Periodic Reporting for period 3 - iSTORMY (Interoperable, modular and Smart hybrid energy STORage systeM for stationarY applications)
Reporting period: 2023-06-01 to 2024-11-30
The electricity grid is rapidly evolving to accommodate various new assets and energy storage is one of the key enabling technologies in this transition. Solar, wind, decentralised grids, different ways of storing energy, increasing electricity demand and new Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructures are all unfolding, leading to new challenges to keep the grid reliable and stable. Overcoming these challenges leads to different energy storage requirements in terms of energy, power, duration and cycle frequency. To define these requirements, the following issues need to be addressed:
• How to select and combine different batteries with different power, energy, voltage and lifetime?
• How to integrate the batteries with different voltages with appropriate power electronics in an efficient, reliable and cost-effective way?
• How to optimally use the entire system in terms of efficiency, reliability and cost, and determine when which battery has to be used, for which service?
Power electronic converters and their control enable many system functionalities and form the interface with the batteries but are often neglected. With the market growing into many different use-cases, there is a need for reliable, modular, and universal power electronics interface solutions that seamlessly integrate with all system components and the electricity grid. Also, the usage of the batteries is critical in terms of system lifetime, and enabling an optimal monitoring and control of their operation based on detailed aging information and needed grid services is crucial.
Solving these aspects will help society to facilitate the energy transition, increasing societal acceptance of renewable and make Europe even more autonomous in terms of energy supplies.
iSTORMY addresses these challenges by developing an interoperable and modular Hybrid Battery Energy Storage System (HESS), including high-energy and high-power batteries with advanced SoX estimation and Remaining Useful Life (RUL) algorithm. Also high-efficiency power electronics are targeted, together with universal and machine-learning-based energy management, enabling the demonstration of various use cases and seamlessly interfacing the grid to provide multiple services, such as a combination of load levelling, frequency regulation, provision of backup power, at minimum cost and with reduced environmental impact.
• How to select and combine different batteries with different power, energy, voltage and lifetime?
• How to integrate the batteries with different voltages with appropriate power electronics in an efficient, reliable and cost-effective way?
• How to optimally use the entire system in terms of efficiency, reliability and cost, and determine when which battery has to be used, for which service?
Power electronic converters and their control enable many system functionalities and form the interface with the batteries but are often neglected. With the market growing into many different use-cases, there is a need for reliable, modular, and universal power electronics interface solutions that seamlessly integrate with all system components and the electricity grid. Also, the usage of the batteries is critical in terms of system lifetime, and enabling an optimal monitoring and control of their operation based on detailed aging information and needed grid services is crucial.
Solving these aspects will help society to facilitate the energy transition, increasing societal acceptance of renewable and make Europe even more autonomous in terms of energy supplies.
iSTORMY addresses these challenges by developing an interoperable and modular Hybrid Battery Energy Storage System (HESS), including high-energy and high-power batteries with advanced SoX estimation and Remaining Useful Life (RUL) algorithm. Also high-efficiency power electronics are targeted, together with universal and machine-learning-based energy management, enabling the demonstration of various use cases and seamlessly interfacing the grid to provide multiple services, such as a combination of load levelling, frequency regulation, provision of backup power, at minimum cost and with reduced environmental impact.
As reported in more details in the Core part of this report (part B), during the third and last project period the final steps have been taken towards the achievement of the project technical objectives.
The work performed since the beginning of the project and up to M48 (completion), has been focused (as planned) on:
- Definition of KPIs and specification for system and components (WP1) completed in RP1.
- Building an efficient and flexible hybrid battery pack including Battery Management System (BMS) with new functionality (from TRL4 to TRL6) The Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS) has been designed, produced and functionally tested. It is based on modular concept, both for the high-energy and the high-power part. Additionally, new algorithms (advanced SoX estimation and the Advanced Diagnostics Protocol (ADP)) have been implemented in its Battery Management System (BMS). These activities have been completed within RP2 and are linked to WP2.
- Design of a reliable and long-life modular power electronics (from TRL4 to TRL6) Finalization of the Digital Twin modelling with system-level closed-loop modelling. Functional prototypes (full power, closed-loop) for both PE interfaces have been built and tested. Complete lifetime assessment achieved for all use cases. These activities have been completed within RP2 and are linked to WP 3.
- Development of a universal hybrid battery Energy Management System (EMS) (From TRL4 to TRL6) for increased system lifespan and performance, incl. underlying state functions and controls. Standard EMS finalized, incl. use case specific functions. Self-healing EMS developed. EMS hardware (HW) developed. Both standard and self-healing EMSs tested and implemented on HW. Most activities were completed in RP2 and linked to WP4.
- Integration, commissioning and demonstration of the HBESS under three use cases at EDF Concept Grid. The integration has been performed considering interfacing and communication between the EMS hardware IoT setup and all system components for proper control and monitoring. The demonstration included several iterations to ensure proper system operation. Final tuning could not be achieved on the specific use case operations due to timing constraints. The life cycle assessment (LCA) and total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses have been concluded as planned, showing promising outcomes for the hybrid solution developed in iSTORMY.
