10
ADI | Energy Storage Solutions
Figure 3 illustrates a typical solar system with input-for-input DC
strings, DC-to-AC conversion, energy charging and storage, and battery
management and communications. Analog Devices offers a complete
power, communication, and control interface signal chain solution
for solar PV and energy storage applications. iCoupler isolated gate
driver solutions include the ADuM4135 and ADuM4223/ADuM3223;
iCoupler isolated communication port solutions include the ADM2795E,
ADM2587E, and ADM3054.
1
Solar generation, energy storage, and domestic consumption in a typical 24-hour day.
Table 1: Domestic Energy Storage Strategies
Definition
Minimizes electricity purchases during peak electricity consumption hours, while TOU shifts
purchases to lower rates behind the meter customers. The goal of this strategy is to reduce
the customer's bill.
Minimize the export of electricity generated by behind-the-meter PV systems to maximize
the financial benefits in PV areas where utility rates are high.
Reduce costs when utility companies charge excessively during peak times so customers
can store energy.
This is a more common strategy and is the charging of any storage capable devices to use
when the grid is down or at night time. This is more a backup power strategy, where low
utility charges are available at peak times and there is a low feed-in tariffs.
Domestic Energy Storage Strategy
Bill Management Time of Use
(TOU)
PV Self Consumption
Demand Charge Reduction
Backup Power
RS-485 has several uses, the primary use being remote monitoring of
power generation, power point trackers, and energy storage status
(battery storage). For solar applications such as energy storage
communications is critical, as it alerts the user of power generation
and consumption activities within their solar installation. Several
systems strategies can be installed such as bill management, PV self-
consumption, demand charge reduction, and backup power (Table 1).
Backup power is the most popular, especially in the U.S., because of the
various hurricanes causing havoc in the states of Texas and Florida.
Solar generation, energy storage, and
domestic consumption in a typical 24-hour
day is illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 1
shows the primary reason why systems are
designed for bill management in a solar
system. During nighttime when there is
no irradiation on the solar panel, energy
consumed will be purchased from the grid
where the grids are lowest. As soon as the
sun rises, irradiation appears on the solar
panels, power is generated, and domestic
self-consumption begins where any solar
generation is either used in the household
or is diverted to charge the energy storage
unit. This allows bill costs to be controlled
by reducing the energy drawn from the
grid and using solar-generated energy
where low feed-in tariff areas are available
from utility companies.
RS-485 is the communication application
of choice for PC screen data updates such
as current power, current consumption in
the maximum power point trackers, battery
charge and health, and CO
2
reduction, etc.,
are available, as can be seen in Figure 2.
