Unified Energy Control
Ready to Deploy Management for AC-Coupled BESS
Ready to Deploy Management for AC-Coupled BESS
The nController provides a unified control interface for an AC-coupled battery energy storage system (BESS). It integrates a single- or multi-stack battery system with a power conversion system (PCS), enabling seamless coordination between the battery stacks and the PCS. The nController allows the BESS to operate as an AC-coupled energy asset, suitable for both grid-tied and microgrid applications.
Designed for reliability and flexibility, the nController handles real-time control, system monitoring, and communications across key components of the BESS. The nController simplifies integration with higher-level control systems, manages battery stack balancing and health, and supports secure data access for diagnostics and analytics. This ensures consistent performance and safe operation across a wide range of energy storage deployments.
The standard configuration includes all core functionality necessary for common BESS applications and is ready to deploy with minimal setup. For projects requiring additional features, custom logic, or integration with other distributed energy resources, Nuvation Energy also offers the nController Extension Program.
- BESS AC-Dispatch Interface
- BESS Subsystem Status & Reporting
- Load Shifting
- Resiliency & Power Backup
Product Features
AC-Block Control
- Provides unified control for one PCS per system, selectable from multiple supported models.
- Provides dispatch interface for higher-level controls.
- Provides monitoring and control of BESS auxiliary systems via networked digital IO module (purchased separately from supported suppliers).
Cybersecurity
Network Security
- User authentication
- Encrypted communications
- Product authentication checks
- Built-in firewall
Supply Chain Security
- Designed and manufactured in the U.S. and Canada
- Strict procurement practices
- Intensive quality controls
Multi-Stack Management
- Enables battery maintenance execution.
- Provides parallel battery stack management.
- Provides parallel stack aggregation and intelligent control.
- Manages 1-16 parallel battery stacks on a shared DC-bus.
- Calculates State of Charge and Depth of Discharge of the unified energy storage system.
- Aggregates system-wide faults and warnings and provides battery pack diagnostics.
- Functions as a data analytics gateway by providing access to battery measurements for data capture.
Interfaces and Devices
- Local data logging.
- Remote Support Monitoring to facilitate pilot system integration support.
- Optional Touch Screen HMI (Hardware not included).
- Optional fiber optic networking supported through 10G SFP+ ports.
- Two form factor options:
- 1U rack mount
- Compact form factor, ruggedized (SAE J2464, SAE J2380), suitable for use in mobile applications
Standard Applications
Dispatch Interface for External Controllers
- Benefits: clients can manage the BESS applications from their own controller or from one provided by a third party, including Nuvation Energy. This enables endless possibilities for managing a BESS without having to deal with the intricacies of the BESS and PCS integration.
- How: The nController provides SunSpec Information models over Modbus TCP to enable monitoring and control of the BESS. The nController deals with the details for integration between the BESS and the PCS, allowing the higher-level controller to focus on applications at the power and energy interface level.
- Architecture: Install an AC-BESS block, configure the nController for the BESS limits, configure the higher-level controller for the application.
Load Shifting
- Benefits: cost savings through energy cost arbitration and peak energy demand charge reduction.
- How: Use a schedule to charge during periods of low energy cost or low energy usage and to discharge during periods of higher energy costs or high energy usage. This works best with predictable loads and pricing schedules.
- Architecture: Install an AC-BESS block and configure the nController schedule for charging and discharging.
Resiliency & Backup Power
- Benefits: protect your load from power outages by using a BESS to provide backup power for a site.
- How: keep a reserve of energy in the battery for use when the utility grid is not available. The BESS is configured to form a local microgrid to provide power to the local loads when the site is disconnected from the utility grid. When the utility grid comes back, the BESS coordinates reconnection to the utility grid to provide power to the local loads as well as to recharge the BESS.
- Architecture: Install an AC-BESS block and an automatic transfer switch or grid protection relay. Configure the nController policies to maintain reserve energy, configure the equipment to coordinate transfer between utility connected operation and microgrid operation.
