NES-Store, a high-performance and sustainable storage system
The NES-Store marks a significant advance in the field of energy storage. This unique hydropneumatic electricity storage system is an ecological and sustainable alternative to electrochemical batteries. It works on a simple but effective principle: energy is stored by compressing air at high pressure using water pistons. The air is then gradually released and pushes the water through a hydroelectric turbine specifically designed by Rutten NES, ensuring that the stored energy is released.
An ingenious and simple solution
The NES-Store draws its inspiration from pumped hydro storage power stations (PHS), which store energy by exploiting the potential energy of water. However, our solution is free from topographical constraints typically associated with these plants. The NES-Store system is entirely containerised and modular. This flexibility means that we can adjust the number of containers according to specific needs, to achieve the power and storage capacity required for each project.
Fast delivery of high power
The weakness of batteries in terms of rapid discharges often means that their capacity has to be oversized to provide the power required by the user.
One of the strengths of our solution lies in its ability to provide deep and rapid discharges without any degradation of the system over time, delivering high power over short periods, whatever the user's energy capacity requirements.
A solution suited to the hottest areas
Because the ambient temperature has a direct impact on the number of cycles hence the life of the battery, these do not perform so well at extreme temperatures. It also increases the risk of overheating and fire, which can have dramatic consequences.
High temperatures, in excess of 50°C, do not affect the life or number of cycles of our system, making it an optimal solution for energy storage in hot regions.
An extraordinary service life
Batteries are limited in terms of charge and discharge cycles, which considerably reduces their lifespan when used intensively.
The high-quality, inert, recyclable and non-polluting components we use give our system exceptional reliability. This translates into simplified maintenance, a record number of cycles and an unrivalled service life. What's more, it offers enhanced safety by minimising the risk of fire, short-circuit or explosion.
Fields of application
- The NES-Store offers an environmentally friendly alternative to generators. It is also ideal for powering public lighting networks, offering a more sustainable technology than solar streetlights that run on individual batteries.
- The NES-Store provides an innovative solution to the challenges faced by the industrial sector in terms of peak shaving, self-consumption of renewable energy and grid balancing. It also meets the power requirements that the electricity grid cannot always satisfy, particularly for charging electric vehicles.
A rural electrification project in São Tomé and Príncipe
In partnership with the Ministry of Energy of São Tomé and Príncipe, and thanks to the financial support of Belgium (via Finexpo) and Wallonia (via Sofinex), Rutten NES is currently implementing a project for the complete electrification of a remote community of almost 300 inhabitants, located in the heart of the island of São Tomé, in the Gulf of Guinea. Our company is installing a 50 kilowatt-peak photovoltaic power plant, combined with one of our hydropneumatic storage units. The project also includes a low-voltage distribution network with intelligent energy management, covering the entire village. With commissioning scheduled for the end of 2024, this project aims to contribute to the sustainable development of the island of São Tomé.
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