SolGrid Testing Platform aims to test and characterize full-scale electrical energy storage systems, photovoltaic systems with grid integration and energy management.
- Objectives -
The SolGrid – Experimental grid for testing photovoltaic and electrical energy storage systems, is an advanced network for testing and characterizing full-scale electrical energy storage systems, photovoltaic systems with grid integration and energy management. This grid is equipped with a vanadium redox flow battery (60 kWh), lithium-ion battery (9.8 kWh), sodium-nickel battery (7.6 kWh), modular lithium-ion 2nd life batteries (6 kWh) (portable), 2nd life Lithium Ion battery (18 kWh) stationary, Carbon-based Hybrid Supercapacitors, photovoltaic generation system with 4 technologies (80 kWp), smart lamp Post with electric vehicle charging and energy monitoring and control systems precision.
The SolGrid has a real-time control and management system with in-house developed software, datalogging and data backup, an uninterruptible power supply system (15kVA) and a high-speed communication network. SolGrid is also capable of operating as an isolated system (off-grid) and can be operated remotely (operation, programming and testing).
Applied Research
Content in Preparation
Industrial services
Testing of components, product development, standardization.
Capacity building
Support to post-graduates studies, technical training, site visits.
- Technologies -
PV Technologies
Photovoltaic System with Solar Tracking on an Axis, connected to the Microgrid
In 2023, the Renewable Energy Chair installed a photovoltaic infrastructure with solar tracking on an N-S axis, connected to the microgrid.
The first row consists of 3 strings of Longi Hi-MO monocrystalline modules. Each of these strings has 17 modules, making a total of 51 modules and 22.7 kWp installed.
The second row consists of 3 strings of Longi Hi-MO bifacial modules. Each of these strings has 17 modules, making a total of 51 modules and 22.7 kWp installed.
The third row consists of 3 strings of LG monocrystalline modules. Each string is made up of 18 modules, making a total of 54 modules and 19.4 kWp installed.
The fourth and last row consists of 3 strings of LG bifacial modules. Each string has 17 modules, making a total of 51 modules and 20.9 kWp.
The 207 installed modules, with a power of 85.7 kWp, are connected to 4 inverters, two of which are from the SMA brand and the rest from the Ingeteam brand.
Battery Technologies
Vanadium Redox Flow Battery:
Energy capacity: 60 kWh (nominal)
Operating voltage: Up to 60 VDC
Continuous DIscharge current: 5.0 kW (nominal) / 7.0 kW (peak)
Cycle lifetime: +10000 cycles
Operating temperature: ~25ºC
Theoretical depht of discharge: 100%
Sodium-Nickel Chloride Battery:
Energy capacity: 7.6 kWh (C4 to 42V)
Nominal capacity: 160 Ah (C4 to 42V)
Nominal voltage: 48 V
Voltage range: ~ 40 to 60 V
Max Discharge Current: 120 A
Ambient operation temperature: -20 to 60ºC
Internal operating temperature: 265ºC and 350ºC
Warm-up duration: 14h for heating with power consumption of 380 W
Lithium-Ion Battery:
Energy capacity: 9.8 kWh = 189 Ah (nominal) / 8.8 kWh (usable)
Operating voltage: ~ 42 to 58.7 VDC
Maximum current: 110 A at 42 V
Power: 3.3 kW (standard) / 5.0 (maximum) / 7.0 (peak 3.0 sec)
Cycle lifetime: 6000 cycles (90% DOD); 1000 cycles (80% DOD)
Operation temperature: -10ºC to +40ºC
Second-Life Lithium-Ion Battery (portable):
Energy capacity: 2.346 kWh (nominal) / 1.837 kWh (usable)
Nominal / charge voltage: 51.8 V / 57.68 V
Nominal capacity: 45.3 Ah
Nominal / maximum discharge current: 50 A / 153 A
Nominal / maximum power: 2.6 kW / 7.9 kW
Nominal charge / discharge power: 1.4 kW / 2.0 kW
Operating voltage: ~ 42 até 57.68 VDC
Cycle lifetime: 1500 cycles
Cooling: Natural convection
Minimum / maximum charge temperature: 0ºC / 45ºC
Minimum / maximum discharge temperature: -10ºC / 45ºC
Second-Life Lithium-Ion Battery (stationary):
Energy capacity: 18 kWh (nominal)
Battery voltage nominal: 48.1 V
Maximum charge voltage: 53.3 V
Minimum battery voltage: 42.9 V
Minimum charge temperature: -5ºC
Maximum temperature: 40ºC
Operation temperature: -10ºC to +40ºC
Operation C-rates: 0.5 C to 1 C
Cooling: Natural convection
Hybrid Carbon Based Supercapacitors:
Manufacturer: Toomen New Energy
Model / Type: TMDD4900 / 55
Maximum current: 540 A
Power density: >1.500 W/Kg
Max charging voltage: 57.2 V
Cut-off tension: 40.0 V
Energy capacity: 45 Ah / 2.61 kWh (nominal) / 2.22 kWh (rated)
Charge-discharge C-rate: 12 C (max. Power 29.7 kW)
Flow Battery testing software developed in-house:
Processor: AMD Threadripper Pro 3955WX (8 MB cache, maximum boost up to 4.30 GHz)
Operating system: Windows 10 Pro 64
Operating system language: Portuguese / English
Motherboard: MB AMD Castle Peak
Memory: RDIMM de 32 GB DDR4 3.200 MHz
Smart Lamp Post with Charging for electric vehicles:
This technology is in the process of being installed and it will be possible to find a station at the Colégio Luis antónio as well as at the Mitra in Evora university. Each SmartLampPost has 2 electrical sockets of 22KVA.
