Wärtsilä adds new high-density, AC block ESS to portfolio

Finland-headquartered global energy services group Wärtsilä has launched a high-density BESS that integrates both the battery and power conversion system (PCS) inside. The potential of such containerized “AC blocks” for energy storage use was touted as a big topic for exploration for 2024 according to a blogpost published by analyst S&P Global in November 2023.

The Quantum3 BESS is the latest product to join Wärtsilä’s established Quantum battery energy storage product portfolio. It is aimed at grid-scale energy storage customers. The system is housed in a 20-foot ISO container with single-side access. It incorporates high-end design features such as optimized energy density and rack-level control, back-to-back layout, enhanced fire safety and cybersecurity features, efficient onsite deployment, low noise levels, and a low-global-warming-potential cooling system. It has also been designed to be suitable for global shipping.

“These are features we have worked extremely hard on and are very proud of,” said Andrew Tang, vice-president of energy storage and optimization at Wärtsilä Energy. “We have a proven track record of safe and reliable delivery worldwide. Quantum3 will help to further strengthen confidence among customers, local communities, and first responders that Wärtsilä’s systems will stand the test of time.”

Quantum3 includes some other established products from the company’s product line, such as its proprietary battery management system (BMS), which was developed in the United States. It is powered by a combination of string inverters and Wärtsilä’s energy management system, the GEMS Digital Energy Platform. It uses these technologies to leverage energy supply during times of high energy cost to significantly reduce operating costs and meet ancillary service demands for customers. GEMS streamlines the system’s controls from BMS to energy management system to enhance performance and reduce downtime. 

In August 2024, pv magazine Australia reported that Wärtsilä upgraded the GEMs platform in Australia where it has several project sites. In total, the company operates in 79 countries around the world.

From pv magazine Australia.