Flexibility and integration: The perfect combination of hardware components and software in energy storage systems
Flexibility and integration are critical factors for optimizing the use of energy storage systems. The perfect combination of hardware components and software allows the storage system to be used efficiently and tailored to specific needs. A modern energy storage system must be capable of adapting flexibly to individual requirements. Hardware plays a crucial role in this. High availability, quality, and durability of components are essential to ensure reliable storage and discharge of energy.
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Overview
Efficient teamwork – INTILION | ABC
Our three main components, the INTILION Application Unit (IAU), the INTILION Battery Unit (IBU) and the INTILION Control Unit (ICU) – INTILION ABC – provide a highly integrated, flexible and reliable basis for battery storage systems. The components work together seamlessly and ensure smooth integration and efficient control of the overall system.
Below you will find a list of the key features of the components:
INTILION Application Unit (IAU)
- certified power plant controller in accordance with VDE-AR-E 4110/20
- Interfaces to the battery storage system (e.g. Trader)
- Control of several BESS units connected in parallel
- Provision of configurable applications
(e.g. peak shaving, multi-use, self-consumption) - Flexible localisation (e.g. in a switching station)
- Intelligent power distribution between AC strings
- Additional generation units (e.g. PV) can be added
INTILION Battery Unit (IBU)
- Standardised manufacturer-independent BMS interface
- Assignment of a battery bank (with up to 8 battery racks) per battery unit (IBU)
- Control of the connection and disconnection of the downstream battery
- Special battery safety functions (e.g. derating of the charging/discharging power)
- ModBUS interface between ICU and master BMS
- Power failure protection of the control unit via the uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
INTILION Control Unit (ICU)
- Standardised manufacturer-independent system interface (e.g. for connecting the IAU or a higher-level EMS)
- Several IBUs and up to 4 inverters (DC strings) possible per control unit (ICU)
- Control unit for IBUs and inverters
- Intelligent power distribution between DC strings
- Power failure protection of the control unit via the UPS
- Air conditioning allowing the ICU to work as intended in nearly all ambient temperatures
- Connection of the external fire alarm system (incl. shutdown of the battery system in the event of danger)
- Ensuring a cascaded connection in the event of a black start
Our three main components INTILION Application Unit (IAU), INTILION Battery Unit (IBU) and INTILION Control Unit (ICU)
Customization of the energy storage system for each application
Each project is tailored to the customer and the specific application. We offer great flexibility in system design, both in terms of hardware and software. What are the key factors in this process? What are the first steps after receiving an inquiry? In the interview with Christoph, Team Lead Application, and Niklas, Head of System Engineering, you’ll find the answers to our systems and solutions:
What makes INTILION systems so special?
Christoph
We customize each of our projects to the customer’s needs and the respective application. We are very flexible in our system design in terms of both hardware and software. By expanding interfaces, we are also able to integrate additional components. It is also quite simple to implement our battery systems within existing customer systems and infrastructure.
Niklas
Thanks to our customized system engineering, we can offer our customers a very flexible platform and, for example, combine different inverters and battery systems with each other. We divide our systems into the smallest possible units – known as power strings – which offers us advantages in terms of operational management and that guarantees a high level of reliability. This also gives us a very high degree of flexibility, allowing us to optimize our response to different customer requirements. Our battery systems are also capable of a black start and working off-grid.
How do hardware and software go hand in hand?
Christoph
At INTILION, since all teams work closely together, we communicate quickly and clearly. This means there are no breaks between hardware and software. And it allows us to integrate new hardware into our software architecture relatively quickly.
Niklas
Our control unit (ICU) is the central unit where everything comes together with various interfaces. This is also reflected on the hardware side. As hardware and software are so closely interlinked, they can only work hand in hand.
Interview with our experts Niklas Schürmann (left) and Christoph Bürger (right)
How do we stand out from the competition?
Christoph
We can customize our battery systems to suit the customer and the application, and are flexible when it comes to integrating external components thanks to our open interfaces. As we are a German-speaking provider with international contacts, our customers always have direct contact with us in their own country and language. We also support our projects from the initial idea right through to the end of commissioning. We are on hand to advise our customers regarding all questions right through to the end. This allows us to react flexibly to individual adjustments and in the interest of the customer, even during the course of the project.
Niklas
We set ourselves very high standards for what we do and, therefore, have a high quality standard in order to meet the rapidly changing and growing market requirements. The majority of our hardware components are made in Germany. We don’t see ourselves purely as a vendor, but rather as a solution developer together with and for our customers. In addition, we offer tailored service contracts, warranty extensions, and availability guarantees.
We receive an enquiry from a customer. What are the next steps?
Christoph
As a first step, we usually work out the requirements for a customer’s system from the customer's wishes and advise them on the use case. In most cases, we can map these requirements with our standard applications and functions on the ICU and IAU. However, if there are any open points, these are adapted and expanded in our application area.
Niklas
Our customers’ information is often quite “thin” at the beginning. That’s why we advise our customers as a first step and try to understand what the customer actually wants. In doing so, we also take into account regulatory advice, for example water or environmental protection. We then match the customer’s requirements with our system and develop a solution. We take our standardized system as a basis, adapt the interfaces and integrate third-party devices. This ranges from creating layouts and single lines to designing the control plans. Our project management team then provides support with the structural realization on-site at the customer’s premises.
Why are we a good partner for large systems?
Christoph
Since our expertise extends far beyond battery systems, we can ensure that complex systems can be implemented relatively simply. We understand the various use cases and potential challenges of our customers and are always ready to offer comprehensive support.
Niklas
We don’t just install our systems – we also take care of all aspects of design, installation, integration of assemblies, complete integration, regulatory advice (water, fire, environment) and sound insulation and assessment. We advise and support our customers step by step and are constantly training ourselves.
Where are battery storage systems heading?
Christoph
Battery systems will become bigger and bigger in future. We can also see that from the enquiries. They are also becoming increasingly important for our infrastructure and the stability of the electricity grid. This also means that the regulatory requirements in terms of OT security, IT security and the robustness of systems will continue to gain importance. In future, we will be serving more and more grid-serving applications. It will no longer be enough to simply install the storage system. Operational management and monitoring will become increasingly important. New technologies and new areas of application will also come onto the market, which we will be able to integrate quickly and easily thanks to our flexible system design.
Niklas
We are very flexible and will, therefore, have no great difficulty in adapting to any challenge we face. We can react quickly to market trends and new technologies. In addition, the trend will increasingly be towards selling projects rather than individual products. On the application side, co-located projects will play an increasingly important role.
Do you have any questions about our products?
If you are planning your energy storage project, please contact us.
Conclusion: Flexible Integration of Hardware and Software in Energy Storage Systems is a Key Success Factor
The integration of hardware and software in energy storage systems is a crucial success factor for the efficient and flexible use of this technology. The seamless collaboration between high-quality hardware components and intelligent software solutions ensures not only the reliability but also the adaptability of the system. INTILION’s modular and flexible system architecture, tailored to individual customer needs, provides customized solutions for a wide range of applications. The ability to quickly adapt to market trends and technological changes highlights the future-proof nature of these systems. Thus, energy storage systems based on the perfect combination of hardware and software form a vital pillar for the stability and sustainability of energy supply.
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