From Peak Shaving to Backup Power: SkelGrid 2.0's Multifunctional Role
Did you know that E-STATCOM installations can be as large as a football field? Skeleton's SkelMod 162V module, the building block for SkelGrid 2.0 systems, is designed to enable customized configurations and the 19-inch rack unit enables up to 3MWs of power in a single cabinet.
E-STATCOMs are static compensator devices, which, when combined with energy storage devices such as supercapacitors, can be used to build a critical protection line to prevent power outages and fault conditions. Thanks to Skeleton's high-power solutions, E-STATCOM can meet the need for short-term backup power and improved power quality many times more efficiently than other energy storage systems on the market.
Considering the fluctuating operating profile of the grid and the increasing use of renewable energy sources, supercapacitors are an unparalleled energy storage technology for E-STATCOM. The best features of supercapacitors include high power, a long service life of up to more than 15 years, minimal maintenance, and no risk of thermal runaway — an exothermic uncontrolled reaction that occurs in Li-ion batteries, particularly concerning when dealing with high voltage. Thus, the efficiency of supercapacitors is up to 99% and Skeleton' solutions are able to utilize the stored energy with minimal losses. This is critically important for industrial companies in order to improve the cost efficiency of operations and minimize environmental impacts.
For E-STATCOM to succeed, choosing the right energy storage is crucial. How can supercapacitors address stability challenges?
Due to the buildup of renewable energy production in our grid infrastructure and the parallel reduction of rotating equipment there is an increasing lack of inertia to keep the stability in our grid networks.
To master that transition the different Transmission System Operators (TSO) worldwide are looking for new solutions to keep the grid stable and allow our societies a resilient and continuous power supply.
The E-STATCOM as part of the Flexible AC Transmission System product family based on Skeleton’s leading supercapacitor technology is exactly addressing this growing market. The immediate reaction time of the supercapacitors, the safety aspects without any risk of thermal runaway and the unique power density make this offering extremely competitive to address the challenges of the TSO’s.
Beside of performance features E-STATCOM customer’s have a need for high reliability, safety, cyber security, sustainability, trust in the supply chain and long lifetime combined with resilience of the system.
What are the 4 key benefits of choosing supecapacitors for E-STATCOM?
1.Supercapacitors offer full compatibility with E-STATCOM and maximize system performance by offering the most advanced cell and module technology on the market.
2.The modular design of Skeleton's grid solutions makes it possible to fit a high power density in one cabinet and at the same time offer a smaller carbon footprint. SkelGrid is significantly lighter than conventional batteries in high-power industrial applications. In addition to this, supercapacitor solutions can be disassembled safely with minimal maintenance.
3.Skeleton manufactures its supercapacitors in Germany, home to the world's largest supercapacitor factory. This European-based production chain ensures high quality, cost-efficiency, and rapid delivery, helping companies achieve their net-zero goals while significantly reducing the carbon footprint of their logistics.
4. For us, first-class customer service is at the center of everything. Skeleton Technologies is able to offer companies specific E-STATCOM expertise and we have a group of experienced engineers in the field who are responsible for ensuring that the customer gets the most energy efficient solutions on the market while saving costs.
How do supercapacitors help reduce short circuits and power outages with the instability of renewable energy?
The supercapacitor installation is connected to the power conversion system and reduces frequency losses by contributing active power to the grid. It provides an active power boost in a mega watt range and its modular architecture facilitates scaling up the overall E-STATCOM solution.
This leads in a reduction in the rate of change of frequency, an improved power quality and dynamic voltage support. The overarching aim of connecting an E-STATCOM to the grid is to prevent blackouts meanwhile decarbonizing the industries and societies. An investment into an E-STATCOM solution saves cost along the entire energy values chain and is the answer to frequency fluctuations caused by the buildup of renewable energy.
What makes supercapacitors much safer than Li-ion batteries?
The supercapacitors represents the perfect partner for longer duration energy storage systems. Where Li-ion Battery Systems have limitations in power density as well as cycle life and fire safety, Skeleton’s supercapacitor technology stands out with low cost per energy throughput, a compact footprint, over one million charge-discharge cycles, and inherently safe operating characteristics.
Looking at the overall storage architecture in the grid the supercapacitor-based E-STATCOM solution can be defined as first line of defense to prevent blackouts. They are the immediate reaction to frequency drops before other technologies such as Li-ion Batteries take over to address the subsequent frequency regulation markets.