IHI, Inc. Energy Storage and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) will collectively study and research the use of battery energy storage systems for the electric grid.
IHI Inc. Energy Storage will provide a complete 1 MW/1 MWh energy storage system (ESS) that will be operated using IHI Inc.’s ESWare energy system planning and control software. This software will provide high-speed model-based control of the ESS as well as state-of-the art interfaces for users of the system. The ESS, which has been deployed at a solar array site interconnected to TEP’s electric infrastructure, includes lithium ion battery racks, AC/DC bi-directional inverters and other supporting equipment, all contained within two 20-foot ISO standard shipping containers.
The Energy Storage System will be used by both IHI and TEP for testing and monitoring of different business and technical use cases. This coordinated effort between both companies will focus on developing strategies to enhance grid and feeder reliability, specifically in the unique southern Arizona microclimate.
“We are very pleased to have this opportunity to work with TEP and both demonstrate IHI’s leading energy storage software tools as well as test some new and innovative software technologies,” said Toshiaki Nishio, Senior Vice President of IHI Inc. Energy Storage. “We see TEP as an innovative utility who shares similar concepts with IHI about the future of energy storage for the grid and a utility who provides an ideal environment for testing new smart grid technologies such as IHI’s ESWare® software.”
TEP has provided the site and interconnection capability for IHI Inc.’s system. A 5 MW solar array at the site will supply the necessary electricity to charge the energy storage system and provide a platform for testing various scenarios and use cases. “We are pleased to work with IHI to explore our understanding of these advanced energy storage systems,” said Jim Taylor, Chief Technology Officer of Tucson Electric Power. “We are interested in better understanding how energy storage systems can advance our capabilities and continue to provide reliable and safe electricity to our customers within the Tucson network.”
News item from IHI Energy Storage