Gotion unveils 7MWh BESS as energy density race continues

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Gotion said it has signed ‘sales framework agreements with multiple major energy companies and confirmed cooperation plans for over 7GWh’ of orders.

Gotion said on business networking site LinkedIn that the new product has 40% more energy in the same space as a 5MWh system and therefore a 40% smaller footprint.

Drive to ever more energy-dense solutions

Packing more energy into a smaller footprint has been a key driver of the BESS industry’s push to ever higher energy densities, with 5MWh per 20-foot container now the minimum needed to compete, but it isn’t the only driver.

Larger battery cells have contributed to the trend, while another key motivator has been the cost reductions that more energy-dense products bring. More energy inside the box means less cabling, power conversion system (PCS) technology and balance of plant (BOP) equipment needed relative to the size of the project, significantly reducing costs.

System integrator Fluence recently released a new product which it claimed has an ‘industry-leading’ energy density, although it is an AC block (meaning it has integrated PCS) with a different form factor so it’s not apples for apples. Envision meanwhile has announced an 8MWh, 20-foot DC block.

However, higher energy density has some drawbacks. One often cited is more challenging logistics because at 5MWh and upwards, 20-foot containers become too heavy for some roads and conventional transportation and crane equipment. Special equipment or shipping some modules separately and integrating them on-site is one solution.

Other potential downsides include additional noise and fire safety considerations, but the mitigating technology for both appears to be keeping up with those increases, if not outpacing them.

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has announced a new 8-hour duration BESS set for the Australian market as part of a collaboration with CATL.

In the wake of the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility fire, regional and state-wide California authorities have proposed or passed legislation tightening control of BESS projects.

Australia’s Energy Queensland, a government-owned distribution system operator, has partnered with cloud-based battery analytics provider ACCURE Battery Intelligence to monitor two 8MWh batteries in Queensland.

Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities Company (KU) are proposing to build two 645MW natural gas stations and a 400MW battery energy storage system (BESS).

Developer SMT Energy has secured a US$135 million funding for its 160MW/320MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) located in Houston, Texas.