Battery energy storage systems (BESS) support the deployment of renewable power generation while improving the overall efficiency, reliability, and economic viability of these technologies. Grid-scale batteries are essential to managing the impact of renewable energy on the power grid and handling variations in supply and demand to keep the grid stable and reliable.
However introducing new technologies to the grid also introduces more complexity, which in turn creates new challenges for the Operations & Maintenance department. Going forward, the mix of traditional fossil fuel assets, renewable generating sources, and BESS facilities will require greater coordination, oversight, and responsiveness.
Touchless™ Monitoring solutions leverage visual and thermal sensors to provide a continuous, 24/7 view of high-value assets and equipment at BESS facilities.
By deploying these sensors throughout the facility, utilities can monitor a wide range of assets on both the AC and DC side of the BESS, including battery module enclosures, inverters, transformers, switchgear, relays, circuit breakers, cabling, and ancillary systems.
To learn more about the challenges that utilities face when maintaining BESS facilities and the benefits of Touchless™ Monitoring solutions, download our latest white paper (registration required): Continuous Monitoring For Battery Energy Storage Systems.
Common Failures At BESS Facilities
Undetected faults or issues at BESS facilities can result in catastrophic failures that are more serious than at a typical substation, especially since BESS facilities deal with highly combustible and explosive materials.
On the AC side, common failures can include transmission line faults, transformer faults, and other similar issues with equipment. More significantly, and potentially more serious, issues can occur on the DC side of the BESS which result in thermal runaway or explosions.
Many of the most common issues produce thermal anomalies or temperature differentials that can be detected by thermal sensors before failure occurs.
Transformers, for example, often fail due to overloading, insulation breakdown, short circuits, or cooling system failures, all of which create heat at the source of the fault. Similarly, elevated temperatures at grounding points, joints, terminations, or cable runs can indicate loose connections, or insulation breakdown.
One analysis of BESS failures found that integration-related failures were among the most common attributable causes. The majority of these incidents related to a failure of the elements of the BESS, including the cabling, enclosures, power conversion systems, transformers, or liquid cooling systems.
Touchless™ Monitoring Solutions for Battery Energy Storage Systems
Touchless™ Monitoring solutions provide utilities with continuous, 24/7 monitoring of high-value and critical BESS assets. The system has been designed and built to operate within the challenging conditions found in electric utility infrastructure, with sensors rated to withstand high levels of electromagnetic interference, severe weather, extreme temperatures, voltage surges, and interruptions.
Thermal sensors provide early detection and warning of sudden or prolonged temperature anomalies outside of a set range, while visual sensors allow operators to remotely view the condition of the asset, check gauges, verify the issue, and assess safety risks before dispatching a crew to the site. Grid edge security with alarm management integrated into the overall solution ensures valuable assets can be operated safely and reliably in remote areas.
Advanced visualization software automatically alerts the operator when a rule is violated through email or alarms connected to the SCADA system. Once an alarm is received, the Operations & Maintenance team can diagnose the issue and prioritize a response based on the actual condition of the asset.
Compared to physical inspections, Touchless™ Monitoring solutions reduce operations and maintenance costs, improve reliability and performance, enhance worker safety, and mitigate the risk of catastrophic equipment failure.
Successfully Deploying Touchless™ Monitoring Solutions
Touchless™ Monitoring solutions are easy to procure, install, and use at BESS facilities. But like any investment in technology, utilities should take a strategic approach that ensures a successful implementation and a positive return on investment.
Work closely with the vendor to determine the goals of the project and how data from the sensors will be incorporated into the utility’s overall maintenance strategy. Determine what assets need to be monitored and where sensors need to be installed, and understand how the new solutions integrate with existing systems and equipment. Finally, ensure users are trained to leverage the data and implement a Condition-Based Maintenance strategy.
Improving Operations & Maintenance for Battery Energy Storage Systems
Physical inspections are no longer enough to ensure the health and performance of critical BESS and renewable generation assets. The ability to store power during periods of excess production and discharge it during peak demand means utility-scale BESS will play a critical role in the transition toward renewable electricity.
A Touchless™ Monitoring solution that leverages visual and thermal sensors provides continuous, 24/7 monitoring. With greater visibility, utilities can transition toward a Condition-Based Maintenance strategy that reduces operation and maintenance costs, improves reliability, enhances safety and security, and mitigates the risk of catastrophic equipment failure.
To learn more, download our latest white paper: Continuous Monitoring For Battery Energy Storage Systems.