Off-grid and microgrid energy storage solutions

Off-grid and microgrid energy storage solutions:

Building a stable and autonomous foundation for green energy

Introduction

In remote areas without grid coverage, island mining areas with weak grids, or special locations with extremely high requirements for power continuity, a stable and reliable power supply is the lifeline for survival and development. Off-grid and microgrid energy storage solutions intelligently couple energy storage systems with distributed energy sources (such as photovoltaics and wind turbines) and traditional generators to build a local power network that operates independently or can be flexibly switched between on-grid and off-grid. It is not only key to solving the “having or not having electricity” problem, but also a core means to achieve energy self-sufficiency, improve power quality, and reduce long-term energy costs, providing robust power support for people’s livelihoods, industrial and mining production, emergency response, and green communities in remote areas.

Typical application scenario

1. Pure off-grid power supply system: Provides a 100% self-sufficient power supply solution based on “photovoltaic/wind power + energy storage” for remote villages, islands, plateau outposts, field work stations and other areas without public grid coverage, ensuring uninterrupted power supply 24 hours a day.
2. Weak grid enhancement system: In areas at the end of the power grid or in areas with poor power quality, a microgrid is formed by connecting energy storage, which can effectively smooth grid fluctuations, manage voltage sags and frequency deviations, and provide high-quality power to sensitive loads.
3. Multi-energy complementary microgrids: In industrial parks, bases, islands and other scenarios, they integrate multiple energy sources such as photovoltaic, wind power and energy storage, and achieve optimal combination and scheduling through intelligent energy management, so as to maximize the use of renewable energy, ensure power supply reliability and reduce overall energy costs.
4. Photovoltaic-storage-charging integrated independent unit: In locations where grid access is inconvenient or too costly, such as highway service areas, remote scenic spots, and temporary construction sites, an integrated independent power supply unit with its own photovoltaic, energy storage, and charging piles is built to achieve self-generation and self-consumption of green energy.

Figure 1. Off-grid/microgrid applications

Customer Case Studies

Case 1: Microgrid Energy Storage System for Backup Power of Communication Base Stations

• Customer pain points : Communication base stations in remote areas traditionally rely on diesel generators as backup power, which suffers from high fuel transportation costs, frequent maintenance, significant noise pollution, and unreliable generator starting in low temperatures or severe weather. Especially during critical periods such as forest fire prevention, the need to ensure continuous power supply to base stations and prevent communication interruptions is extremely urgent.
• Solution : An off-grid backup microgrid system with energy storage as the core and photovoltaic as a supplement was built, completely replacing the original diesel generator.
• Operating modes : The system mainly operates in two modes: grid-connected and off-grid. When the mains power is normal, the energy storage system is in standby mode or performs peak shaving and valley filling as needed; once the mains power is interrupted, the system can seamlessly switch to off-grid mode, where the energy storage battery independently supplies power to the base station load.
• Implementation Results : The project successfully eliminated the diesel generator, achieving zero emissions, quiet operation, and unattended operation of the backup power supply.

 Figure 2. Microgrid energy storage system for backup power of communication base stations

Case Study 2: Off-grid microgrid system combining wind and solar power with energy storage

• Customer pain points : A stable and reliable power supply is needed to meet daily lighting, communication, and equipment operation needs. Single wind or solar power sources are greatly affected by weather, resulting in highly unstable output and an inability to guarantee continuous power supply.
• Solution : A wind-solar-storage complementary off-grid microgrid system consisting of a 5kWp photovoltaic array, a 5kW wind turbine, and a 30kWh energy storage system was deployed. The energy storage system acts as an energy hub and stabilizer, employing an intelligent controller with a wide voltage input range to efficiently manage the energy input from the photovoltaic array and wind turbine, and to handle approximately 2.5kW of daily load.
• Operating mode : The energy management system coordinates wind, solar, and energy storage in real time. When wind and solar resources are abundant, power generation prioritizes supplying the load, and excess energy is stored in the batteries; when wind and solar resources are insufficient, the batteries discharge to make up for the shortfall; in continuous cloudy, rainy, and windless weather, the energy storage batteries can independently support the load for several days.
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  Implementation results : Wind-solar hybridization has significantly improved the overall stability and self-sufficiency of energy supply, with almost zero operating costs and no noise or air pollution, creating a green, low-carbon, and reliable model of independent power supply.
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Figure 3. Off-grid microgrid system combining wind and solar power with energy storage

Case 3: Photovoltaic + Energy Storage Off-Grid Microgrid System

• Customer pain point : They want to utilize the abundant local solar energy resources.
• Solution : A 5kWp photovoltaic + 30kWh energy storage off-grid power supply system was deployed.
• Operating Mode : The system operates entirely off-grid. During the day, photovoltaic power generation meets real-time load demands, and surplus energy is stored in a large-capacity energy storage battery. At night or on cloudy/rainy days, all electricity is supplied entirely by the energy storage battery. The system’s design capacity fully considers users’ daily power consumption and the necessary backup power days, ensuring normal power supply even during several consecutive cloudy/rainy days.
• Implementation results : The system operates stably, is easy to maintain, and achieves “self-sufficiency” in electricity. The cost of electricity is almost zero after the initial investment, making it an economical and efficient solution to the power supply problem in areas without electricity.

Figure 4. Photovoltaic + Energy Storage Off-Grid Microgrid System

Conclusion

Off-grid and microgrid energy storage solutions are crucial for achieving energy self-sufficiency and ensuring stable power supply in areas without or with weak grids. With advancements in renewable energy and energy storage technologies, building clean, reliable, and independent power systems has become a clear trend. We will continue to provide efficient and stable products and solutions, offering robust energy support for various off-grid and microgrid scenarios.