Dispatch Energy specialises in electrochemical energy storage systems which exploit lithium-ion polymer technology.

The Black Diamond product range has been designed for decentralised, building integrated solar PV installations.

“Thanks to an extremely high cycle life, the calendrical service life of the cell technology and the refined modular system concept with its integrated battery management system, the battery bank can be used efficiently throughout the typical service life of a modern photovoltaic installation,” says Dr Matthia Vetter, Head of the Off-grid Photovoltaic Systems and Battery System Technology Group at Fraunhofer ISE.

“The battery system is therefore adapted to match the guaranteed service life of the remaining components in a grid-connected PV system.”

The solar PV storage system is protected against overcharging and overdischarging, and is said to have an efficiency of over 95%.

Its modular construction allows it to be easily connected to charge controllers and inverters already available on the market. Furthermore, customers can retrieve data on the reserves of electricity available at any time via a touch screen phone, laptop or smartphone.

Series production is scheduled for mid-2011. The aim is to equip over 1000 solar PV homes with battery systems annually.

Mass series production with a total capacity of 250 MWh is currently being planned.

Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) contributed expertise in the fields of battery module and battery system construction, battery and energy management system development and integration into grid-connected and off-grid solar PV systems. Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology (ISIT) has a new pilot cell production line, which Dispatch Energy Innovations GmbH is benefitting from.