Lithium-Ion Battery Storage
Helderberg Solar Energy only installs Lithium-Ion batteries for various reasons. We sourced, supply and install only batteries with a 10 year or more warranty. Lithium-Ion Phosphate batteries might seem expensive when compared to lead acid batteries, but this is not true.
A proper scenario comparison will reveal that the purchase costs are very similar and any marginal premium for a LiFePO4 battery is more than compensated for by longer life and a very high efficiency. The high efficiency means that far less energy is wasted and that the solar array can be 30% smaller to achieve the same results.
In general: Because of the high DoD (Depth of Discharge) capability and high efficiency the ampere hour rating of a LiFePO4 battery need only be 35% of a lead acid battery to give the same useful output – this is important when comparing costs between the two technologies.
UPS systems are notorious for the short life span of the typical lead acid batteries they use, especially if the batteries are kept in a high temperature environment.
LiFeP04 cells are much less sensitive to high temperatures and can happily operate up to 45°C with negligible drop in life span or performance. Lithium-Ion is regularly chosen for new installations or as a suitable replacement for lead acid batteries, which have reached the end of their life in a solar PV storage system.
Advantages of Lithium-Ion Batteries:
- Much lesser space required
- Lighter weight
- No gas emissions
- Maintenance free
- Higher efficiency
- Can withstand higher temperature
- Great Depth of Discharge
- Higher cycle life
- Better maintained voltage during the discharge cycle
- Lower lifetime costs
- Lower impact on the environment
- Longer warranty available
The most popular Pylontech range comprises of the US2000C, US3000C and UP5000 48V models.
Pylontech developed their own lithium-Ion phosphate cell to ensure the highest safety value and most promising life cycle.
A self-designed BMS protects the cell from abnormal temperature, current, voltage, SoC and SoH.
Pylontech has forged relationships with many other manufacturers to ensure their products are compatible with a wide range of chargers, offering greater design flexibility.
Some advantages of the Pylontech battery range include:
o More than 6,000 cycles with 80% Depth of Discharge
o Compact and fashionable design for easy rack or cabinet storage
o Delivers up to 5kW for 15 seconds with single module (2.4kWh)
o Modular design gives the end customers the power of choice of capacity
o Compatible with various Inverters
Pylontech developed their own lithium-Ion phosphate cell to ensure the highest safety value and most promising life cycle.
A self-designed BMS protects the cell from abnormal temperature, current, voltage, SoC and SoH.
Pylontech has forged relationships with many other manufacturers to ensure their products are compatible with a wide range of chargers, offering greater design flexibility.
Some advantages of the Pylontech battery range include:
o More than 6,000 cycles with 80% Depth of Discharge
o Compact and fashionable design for easy rack or cabinet storage
o Delivers up to 5kW for 15 seconds with single module (2.4kWh)
o Modular design gives the end customers the power of choice of capacity
o Compatible with various Inverters
BlueNova is a South African company, currently based in Somerset West. The company specializes in the design, manufacture and distribution of high performance ultra‐reliable lithium‐based energy storage solutions.
BlueNova batteries have been designed to be specifically suited to the African environment in the following ways:
- Able to operate at higher ambient temperatures with minimal impact on service lif
- Compatible with inverters and chargers of leading industry manufacturers.
- Assembled with highly durable materials and components throughout.
- Environmentally friendly, with emphasis on recyclability and non‐toxicity.
- Unparalleled safety, even under the most adverse
- Assembled, tested and technically supported
- Easy to install and designed to be 100% maintenance
The presence of Yttrium in the chemistry, a unique addition patented by their supplier, has been proven highly effective in prolonging service life by acting as a buffer under high ambient temperature conditions.
In just 2 years, BlueNova has grown from humble beginnings to having supplied in excess of 5MWh of collective energy storage capacity to clients based in several African countries including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Madagascar and even Mauritius.
Every single battery purchased from BlueNova thus far is still in operation and performing in accordance with their specifications.
BlueNova has also built the largest battery of its kind on the African continent (480kWh).
The Hubble range of Lithium batteries integrates with a wide range of inverters through CAN bus, alternatively the Hubble range of lithium batteries can be used without communications if your inverter supports settings by voltage.
AM Series
The AM Series stands for Any Mount. This gives installers more flexibility to either rack mount in a standard server cabinet or wallmount the batteries.
X Series
The X series is a rack mounted lithium battery. The X series units fit in a standard server rack cabinet to enable high density battery configurations.
S Series
The S Series is a standalone form factor battery. These lithium batteries are cost effective and designed as a drop in lead acid battery replacement.
Hubble Lithium (AM-2) - 51V 5.5KW
• Advanced BMS with current limiting function
• CAN Bus, fully integrates and communicates with leading Inverter brands
• Excellent high temperature performance
• High Cycle Life and Service Life
• RIOT integration ready for cloud monitoring
• 1C High Performance Lithium battery
• High Energy Density and conversion efficiency
• Complete with integrated Battery Management System
• Compatible with most Inverters and chargers
• Low self discharge
• Easy wall mount or shelf rack installation
• Heavy duty side handles for easy handling and mounting on the wall
• Built in protection for over-charge, over-discharge & over-temperature
Lithium To Energy – or LiTE – encompasses the lithium-ion battery technological breakthrough that has transformed our lives, and has given the world a route to energy freedom and environmental recovery. The advanced LiTE range of stationary energy storage products introduced by Freedom Won in 2015 offers, premium, high performance, long life and safe solutions serving needs from residential through to industrial or utility scale storage systems.
The LiTE technology has received continuous innovation and development over the years and remains at the forefront of the market’s energy storage value offering for the respective target industries – see below to learn more about each LiTE range and product.
The Kodak FL5.2 is a high-performance, scalable battery storage module. The modular design allows for excellent flexibility, making it suitable for a broad range of storage applications. Additional batteries can be installed in parallel, allowing for a maximum storage capacity of 20.48kWh. Installation is easy, with a plug and play solution that can save valuable time for installers.
The incredible 1C charge and discharge rate ensure you have the power when it is demanded. Each module has a capacity of 5.12kWh and can parallel up to 12 units for a total of 61.44kWh.
- Installation is easy, with a plug and play solution that can save time when installing.
- 90% DoD – High DoD ensures you get the maximum out of the battery.
- Easy to install – No racks or extra mounting brackets required. Save valuable time on site.
- >6000 Life cycle – perfect for high cycle applications like off-grid or self-consumption systems.
- CAN/RS485 communication – Ensure seamless communication with KODAK and SOLIS range of inverter.
- 98% charge efficiency.
The BL3.6 Kodak battery is a high performance, 3.68kWh, scalable battery module perfect for expanding systems. A Single BL3.6 battery module allows up to 5000W of continuous discharge power. This means only one BL3.6 battery module is required for a 5kW inverter or only two required for a 10kW inverter.
- The battery has up to 6000+ cycles depending on the DoD of the battery.
- 1.5 C industry leading C- rating allows single battery deployments for 5kW inverter systems.
- 3.686 kWhrs capable of 15 units in parallel totaling 55.29 kWhrs.
- RS485 and CAN communication ensures full compatibility with KODAK and Sunsynk.
- Industry leading 95% DOD allowing for more useable capacity from the battery.
- 10 year standard warranty.
- Due to the high discharge power of the BL3.6 Kodak battery, it is highly recommended to use bus bars for the battery connections.
- Suitable for smaller battery banks sustaining higher loads.
