BYD has won a multi-million-dollar contract to supply 170-MW solar modules for PV power plant projects in the U.S., the company announced at the Solar Power International 2017 convention in Las Vegas, September 10-13. The deal is BYD’s largest single solar module order in the North American marketplace. In addition, BYD also revealed plans to launch its high-voltage B-Box home energy storage system (ESS) in the U.S. later this year.
BYD will supply 170-MW solar modules to NextEra Energy, a US-based renewable energy project developer. BYD completed several rounds of quality and performance tests to win the contract.
Speaking at the Solar Power International convention, Tom Zhao, managing director of BYD Solar Division, described how the development of BYD’s integrated PV and energy storage program, especially the commercial operation of the world’s first integrated PV and energy storage project in the UK, helped set the stage for the company’s recent breakthrough in the U.S.
“The U.K. project provided real proof that solar can provide power comparable with conventional energy sources,” Tom Zhao said. “BYD not only successfully enables the commercial operation of solar power we also are proactively exploring possibilities in wind power.”
Since its installation a year ago, BYD’s energy storage system powering the 60-MWh project in the UK has operated smoothly, responding quickly to the grid’s demand, matching over 99 percent of aggregate demand with five to six cycles every day. This frequency regulation project is the biggest of its kind in the U.K.
Tom Zhao added that BYD is also in discussions with several global new energy companies about introducing EV-charging infrastructure and other solutions to help create a zero-emission closed loop system, from power generation to energy storage for sustainable consumption.
Also in Las Vegas, BYD announced that the world’s first installation of its high-voltage B-Box energy storage system had been completed. The battery system was installed in Germany, and employed nine battery modules for a combined capacity of 11.52 KWh. Thanks to its modular design, the capacity of the B-Box system can be further expanded as required. Up to five systems in total can be connected in parallel.
Launched earlier this year in Europe and Australia, BYD’s B-Box is ideal for households to store the output of a rooftop solar system for use in the evening when lights, TVs, computers, kitchen appliances, and air-conditioning demand tends to rise. By doing this, the B-Box can minimize the amount of solar energy sent back to the grid, and negate the impact of costly peak time electricity tariffs, depending on location and utility tariff structure.
Following its introduction, the B-Box has received industry recognition, including being named one of the Top 10 International Power Storage Systems in the ees (Electrical Energy Storage) Award for 2017.
Looking to capitalize on B-Box’s success, BYD plans to introduce the device in the US later this year, targeting east and west coast states, as well as Hawaii, where conventional electricity costs are high, and grid constraints make storage applications attractive.
