Battery Energy Storage Systems

Socomec, a century-old company, is a global player in the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) market. We have been pioneers in exploring the dynamic world of BESS, working on these technologies since 2014. Serving as a critical link between renewable energy sources and the electric grid, BESS plays an essential role in stabilizing power supply and accelerating the energy transition. While its concept is straightforward—storing energy for later use or decoupling electricity production from consumption—its applications are nearly unlimited and can address a vast range of use cases. As clean energy production and electric vehicle charging infrastructure continue to expand, so does the market for BESS, providing simple solutions to complex technical challenges. Discover with Socomec the details of BESS design, components, and operation, and understand why it's an essential part of your energy transition.

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are advanced technologies designed to store electrical energy for later use. They consist of sophisticated power conversion technologies, intelligent management systems, and lithium batteries that capture and store energy during periods of low demand or excess production, which can then be deployed when demand is high and exceeds supply. BESS play a critical role in enhancing energy reliability, flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability across various sectors.

A BESS works by converting alternating current (AC) from the electricity grid or renewable sources into direct current (DC) for storage in battery modules. When power is needed, the system converts the stored DC back into AC for use by facilities or to feed back into the grid. This bi-directional power flow enables BESS to respond rapidly to changing energy demands.

Battery Energy Storage Systems are essential for modern energy-critical infrastructure due to their numerous benefits. At Socomec, we believe that storage systems can enhance both financial and operational efficiency for our customers. The growing adoption of BESS technology reflects broader concerns about grid stability, energy costs, and climate goals across the United States and Europe. Here are three main benefits for businesses that wish to install a BESS:

Benefits of BESS:

• Saving on Electric Bills: A Battery Energy Storage System can significantly reduce electricity costs by storing energy during off-peak hours when rates are lower and discharging it during peak demand times. This strategic use of energy helps to lower demand charges, optimizing your energy expenses and improving overall cost efficiency. For commercial and industrial facilities, this can translate to substantial annual savings.
• Generating New Revenue Streams: An Energy Storage System can unlock new revenue opportunities for commercial and industrial buildings. BESS can participate in demand response programs, frequency and voltage regulation programs, and sell excess stored energy back to the grid. By engaging in these activities, businesses can capitalize on fluctuating energy prices and create additional income sources, boosting their financial performance. For building energy performance, combining BESS with accurate metering and real-time monitoring helps optimize consumption, reduce peak-demand costs, and improve on-site energy management.
• Ensuring Electricity Supply Continuity with Backup Power: A Battery Energy Storage System ensures electricity supply continuity by providing reliable backup power during outages. This is crucial for maintaining business productivity and preventing costly downtime, safeguarding critical operations, and ensuring continuous power availability in any situation. Unlike diesel generators, BESS provides instant response with no startup delay.

At Socomec, we offer versatile and tailored solutions to meet the diverse energy needs of our customers. Our Energy Storage Systems provide key applications that enhance efficiency, reliability, and sustainability:
 

1. Peak Shaving

Peak shaving is crucial for customers that experience high energy demand during peak hours. Socomec's BESS solutions store energy during off-peak times and discharge it during peak periods, effectively reducing the power drawn from the grid during those times. This approach flattens the demand curve, lowers energy costs, and optimizes overall energy management. For facilities with high peak demand charges, this application delivers rapid ROI.
 

2. Self-Consumption Optimization

For facilities equipped with renewable energy sources like solar panels, Socomec's BESS maximizes self-consumption. Our systems store excess energy when production is high and make it available during low-generation or high-demand periods. This not only enhances energy efficiency and generates massive savings on electric bills but also reduces dependence on the grid, leading to greater energy autonomy. Self-consumption strategies are particularly valuable in regions with high electricity prices or favorable solar incentives.
 

3. Frequency Control and Regulation

Battery Energy Storage Systems are exceptionally well-suited for frequency control and regulation due to their rapid response time. When there is an excess of energy on the grid, the BESS absorbs the surplus, and when there is a shortfall, it releases stored energy to stabilize the frequency. This application works by continuously monitoring grid frequency and responding within milliseconds to maintain stability.

Frequency regulation services can create a significant revenue stream for BESS owners. With the rise of intermittent renewable energy sources adding variable amounts of energy to utility grids, transmission system operators are seeking to secure substantial amounts of available power and energy to balance the frequency of the grid. They typically run auctions to secure this energy in advance and are willing to pay premium fees to secure this flexibility. In recent years, this market has grown substantially across the United States.
 

4. Grid Investment Deferral

By providing a buffer between the grid and heavy electrical loads, BESS help reduce immediate demand on the electricity grid during peak times. This helps avoid major grid investments to increase power availability on specific grid connection points. This application is particularly helpful for EV charging point operators to deploy EV chargers quickly and cost-effectively, avoiding the need for extensive and expensive grid upgrades.

As electric vehicles become more prevalent, the need for efficient charging stations, particularly DC fast chargers, is increasing. These chargers, however, require significant power, often more than what local grids can supply, especially in areas with older critical infrastructure or limited capacity. Discover how to develop an electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy.
 

5. Backup Power Supply for Critical Infrastructure

A key advantage of BESS is its ability to provide backup power. The stored energy acts as a reserve that can be accessed during grid failures. When a blackout occurs, the BESS takes over to supply energy instantly, without the startup delays associated with diesel generators.

In off-grid scenarios, BESS is an essential component for maintaining a stable and reliable power supply. By integrating BESS with renewable energy sources and generators, off-grid sites can create a hybrid power system that reduces fuel consumption and extends generator life.

At Socomec, we offer a comprehensive range of outdoor Battery Energy Storage Systems designed to meet a wide variety of project requirements. Our energy storage solutions are engineered for both on-grid and off-grid applications and combine advanced power conversion technologies with LFP battery technology to improve energy resilience, flexibility, and efficiency. Designed for applications such as photovoltaic self-consumption optimization, peak shaving, backup power, and EV charging infrastructure, Socomec’s BESS portfolio helps customers better align energy production and consumption while supporting safer, more scalable energy strategies.

Our product range includes:

SUNSYS HES L UL: Modular Outdoor Energy Storage System – from 50 kVA / 203 kWh to 550 kVA / 1218 kWh. Designed for both on-grid and off-grid applications, SUNSYS HES L UL delivers a safe, modular, and flexible solution for a broad range of commercial and industrial energy storage projects.

SUNSYS HES L SKID UL: All-in-One Plug-and-Play Energy Storage System – from 50 kVA / 203 kWh to 300 kVA / 609 kWh. Delivered fully assembled, factory tested, wired, and ready for use, this compact skid-mounted system enables fast deployment, simplified installation, and easy transport or redeployment.

SUNSYS HES XXL UL: High Power Energy Storage System – from 0.5 MVA / 1.2 MWh to 6 MVA / 24 MWh. This complete outdoor system is designed for high-power on-grid and off-grid applications and is ideally suited to large-scale commercial and industrial installations as well as front-of-the-meter projects.