Smart energy flow management system for the home with battery NOVA

As solar power plants gain popularity, connecting to the grid and paying your energy bills is becoming more complex, energy storage systems are increasingly becoming an attractive option for homeowners. One of the advantages of the NOVA battery is the flexibility it offers with its unique functionalities Given the increasing uncertainty in energy prices, NOVA provides an innovative solution for homeowners making sure energy is only bought from the grid when it is at its cheapest NOVA is also able to switch to a full three-phase back up in case of a power outage.

The newly built SoliTek’ Innovation and Technology Centre serves as the hub for developing and manufacturing NOVA home energy management system. NOVA consists of several key components:

• Energy storage devices – lithium-ion battery modules;
• A hybrid inverter (voltage converter) that connects a home solar power plant, the battery and the home grid;
• A smart meter to monitor and control the interaction between the home network and the electricity grid;
• IoT systems for the management of energy flows, energy production and electricity consumption data.

The main purpose of the battery is to store and conserve electricity. Battery modules can be interconnected, allowing for scalable energy storage capacity. These batteries will operate at a low voltage of 50V, making them safer for home use than high-voltage batteries.

NOVA energy storage system is based on iron phosphate chemistry (LFP) lithium-ion batteries, known for their durability and safety. Each battery module is capable of storing 5.12 kWh of electricity. Up to 8 individual battery packs can be stacked together, resulting in a maximum capacity of 40.96 kWh.

The device control unit will always be connected to the stack regardless of the number of battery packs stacked.

In Lithuania and worldwide, households primarily use alternating currents (AC), while solar power plants and lithium-ion batteries provide direct power (DC). Hybrid inverter acts as a bridge between them, converting solar and battery power into one that can be used by consumers.

If you have installed a solar power plant with a non-hybrid (string) inverter and want to upgrade your home electricity system with a battery, you will unfortunately have to replace the inverter as well.

Control system is the "brain" of the NOVA battery, turning a simple battery into a smart device that adapts and evolves according to energy usage habits, electricity prices, and other variables. It monitors household energy flows and makes decisions based on factors such as:

• real-time electricity prices;
• the instantaneous and forecasted generation of the solar power plant;
• your electricity consumption habits, and historical data;
• The instantaneous energy consumption of the househol;
• Weather forecasts.

The smart power control system has been developed in collaboration with INION, KTU, and SoliTek RnD.

In simple terms, the control system optimizes electricity usage by putting together expected energy consumption, generation and price curves. If it is more cost-effective to purchase electricity from the grid, the battery can be charged from the grid, even at night. Conversely, if it is not cost-effective to buy energy from your energy supplier power to the home network will be provided from the battery instead. In this way, you would be saving money, not electricity.

All you need is a Wi-Fi connection. And SoliTek smart batteries.

While it is possible to use NOVA for an off-grid solution, it is most effective when connected to the grid, where it can manage the flow of electricity and reduce costs for the user. The primary purpose of NOVA battery is to manage peak electricity consumption during high-demand periods, typically in the morning and evening, while the solar power plant is operating at its lows. And, of course, to do that at the lowest cost for you.

First NOVA batteries will be available for customers in the summer of 2023 after the production, line will be launched in Vilnius.

Battery NOVA datasheet