In the news release, Arctech's SkyWings Empowers the World's Largest Single-Capacity PV Power Plant Built on Coal Mining Subsidence Area, issued 18-Nov-2024 by Arctech over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that the first paragraph, first sentence, should read "Arctech" rather than "Arrctech" as originally issued inadvertently. The complete, corrected release follows:
Arctech's SkyWings Empowers the World's Largest Single-Capacity PV Power Plant Built on Coal Mining Subsidence Area
ORDOS, China, Nov. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arctech, the world's solar tracking and racking solutions provider, announced that its 1P single-axis dual-row solar tracking system SkyWings has facilitated the on-time grid connection of Mengxi Blue Ocean Photovoltaic Power Station, the world's largest single-capacity solar plant built on coal mining subsidence area. By adopting SkyWings, the plant's annual average grid-connected capacity is enhanced by an impressive 7.41%, greatly improving the ROI.
SkyWings, equipped with Arctech's synchronous multi-point drive mechanism and innovative torque tube design with exceptional bending and torsion resistance, can maintain normal operation even in wind speeds of up to 18m/s (level 8 gale), resulting in an increase of up to 2% in power generation. Powered by its second-generation AI algorithm, SkyWings can calculate the optimum tracker tilt across various terrains and environments, enabling real-time shading avoidance and leading to an additional energy generation boost of up to 8%.
Moreover, to better accommodate the irregular and undulating topography of the plant, Arctech provided a customized SkyWings solar tracking solution that incorporates terrain following capabilities. The tolerance for undulation between adjacent rows is set at 20% in the east-west direction and 15% in the north-south direction. Additionally, Arctech tailored the design of post height to maximize space beneath the solar panels, facilitating agrivoltaics practices. Consequently, farmers are now able to cultivate crops and raise livestock underneath solar panels, achieving both economic and ecological benefits.
To mitigate pollution and ecological damage to the grassland during both construction and operation, SkyWings employs one-piece H-shaped steel piles, while the construction team utilizes on-site static pressure construction. Moreover, following 25 years of safe power station operation, approximately 90% of the steel pipe piles of SkyWings remain suitable for recycling purposes, thereby reducing waste discharge by around 60% compared to traditional concrete piles.
Upon operation, this plant is expected to generate 5.7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, sufficient to power two million households. Each year, it can save 1.71 million tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 4.7 million tons — equivalent to planting 62,700 hectares of trees.
The utilization of Arctech's SkyWings in this plant further demonstrates its versatility as a solar tracking system capable of adapting to diverse scenarios, including agrivoltaics, irregular terrains, coal mining subsidence areas, and more.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Arctech's SkyWings Empowers the World's Largest Single-Capacity PV Power Plant Built on Coal Mining Subsidence Area
HEFEI, China, Nov. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In June 2024, Sungrow took the bold step of deliberately combusting the 10MWh of its PowerTitan 1.0 liquid-cooled battery energy storage system (BESS), becoming the first company globally to conduct a large-scale burn test on an energy storage system. Recently, the company invested approximately 4.23 million USD[1] to perform the world's largest and longest burn test on 20MWh of its PowerTitan 2.0 liquid-cooled BESS.
These two burn tests conducted within six months underscore Sungrow's commitment to technological innovation, its relentless pursuit of product quality, and its unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety of both personnel and assets at energy storage plants. Meanwhile, the test represents Sungrow's steadfast commitment to upholding the safety baseline for the energy storage industry.
The 20MWh burn test replicated a real-world power plant fire scenario, completed under the oversight of DNV (Det Norske Veritas) experts and over 100 clients, and delivered results exceeding expectations. The results were clear: there was no fire propagation during the thermal runaway incident. In contrast to conventional industry burn tests, this test was a significant upgrade in terms of combustion duration, testing conditions, and safety standards, establishing a new benchmark for safety through rigorous and extreme testing.
Challenge 1:
Withstanding Over 25 Hours of Combustion, Proving Superior System Protection Capability
Unlike common industry-standard combustion tests within 4 to 8 hours, this challenging test was designed to sustain for 3 to 6 times longer. After continuous burning within 25 hours and 43 minutes, the container structure of the thermal runaway unit remained intact, and the system could still be safely hoisted for removal. Importantly, the fire did not spread beyond the unit, demonstrating the PowerTitan 2.0's advanced explosion venting, flame retardancy, and impact resistance capabilities.
Challenge 2:
Enduring Temperatures High Enough to Melt Steel, Verifying Thermal Runaway Containment
To simulate extreme operating conditions, four fully-charged energy storage units were arrayed nearby -- containers A and B were only 15 cm apart, which is the absolute minimum distance permitted in the industry (most power plant containers are spaced 3 meters apart). Despite the flames from container A reaching 1,385°C -- temperatures high enough to melt steel -- the fire did not spread to the neighboring container B, which maintained a safe temperature of 40°C. This result validates the PowerTitan 2.0's superior fire insulation ability, even when the units are placed in extremely close quarters.
Challenge 3:
Testing Fire Resistance and Flame Retardancy Without Firefighting Protection
In this phase of the test, all firefighting systems for the BESS containers were intentionally shut off, leaving the units unprotected and significantly increasing the safety risks. Despite this, the PowerTitan 2.0 performed admirably, with all four storage container doors remaining intact and not burned through. The fire was effectively contained within the container, and the damage was limited. This demonstrated the BESS's ability to autonomously respond to extreme fire situations, highlighting the robust passive fire protection design that minimizes risk.
Safety is the cornerstone of the energy storage industry. Sungrow's two consecutive, high-investment, extremely large-scale burn tests on the PowerTitan series reflect the company's unwavering commitment to safeguarding personnel, assets, and operations at power plants, as well as its dedication to reinforcing the safety standards for the entire industry. The success of this rigorous and high-standard combustion test sets a new benchmark for safety in the energy storage sector, providing valuable real-world evidence for future safety protocols.
[1] 30 million CNY (approximately 4.23 million USD at an exchange rate of 7.1 CNY to 1 USD).
About Sungrow
Sungrow, a global leader in renewable energy technology, has pioneered sustainable power solutions for over 27 years. As of June 2024, Sungrow has installed 605 GW of power electronic converters worldwide. The Company is recognized as the world's No. 1 on PV inverter shipments (S&P Global Commodity Insights) and the most bankable Asian energy storage company (BloombergNEF). Its innovations power clean energy projects in over 170 countries, supported by a network of 490 service outlets guaranteeing excellent customer experience. At Sungrow, we're committed to bridging to a sustainable future through cutting-edge technology and unparalleled service. For more information, please visit www.sungrowpower.com.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Setting a New Safety Benchmark for the Industry: Sungrow Achieves Success in the World's Largest BESS Fire Test
