A DC Nanogrid is a DC grid in a small scaled system. The DC-Nanogrid can be composed of combinations of three fundamental components:

• Ferroamp’s EnergyHub – A Bi-directional 3-phase Inverter which is the link between the DC Nanogrid and the 3-phase, unbalance AC grid.

• Ferroamp’s Energy Storage Optimizer (ESO) – Which is the link between Ferroamp’s Energy Storage (or any other chemistry that holds and certain voltage range) and the DC Nanogrid.

• Ferroamp’s Solar String Optimizer (SSO) – Which is the link between the PV strings and the DC Nanogrid. Power fed into the DC Nanogrid is based on Max Power Point (MPP) of the string.

Each of the above components functions as an independent node/terminal within the DC-Nanogrid. Ferroamp’s DC nanogrid is basically composed of an arbitrary combination of terminals of various types, connected in parallel over the DC-bus. In addition, other terminals can also be connected over the same link, such as DC loads, via controllable switch-gear.

By utilizing a DC Nanogrid Ferroamp’s system can be optimized in that fashion that the devices communicate and share energy between each other with much fewer losses compared to a traditional AC grid. The DC Nanogrid also makes it possible to control the flow of energy, which in another sense it is the first real SMART GRID.

For example, Ferroamp’s DC Nanogrid can utilize the Solar Energy directly from the solar string optimizer and feed the batteries with power without converting the DC power into AC first. This will decrease the transform losses by a huge factor.

With the power to controlling power the DC Nanogrid is really the first real smart grid in the world. By including the Ferroamp’s EnergyHub system, with the DC Nanogrid, in an instant your energy system became smarter and more flexible.

Solar energy (PV, Photovoltaics) will be a major source of electricity in the future. In many places, solar energy has already reached grid parity; the cost of producing electricity with solar cells is equal to the price of buying electricity from the grid. Strong growth in the past years has proven the vast potential of solar technologies and made solar a mainstream technology competing with nuclear, gas and coal. However, there are limits to deploying solar power using current technology and models. Oversupply of electricity in the grid during times of peak production and weak demand are already visible and limiting further installation of PV power plants. One of the major problems with renewable sources such as solar and wind are their intermittent characteristics. As the share of renewables increase, they can no longer be balanced by for example hydroelectric or gas fired power plants. This in turns causes voltage and frequency instabilities, large price volatility and even power outages.

The intermittent generation from PV compared with the stable output from conventional power plants such as nuclear or coal fired. The intermittent production causes problems such as voltage and frequency instability, large price volatility, power outages etc. The Smart Grid is about transforming the intermittent generation into a stable power system. Energy storage will be a key component in the Smart Grid.

To enable wider penetration of solar energy, the intermittent generation must be balanced by energy storage and flexible demand. Also, further cost reductions and new business models are required to improve the business case particularly in regions where the electricity price is low or solar radiation is limited.

Both grid stability and cost reductions can be achieved with local energy storage in combination with PV systems. Local energy storage brings several benefits to consumers such as increased self-consumption of PV electricity, possibility to buy off-peak electricity, reduced grid fees and back-up power. In addition, distributed energy storage can be used by grid companies to reduce production and consumption peaks, provide frequency support, reduce distribution losses, and by balance responsible parties to reduce balancing costs due to forecast errors.

Ferroamps EnergyHub merges the benefits for consumers and grid companies in a solution where solar cells and energy storage is combined into a single unit.