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Project Title: Improved Inverter Technology for Distributed Energy Storage
Gaia Power Technologies (Peekskill, NY) and Advanced Energy Conversion (Malta, NY)
BACKGROUND
The PowerTower, the primary product of the Contractor, Gaia Power Technologies, is a turnkey energy storage and management system that has been marketed as a battery-based solution for backup power, renewable integration, and demand reduction markets. The PowerTower's has six requirements for the installed inverter
- Conversion of DC into AC for utility-interactive operation
- Conversion of DC into AC for utility-independent (stand-alone) operation
- Conversion of AC into DC for battery charging
- The ability to accept AC power from independent inputs
- Support of different voltage levels for residential and commercial applications and
- Support of different power levels through paralleling comparable units
While commercial inverters currently on the market may satisfy some of these requirements, they do not meet them all. In addition, existing commercial inverters have features that are redundant to those of the PowerTower’s embedded controller. As such, the contractor has identified the need for an inverter that can operate either in parallel or in series while not internalizing control algorithms, and at a reduced cost from their current inverter. To address this, the Contractor has teamed with Advanced Energy Conversion (AEC) to develop an inverter technology that will tackle the shortcomings of their current inverter, while driving toward the inverter cost target.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this project is to develop an inverter technology for incorporation into the PowerTower. This inverter will have enhanced features from the inverter currently used in the PowerTower, will meet the six requirements identified above, and is expected to be less expensive as well.
DESCRIPTION
This project will cover hardware design of the inverter, software design of the controls, prototype build, test and evaluation, design revision, production tooling and preliminary production, as well as compliance certification.
BENEFITS
Successful development of the inverter technology will allow for increased penetration of the PowerTower at a reduced cost to customers. The PowerTower displaces the need for generators which require propane, natural gas, gasoline, or diesel fuel in order to run. The emissions for generators are also displaced. Increases in sales of the Power Tower would benefit NYS economically in two ways as Gaia would need to expand their staff, and AEC would need to as well in order to maintain supply of the inverters.
SCHEDULE AND STATUS
The 16 month project has been underway since November 2007, and is about 20% complete. The contractor has finished Preliminary design, and is moving forward on system details of electrical, mechanical, and software design. Prototyping and testing are forthcoming.
STAFF CONTACT
Sarah Osgood
Project Manager
Ext. 3301
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