Socomec launches BESS platforms for C&I and grid storage

Socomec has unveiled two BESS products aimed at C&I applications and grid-scale use cases, as electrification and rising demand for energy flexibility continue to drive storage deployment.

The French energy conversion specialist is expanding its storage portfolio with SmartSys C260 and SmartSys M5000.

The SmartSys C260 is an all-in-one cabinet system integrating power conversion and battery storage. It delivers 125 kVA with 261 kWh of capacity in a compact footprint that Socomec says is half the size of previous-generation systems. Designed for C&I applications, it targets EV charging sites, commercial buildings with onsite renewables, fuel stations, and parking facilities. The system can operate in both grid-connected and off-grid modes and can be deployed in parallel configurations up to 1 MVA/2 MWh.

For larger-scale applications, Socomec is introducing the SmartSys M5000, a containerized solution paired with a medium-voltage conversion skid. The system combines a 5 MWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery container with a skid housing the power conversion system (PCS), control cabinet, switchgear, and transformer, all pre-mounted on a dedicated steel structure.

Targeted at system services and utility-scale energy management, the M5000 is aimed at distribution system operators (DSOs), transmission system operators (TSOs), and independent power producers. Configurations range from 2.5 MVA/5 MWh to 5 MVA/20 MWh.

Élodie Hestin, marketing manager for energy storage solutions at Socomec, told pv magazine France that both the SmartSys C260 and SmartSys M5000 are primarily aimed at the C&I segment, as rising energy costs push industrial users to secure part of their electricity supply. She added that the company also sees growing demand from data centers, a segment it already serves through its UPS business. According to Socomec, storage systems can also partially replace diesel generators in industrial applications.

In an increasingly competitive storage market, Socomec is positioning itself through differentiated system functionality. Both platforms integrate advanced safety features spanning physical protection, cybersecurity, and data control.

The SmartSys range also uses the SoLive Pro BESS monitoring platform, developed with expertise from PowerUp, a company acquired by Socomec. The tool enables real-time performance tracking and optimization actions, which the company says can extend battery lifetime by up to 20%, increase annual availability by 3% to 5%, and raise usable capacity by up to 15%.

Beyond its current systems, Socomec is pursuing deeper vertical integration in the storage value chain. The company has taken a stake in a battery pack-maker in order to internalise more battery integration and energy management system development, aiming to better control costs, strengthen BMS capabilities, and optimise overall system performance.

From pv magazine France