an energy storage optimization tool.
7. Dissemination: TALENT partners have communicated the project results to the scientific community, stakeholders and the general public through a variety of means, including scientific papers, participation in events, web site and social media.
8. Exploitation: A plan for Use and Exploitation of Foreground (PUEF) has been integrated in D7.3 Exploitation strategy and roadmap towards TRL9. It provides an updated list of Key Exploitable Results and exploitation strategies.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

TALENT progress beyond the state of the art:
• Development of a modular and cost-effective intelligent power electronic component (iBatt) that can be used for the integration of energy storage and PV in the grid at different size-levels.
• Development of multiport converter, based on the iBatt, that allows for sharing control electronics and installation costs between the dwelling owners.
• New generation of semiconductor devices (IGBT and FWD) with a break-down voltage of 2-2.2 kV allows to apply simpler structures and address the gap of the still missing medium voltage.
• Based on the new IGBT devices, the three-port power electronics converter allows a reduction of power rating of the DC-AC converter so that the difference between the maximum power available in the PV panel and the rated power of the inverter can be stored in the battery.
• The high voltage (3 kV) converter has been built, based on Si and SiC power modules. Maximum efficiency and cost have been achieved for applications in the photovoltaics or storage field.
• An Interoperable energy management software has been developed. It can be offered to potential customers, enabling their active and smart participation in the electric system. Use costs from potential customers are reduced.
The main impacts from TALENT project are:
• Technological developments at 3 different power scales (home, district, utility) allow power electronics for battery systems to be more reliable, cost-efficient and prone to higher market penetration.
• Battery modules reduce fabrication costs to 300-400 €/kWh
• The software control architecture facilitates the integration and smart management of battery systems and RES-based electricity into the energy system, enabling optimal operation and cost reduction, while maximizing the potential for scalability and replication.
• Cost reduction and increase in total efficiency is achieved for the power electronics developments at the three scales: multi-homes, district and utility.
• As regards the software control architecture, a reduction in the deployment/commissioning costs for micro-grid control systems is achieved, as well as a cost reduction in control systems for battery integration at different scales (iBatt vs. ad-hoc integration)

TALENT Concept