Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Powerbox (Solar energy, 24 hours, year-round. On or off-grid.)
Reporting period: 2021-04-01 to 2023-06-30
The European Commission has declared its ambition of making the European Union the world leader in renewable energy and hydrogen. In addition, the European Commission’s ‘Green Deal’ outlines the EU’s ambition for Europe to become the first Carbon-neutral continent by 2050. While this level of ambition is needed, it poses additional challenges. Since renewables share one obvious problem - they are intermittent, and supply is unpredictable. As the DG Energy puts it: ‘Energy storage is essential to balance supply and demand. In a low-carbon system, intermittent renewable energy sources (RES) make it more difficult to vary output, and rises in demand do not necessarily correspond to rises in RES generation.’ The EC’s paper on storage concludes, ‘In a future low-carbon energy system, storage will be needed at all points of the electricity system.’
The hydrogen-based Solenco Powerbox provides the solution for energy storage of renewables at residential scale, for hours or entire seasons, with a 95% overall conversion efficiency for both electric and heat output.
The Powerbox project’s aim is to accelerate the go to market of the Solenco Powerbox by installing a suitable assembly line (enabling 1000pcs production per year) and at the same time proving the concept in the market through pilot installations where certification is an important aspect as well.
Distribution channels and commercial partners will be selected, and a joint communication activity will be organized to increase visibility and credibility of the Powerbox.
The hydrogen-based Solenco Powerbox provides the solution for energy storage of renewables at residential scale, for hours or entire seasons, with a 95% overall conversion efficiency for both electric and heat output.
The Powerbox project’s aim is to accelerate the go to market of the Solenco Powerbox by installing a suitable assembly line (enabling 1000pcs production per year) and at the same time proving the concept in the market through pilot installations where certification is an important aspect as well.
Distribution channels and commercial partners will be selected, and a joint communication activity will be organized to increase visibility and credibility of the Powerbox.
The production process of the Solenco Powerbox has been defined: required tooling, work instructions, process flow, quality requirements. Three 5-kW units have been built and installed as pilot tests for single house application, two 15-kW units have been built and installed for an office building (>20 office workers) and a multifamily residential with 8 dwellings . Storage and control solutions have been optimized and implemented. For safety, the risk assessment has been completed and a declaration of conformity has been obtained for the Powerbox which gives the field location approval. Advanced discussions with distributors in the Netherlands and Belgium are ongoing, and will start soon in Germany, in order to sign the establishment of different commercial partnerships in different countries of the EU. A fully automated ERP system has been set-up, with this system we can automatically create quotations/invoices linked to stock management and production orders. Partnerships for distribution have been set-up to enable installation of the first 500 units.
Dissemination is done though newsletters and our website, as well as through virtual meetings.
Dissemination is done though newsletters and our website, as well as through virtual meetings.
The Solenco Powerbox solution is new and beyond state-of-the-art in these ways:
Economically:
• First economically feasible hybrid energy storage solution for residences, micro-grids and small businesses. Energy independence for days, weeks, and entire seasons. Seasonal storage capacity is decoupled from power requirements or unit size.
• Fully scalable for each type of user. Allows excess green energy to be sold back to the grid at high-demand times or to buy very cheap energy at high-production times. Enabler for the penetration of renewable energy sources. Smart control software and smart grid ready.
• Limits peak grid loads and implements effective peak shaving that supports electrification of houses and mobility and enables micro-grids for optimising local production and consumption (increasing self-consumption).
• This is a true micro-grid enabler and game changer as micro-grid operators can now economically decide what energy source is cheapest at any given time and play the grid based on pricing. This makes them more independent from energy suppliers and makes the energy markets more performant.
• First totally-green storage of both electricity and heat. (Zero carbon for production, transport, and consumption, and zero toxic waste). Output is oxygen and heat.
• First fully-integrated heat, power and storage in an integrated autonomous unit.
• Not limited by cycles and 30-year lifetime. Unlike pure storage battery systems which degrade with use.
Technically:
• Compact size all-in one solution (650 * 840*1800 mm) by means of compact integrated control systems
• Connection to smartmeters/Solar PV/charing stations via Modbus/TCPIP protocols
• Energy management protocol optimized based on field experience
Economically:
• First economically feasible hybrid energy storage solution for residences, micro-grids and small businesses. Energy independence for days, weeks, and entire seasons. Seasonal storage capacity is decoupled from power requirements or unit size.
• Fully scalable for each type of user. Allows excess green energy to be sold back to the grid at high-demand times or to buy very cheap energy at high-production times. Enabler for the penetration of renewable energy sources. Smart control software and smart grid ready.
• Limits peak grid loads and implements effective peak shaving that supports electrification of houses and mobility and enables micro-grids for optimising local production and consumption (increasing self-consumption).
• This is a true micro-grid enabler and game changer as micro-grid operators can now economically decide what energy source is cheapest at any given time and play the grid based on pricing. This makes them more independent from energy suppliers and makes the energy markets more performant.
• First totally-green storage of both electricity and heat. (Zero carbon for production, transport, and consumption, and zero toxic waste). Output is oxygen and heat.
• First fully-integrated heat, power and storage in an integrated autonomous unit.
• Not limited by cycles and 30-year lifetime. Unlike pure storage battery systems which degrade with use.
Technically:
• Compact size all-in one solution (650 * 840*1800 mm) by means of compact integrated control systems
• Connection to smartmeters/Solar PV/charing stations via Modbus/TCPIP protocols
• Energy management protocol optimized based on field experience