US Navy to receive ZBB EnerSystem for microgrid applications

ZBB Energy has been awarded a contract by the US Navy Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, San Diego (FISCSD) to provide 1000kWh/500kW-rated energy storage system for use in a microgrid application.

The contract follows previously-awarded contract to supply equipment and services to accelerate transitions of new technology, while the work is being supported by the US Office of Naval Research-Technology Insertion Program for Savings (ONR-TIPS).

Under the recent contract, ZBB Energy will deliver EnerSystem which will undergo tests and certified to maintain power quality and perform load management for off-peak power produced from the wind turbine and diesel electric power delivery system.

Tests will be conducted at the US Navy facility on San Nicolas Island with large-scale renewable sources along with actual load management and generator plant control schemes in a microgrid application.

The EnerSystem features ZBB’s EnerSection Power & Energy Control Center and 20 ZBB EnerStore Zinc Bromide flow battery modules.

ZBB Energy president and CEO Eric Apfelbach said, “This application is a great example of how cost-effective power electronics and storage will deliver key integration, management and fuel saving benefits to the Department of Defense (DoD).”

The navy will test the ZBB EnerSystem to minimise diesel gen set runtime in favour of power generated from wind turbines and future photovoltaic (PV) arrays in an ongoing operational mode, while focusing on power control for microgrid stability, quality, and load levelling needs on the base.