- Projects -
AGROVOLTEP: Promote cross-border Spain-Portugal AGROVOLTAIC, improving public policies and strengthening technical capacities and the involvement of the whole value chain
Funding: INTERREG POCTEP
Duration: 01/01/2023 – 31/12/2026
Status: Ongoing
Agerar+: Renewable Energy Storage and Management for the promotion of small and medium-sized prosumers’ participation in smart grids
Funding: INTERREG POCTEP
Duration: 01/09/2023 – 31/08/2026
Status: Ongoing
NEXOMAR: CROSS-BORDER LINK TO BOOST MARITIME LOGISTICS ACTIVITY
Funding: INTERREG POCTEP
Duration: 01/09/2023 – 31/12/2025
Status: Ongoing
NEXUS: Transição Verde e Digital para Transportes, Logística e Mobilidade
Funding: PRR Agendas Mobilizadoras
Duration: 01/01/2022 – 31/12/2025
Status: Ongoing
NGS: New Generation Storage
Funding: PRR Agendas Mobilizadoras
Duration: 01/01/2022 – 31/12/2025
Status: Ongoing
ATE: Aliança para a transição Energética
Funding: PRR Agendas Mobilizadoras
Duration: 01/01/2022 – 31/12/2025
Status: Ongoing
AURORA: Achieving a new European Energy awareness Demonstrator
Funding: “Green Deal” Call LC-GD-10-3-202
Duration: 01/12/2021 – 31/05/2025
Status: Ongoing
POCITYF: A POsitive Energy CITY Transformation Framework
Funding: H2020 (LC-SC3-2018-2019-2020)
Duration: 01/10/2019 – 30/09/2024
Status: Ongoing
SOLARTECH: Technology and Knowledge Transfer in Solar Energy and Energy Storage
Funding: ALT2020
Duration: 02/12/2020 – 30/06/2023
Status: Ended
SOLAQUA: Accessible, reliable and affordable solar irrigation for Europe and beyond
Funding: H2020-LC-SC3-2018-2019-2020
Duration: 2020-2023
Status: Ended
HYBRIDSTORAGE: Hybrid Energy Battery Systems
Funding: PT2020 Copromoção
Duration: 2012-2023
Status: Ended
EERES4WATER: Promoting Energy-water Nexus resource efficiency through Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Funding: Interreg Atlantic Area Programme
Duration: 01.04.2019 – 30.03.2022
Status: Ended
GRECO: Fostering a Next GeneRation of European Photovoltaic SoCiety through Open Science
Funding: H2020-SwafS-2016-17 (Science with and for Society)
Duration: 01/06/2018 – 31/05/2021
Status: Ended
AGERAR: Renewable energy storage and management in commercial and residential applications
Funding: INTERREG POCTEP
Duration: 2017-2019
Status: Ended
PVCROPS: PhotoVoltaic Cost r€duction, Reliability, Operational performance, Prediction and Simulation
Funding: H2020
Duration: 2015-2018
Status: Ended
MASLOWATEN: MArket uptake of an innovative irrigation Solution based on LOW WATer-ENergy consumption
Funding: H2020
Duration: 2015-2018
Status: Ended
PEARL-PV: Performance and reliability of photovoltaic systems: valuations of large-scale monitoring data (PEARL-PV)
Funding: COST Association
Duration: 05/10/2017 – 30/04/2022
Status: Ended
- Equipments -
Content in Preparation
- Services -
Content in Preparation