These project developments have generated 10 Key Exploitation Results (KERs) and linked exploitation (as reported in D6.4).
The work performed since the beginning of the project and up to M48 (completion), has been focused (as planned) on:
- Definition of KPIs and specification for system and components (WP1) completed in RP1.
- Building an efficient and flexible hybrid battery pack including Battery Management System (BMS) with new functionality (from TRL4 to TRL6) The Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS) has been designed, produced and functionally tested. It is based on modular concept, both for the high-energy and the high-power part. Additionally, new algorithms (advanced SoX estimation and the Advanced Diagnostics Protocol (ADP)) have been implemented in its Battery Management System (BMS). These activities have been completed within RP2 and are linked to WP2.
- Design of a reliable and long-life modular power electronics (from TRL4 to TRL6) Finalization of the Digital Twin modelling with system-level closed-loop modelling. Functional prototypes (full power, closed-loop) for both PE interfaces have been built and tested. Complete lifetime assessment achieved for all use cases. These activities have been completed within RP2 and are linked to WP 3.
- Development of a universal hybrid battery Energy Management System (EMS) (From TRL4 to TRL6) for increased system lifespan and performance, incl. underlying state functions and controls. Standard EMS finalized, incl. use case specific functions. Self-healing EMS developed. EMS hardware (HW) developed. Both standard and self-healing EMSs tested and implemented on HW. Most activities were completed in RP2 and linked to WP4.
- Integration, commissioning and demonstration of the HBESS under three use cases at EDF Concept Grid. The integration has been performed considering interfacing and communication between the EMS hardware IoT setup and all system components for proper control and monitoring. The demonstration included several iterations to ensure proper system operation. Final tuning could not be achieved on the specific use case operations due to timing constraints. The life cycle assessment (LCA) and total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses have been concluded as planned, showing promising outcomes for the hybrid solution developed in iSTORMY.
These project developments have generated 10 Key Exploitation Results (KERs) and linked exploitation (as reported in D6.4).
iSTORMY offers an innovative hybrid solution tailored to the major upcoming challenges in grid management. In particular, challenges that arise in relation to the integration of EV-charging stations and PV. By developing the right software and controlling hardware (EMS, BMS), different Li-ion battery types including 2nd life EV batteries can be optimally integrated into one energy storage system.
The hybrid battery storage system (KER 01, KER 02, KER 07) developed in iSTORMY contributes to important environmental and societal impacts by offering a safer, cheaper, and flexible solution capable of adapting to a wide spectrum of applications and scenarios. In particular, the system provides an optimal balancing of energy and power needs, through the whole HBESS design optimization (KER 08) and enhanced energy management strategy (KER 04), incl. universal and self-healing. Also, the efficiency and health of the HBESS and optimised for long-duration service through advanced SiC power electronics modules (KER 03), enhanced SoX and active diagnostics algorithms (KER 06, KER 09, KER 10) and edge EMS hardware IoT setup (KER 05).
Finally, iSTORMY is in line with the European Green Deal roadmap, and some of the main environmental and societal impacts. In particular, the project results have been assessed in terms of system TCO and LCA, with the full results presented in D5.4 and D5.5 respectively. The TCO shows improved results for all use cases compared to a single-battery solution, and the system has an Isolated Cost of Storage (ICS), excluding the variable energy price, of 0,08 EUR/kWh/cycle as of 2025, pacing the way to reach 0,10 EUR/kWh/cycle by 2030. This estimation is highly dependent on system usage (use case load profile) and market prices. The LCA also shows good results, however the actual added value of the iSTORMY HBESS is dependent on the specific use case.
The hybrid battery storage system (KER 01, KER 02, KER 07) developed in iSTORMY contributes to important environmental and societal impacts by offering a safer, cheaper, and flexible solution capable of adapting to a wide spectrum of applications and scenarios. In particular, the system provides an optimal balancing of energy and power needs, through the whole HBESS design optimization (KER 08) and enhanced energy management strategy (KER 04), incl. universal and self-healing. Also, the efficiency and health of the HBESS and optimised for long-duration service through advanced SiC power electronics modules (KER 03), enhanced SoX and active diagnostics algorithms (KER 06, KER 09, KER 10) and edge EMS hardware IoT setup (KER 05).
Finally, iSTORMY is in line with the European Green Deal roadmap, and some of the main environmental and societal impacts. In particular, the project results have been assessed in terms of system TCO and LCA, with the full results presented in D5.4 and D5.5 respectively. The TCO shows improved results for all use cases compared to a single-battery solution, and the system has an Isolated Cost of Storage (ICS), excluding the variable energy price, of 0,08 EUR/kWh/cycle as of 2025, pacing the way to reach 0,10 EUR/kWh/cycle by 2030. This estimation is highly dependent on system usage (use case load profile) and market prices. The LCA also shows good results, however the actual added value of the iSTORMY HBESS is dependent on the specific use case.