AEG supplies power conversion for MiRIS pilot project

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MiRIS pilot plant

A power conversion system (Convert SC Flex and transformer) has been supplied by AEG Power Solutions to CMI Energy’s MiRIS project. MiRIS is an ambitious photovoltaic pilot plant combined with energy storage. The installation consists of 6,500 solar panels, (with a peak production capacity of 2 MWp), combined with battery energy storage systems using different technologies, namely two types of flow batteries, one type of Lithium-Ion battery and NaS battery to give, when all the equipments will be in operation, a total of 5.4 megawatt hours.   

The Energy Management System which monitors the facility was developed by ULiège in collaboration with CMI. CMI Energy will use the system as a test bench of typical use cases (electricity self-consumption, solar photovoltaic time shift and resale of the exceeding  electricity, as well as primary reserve, voltage stability, etc.) in different configurations (off and on-grid) and comparing the storage technologies. Intelligence collected through the tests will give an in-depth understanding of how the different types of battery perform depending on production and usage profiles and ultimately will support the improvement of integrated electricity production/storage/management systems.

The power conversion system consists of a Convert SC Flex converter and a transformer embedded in an outdoor enclosure. The bi-directional power converter provides a high conversion efficiency factor for both the charging and discharging phases and offers a wide range of DC input voltage which spans from 330 V to 1000 V. This allows the converter to be used with any type of battery technology. 

For the MiRIS project, Convert SC flex is combined with a flow battery storage, proving its capability to provide the initial charging phase required by the batteries. Convert SC Flex will also demonstrate that it allows seamless transition between on and off-grid mode.

CMI Energy president Jean-Michel Gheeraerdts said: “We now have ways to use green energy sources that eradicate their major flaw – intermittent production. Energy storage and management can be applied in a number of fields as an alternative to diesel generators for unconnected regions, as a way of deferring investment in parts of the network, as a means of optimising existing photovoltaic or wind systems, and as an enabler of participation in the primary or secondary reserve markets.”

MiRIS will focus on the interoperability of renewables and different energy storage technologies for a variety of user energy profiles. It will also allow assessment of microgrid ‘islanding’ operations, potential grid ancillary service opportunities, and the influence of user demand response.

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