The expansion of renewable energies (RE) places high demands on the development of efficient storage and buffer technologies. Redox flow batteries, especially those based on organic materials, offer a scalable and non-combustible solution for energy storage. However, in order to leverage their full potential in both the storage and supply of energy, the use of a comprehensive and integrated energy management platform is essential.
The customer of Novatec Consulting GmbH, a well-known energy storage manufacturer, was also faced with this challenge. With Novatec’s support, the company was able to optimize the operation of its batteries in the field and offer its customers innovative, energy-related business models based on the new technology. This resulted in a holistic product-service system.
The challenge: Efficient concepts for using and storing renewable energies
The storage and buffer technologies that are becoming increasingly important in the course of the energy transition form an ever-growing, distributed system of technologically complex assets. At the same time, these assets should be scalable for different scenarios and operated as efficiently as possible. Redox flow batteries in particular are used in larger projects, such as wind or PV parks, and are intended to buffer large amounts of energy. As a result, they quickly become part of the critical infrastructure. These are subject to additional legal requirements, such as strict security and reliability requirements.
Operators require a comprehensive solution that not only enables the monitoring and operation of the storage system, but also the integration and monitoring of adjacent local systems via open interfaces or measuring devices. This also includes the option of actively influencing the storage system. Key use cases include direct and forecast-based trading of capacities on the electricity market, marketing via direct marketers, peak shaving and the optimization of internal consumption.
The comprehensive analysis and planning of the business cases requires a deep understanding of the technical, business and domain-specific aspects of the energy management platform. The energy storage manufacturer has commissioned Novatec for this joint development.
The solution: Cloud platform for condition monitoring and data-driven optimization
Novatec successfully assisted the client in developing a comprehensive data and IoT platform strategy and creating a phased implementation plan. This also included the careful evaluation and selection of the technology landscape to ensure a robust and scalable platform. A central component of the solution is the cloud infrastructure based on Microsoft Azure. The implementation was iterative and application-oriented to enable rapid customer feedback. The platform was also designed for processing large volumes of data.
Implementing the cloud infrastructure in the Azure ecosystem offers a high degree of flexibility. This flexibility is crucial in order to keep pace with the dynamic requirements of the energy sector and to support future developments and expansions. In addition, the Azure Cloud offers high availability and security features, which is particularly important for systems that are classified as critical infrastructure.
The implemented data architecture as a “single source of truth” enables significant optimization of battery operation. This enables both the control and parameterization of individual storage units as well as entire storage groups.
This functionality is crucial for optimizing the performance of the batteries, maximizing their service life and reducing operating costs at the same time. In addition, continuous monitoring and targeted access to the batteries contribute significantly to increasing their availability.
The platform enables the central management and optimization of numerous batteries at different locations, which makes it possible to market large capacities more easily and comprehensively. This allows the customer to effectively market the capacities of their own and third-party batteries as part of an “Energy-as-a-Service” model. This opens up additional revenue streams and maximizes opportunities as a result of the platform-based approach.
The result: Expanding business models and increasing operational transparency
The data and IoT-based energy management platform developed with Novatec has opened up new capabilities and opportunities for the customer. The data-driven optimization of battery usage enables efficient and predictive utilization of storage systems. Based on this platform, the customer was able to significantly increase the added value of their storage systems, create a comprehensive, holistic offering, and continue to develop it in a future-oriented manner.
Smart Products
We combine our IoT expertise, software engineering and strategic methodology to successfully implement your smart products. From brainstorming, business model development and agile project management to secure data transfer and platform selection, we offer comprehensive support. Our solutions create new digital opportunities for your products, thereby increasing their attractiveness and added value for both users and providers.
With our experience in the energy sector, we accompany you on your individual path to innovative, future-proof products.
Novatec Consulting GmbH
Novatec is an independent, owner-managed IT specialist with 300 IT experts at nine locations. We have been guiding our customers into the digital future for almost 30 years. We advise you from the strategic concept to the actual application. This starts with the requirements analysis, leads to recommendations regarding architecture and processes and does not end with agile software development. We also impart our know-how in training courses and customer-specific training sessions.
