Empowering the Future with Advanced Energy Storage
Energy storage systems (ESS) are revolutionising how we generate, store, and consume electricity, providing flexibility and reliability to both residential and commercial energy infrastructures. By capturing excess energy during periods of low demand and releasing it during peak times, ESS not only enhances energy efficiency but also contributes to a more resilient and sustainable power grid.
In residential settings, home-scale power wall batteries allow homeowners to store surplus energy generated from renewable sources like solar panels. This stored energy can be utilised during nighttime or cloudy days, ensuring a continuous power supply and reducing dependence on the traditional grid.
Commercial enterprises, on the other hand, are adopting large-scale battery systems to manage energy consumption more effectively, lower operational costs, and achieve sustainability goals. Additionally, advanced portable power supplies, such as those developed by companies like Instagrid, offer sustainable and reliable power solutions for off-grid applications, supporting industries that require mobility and flexibility.
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Engineers and designers face several challenges when integrating energy storage solutions
These efforts are characterised by the following considerations:
- System Integration and Compatibility: Ensuring that ESS seamlessly integrates with existing power infrastructures, renewable energy sources, and various load types requires meticulous planning and design.
- Scalability and Modularity: Designing ESS that can be easily scaled or modified to meet evolving energy demands is crucial for both residential and commercial applications.
- Safety and Reliability: Implementing robust safety measures to prevent hazards such as thermal runaway, electrical faults, or environmental impacts is paramount.
- Regulatory Compliance: Navigating the complex landscape of regulations and standards governing energy storage requires thorough understanding to ensure compliance and facilitate widespread adoption.
Despite its benefits, integrating energy storage into existing energy systems is not a straightforward process. Engineers must solve for multiple, often competing, priorities. Systems must be compatible with a mix of inputs and loads, including renewable energy sources, backup generators, and the main grid. They must be scalable and modular, capable of growing as demand increases or evolving with changing use cases.
Safety is paramount. From preventing thermal runaway to ensuring environmental safeguards, systems must be designed to operate safely under a range of conditions. And all of this must be done in line with complex regulatory frameworks that vary by region and application. From grid-tied installations to mobile units, compliance is essential.
Technologies and Components Driving Energy Storage Systems
To address these challenges, engineers deploy a variety of technologies and components:
- Battery Technologies: Advancements in lithium-ion batteries, including lithium iron phosphate (LFP) variants, offer improved energy density, longer lifespans, and enhanced safety features. Emerging technologies like UltraBattery, which combines the attributes of lead-acid batteries and supercapacitors, provide efficient energy storage solutions for various applications.
- Power Conversion Systems: Efficient bidirectional inverters and converters are essential for managing the flow of electricity between the grid, ESS, and end-users, ensuring optimal performance and minimal energy loss.
- Energy Management Systems (EMS): Advanced EMS utilise real-time data analytics and machine learning algorithms to monitor, control, and optimise energy storage and consumption, enhancing efficiency and reliability.
- Thermal Management Solutions: Effective thermal management is crucial for maintaining battery performance and safety. Innovative cooling systems and materials help dissipate heat and prevent overheating.
- Supercapacitors: Also known as ultracapacitors or electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs), supercapacitors offer maintenance-free long life and are compliant with EU directives such as RoHS. They provide an alternative to batteries in many energy storage applications, especially for backup power or high-surge demand scenarios.
Technology at the Core
Modern ESS relies on a suite of advanced components and technologies working in harmony. At the heart of most systems are lithium-ion batteries, particularly those with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistries, which are known for their safety, long lifespan, and energy density. Hybrid solutions, like UltraBattery, combine traditional lead-acid batteries with supercapacitor capabilities, offering fast charge and discharge performance for specific use cases.
Energy does not flow on its own. Power conversion systems, such as bidirectional inverters and converters, ensure electricity moves efficiently between sources, storage, and end-use loads. Energy Management Systems (EMS) monitor usage in real time, using data analytics and machine learning to optimise system behaviour and energy dispatch.
Thermal management is just as important. As batteries work harder and longer, excess heat must be managed carefully. Innovative materials and cooling technologies are now crucial to the safe and long-term performance of ESS. Supercapacitors also play a key role in some systems. They offer rapid response, maintenance-free operation, and compliance with EU environmental directives, making them ideal for high-surge or backup power applications.
Engineering with Confidence
Building these complex systems requires a multidisciplinary approach. Engineers must consider not only battery performance and thermal profiles but also connectivity, system control, safety compliance, and long-term maintainability. Choosing the right components is only part of the equation. Integrating them into a cohesive, high-performing system is the true challenge.
This is where engineering expertise and the right technology partner become essential.
Avnet Silica: Your Partner in Energy Storage Innovation
Avnet Silica is committed to supporting engineers and developers in creating cutting-edge energy storage solutions by offering:
- Comprehensive Component Portfolio: We provide a wide range of components, including advanced battery and power management ICs, microcontrollers, and connectivity modules, sourced from leading manufacturers.
- Expert Technical Support: Our team of experienced engineers offers guidance on system design, component selection, and integration strategies to ensure the success of your energy storage projects.
- Customised Solutions: We collaborate with clients to develop tailored solutions that meet specific requirements, from prototype development to mass production.
- Regulatory and Compliance Assistance: Navigating the regulatory landscape can be challenging. We provide support to ensure your designs comply with relevant standards and certifications.
By partnering with Avnet Silica, you gain access to a wealth of resources and expertise, empowering you to develop energy storage systems that are efficient, reliable, and aligned with the evolving energy landscape.
Energy Management Overview
Smarter energy management approaches bring greater efficiency, lower costs, and a more resilient power grid. Effective energy management strategies are already transforming the world around us.
onsemi Energy Storage Solutions
As the smart grid emerges, batteries from EVs that have reached the end of their first lives are finding new leases of life in energy storage systems. At every stage, SiC is helping to maximize storage capacity.
We provide more than just parts. We provide perspective. Our extensive portfolio includes advanced battery technologies, power management ICs, microcontrollers, and connectivity modules from leading global manufacturers. Whether you are working on residential, industrial, or mobile ESS applications, we have the building blocks to support your vision.
But what truly sets us apart is our people. Our engineering teams offer deep technical insight into system-level design, helping you navigate choices, avoid pitfalls, and bring your concept to life. We work collaboratively to develop customised solutions tailored to your performance, size, safety, and budget requirements, from early-stage prototyping to full-scale deployment.
We also help simplify the compliance process by guiding you through relevant standards, certifications, and documentation. That way, you can bring your solution to market with confidence and efficiency.
Working on an Energy Management project?
Our experts bring insights that extend beyond the datasheet, availability and price. The combined experience contained within our network covers thousands of projects across different customers, markets, regions and technologies. We will pull together the right team from our collective expertise to focus on your application, providing valuable ideas and recommendations to improve your product and accelerate its journey from the initial concept out into the world.
Webinar: Intelligent Energy Management and Storage Solutions
As the global energy landscape shifts toward decentralisation, electrification, and real-time optimisation, the demand for secure, scalable, and intelligent energy systems is greater than ever.
In this exclusive Avnet Silica webinar, we bring together leading semiconductor experts from Diodes, Microchip, MPS, Nexperia, NXP, onsemi, Renesas, and STMicroelectronics to explore how cutting-edge technologies are reshaping energy storage and power management systems.
Whether you're designing for e-mobility, renewable energy, or smart infrastructure, this webinar will help you accelerate development with future-proof technologies and expert insights.
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Powering Energy Management
Power electronics play a vital role in energy management systems, with devices like inverters and converters enabling the conversion, control, and management of electrical power.