[nb] Alfen launches new energy storage solution for data centers at Intersolar Munich

Alfen’s storage system TheBattery was launched in 2011 and initially served to enable micro-grids. Over the past years, applications of TheBattery expanded to peak shaving, energy trading, congestion management and frequency control to ensure stability of the power grids. 

 

Earlier in 2018, Alfen already introduced two new important applications for its storage system. In April Alfen introduced its mobile storage solution for festivals, enabling the replacement of diesel generators. Later, in May of this year, Alfen announced the release of its combined storage and ultrafast EV charging solution, for which BMW placed the first order. Today, Alfen adds a dedicated solution for data centers to its portfolio of storage applications.

 

The global data center market is surging, with a growing number of data centers that are also scaling up in terms of size. These data centers require enormous amounts of energy with high quality and reliability, and preferably coming from renewable energy sources. In this rapid roll-out, operators of data centers are increasingly facing issues with their grid connections. Alfen’s storage solution ‘TheBattery’ based on Lithium-ion technology is offering six key advantages for data centers.

1. Providing peak-shaving of energy consumption to mitigate bottlenecks in the grid connection

2. Enabling self-consumption of rooftop solar or co-located wind energy

3. Reducing the need for diesel generators as back-up power supply

4. Reducing the need for traditional lead-acid batteries as uninterruptible power supply

5. Enabling energy trading on the central power grid to further optimize storage economics

6. Enabling new business models through virtual energy storage

An example of the use of data centers as virtual energy storage can be found in the Agriport area in the Netherlands, where Alfen has been providing its Smart grid solutions for many years. Here, a private grid operator facilitates an area of about 300 hectares of greenhouse horticulture, producing and consuming an enormous amount of energy. A large data center has been integrated in this complex energy system, providing useful synergies with the different energy demand patterns of the greenhouses. In addition, the greenhouses can facilitate demand management by turning their lights up or down when needed, providing further flexibility to the system. Connecting Alfen’s battery storage to such an integrated energy system equips operators with optimal flexibility to serve their local energy needs and benefit from trading opportunities.

To learn more about this new solution, please contact Andreas Plenk, Global Sales Director Energy Storage at a.plenk@alfen.com or visit us this week at the Intersolar in Munich from 20 to 22 June.