In the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains, snowstorms cover the land with a blanket of white. Below the Bogda Peak, QAES Luminary liquid-cooled energy storage system (BESS) is deployed to work with the existing 150 MW solar system, aiming to facilitate Tianlong Mining’s green transition (Xinjiang Tianlong Mining Co., Ltd.).
The BESS consists of 6 Luminary-5MWh battery containers with a total rated power of 15 MW, designed to store excess power from solar generation, thus enhancing energy efficiency of the project.
Harnessing Solar Power— Perfecting of Xinjiang’s Geological Advantages
Xinjiang enjoys abundant sunlight with over 3,000 hours annually, making it an ideal location for solar energy projects. The Tianlong solar project is expected to generate 2.814 TWh of clean electricity annually, saving 84,000 tonnes of coal and reducing CO2 emissions by 232,000 tonnes, which helps meet regional energy needs and supports a green, low-carbon energy system.
QAES’s efficient energy storage systems help to further exploit solar power by storing solar electricity during low consumption periods and releasing energy during peak periods. With a round-trip efficiency of nearly 90%, it can minimise the energy loss from charging and discharging, making the best of excess solar power. By enabling peak shaving and promoting local consumption within microgrids to reduce energy curtailment, the BESS helps enhance the overall efficiency of energy utilization. Combining solar system with BESS, the flexible energy scheduling allows the region to effectively convert its abundant solar resources into a reliable and efficient power supply, turning its “resource advantage” into “efficiency advantage”.
Consistent Performance under Extreme Environment
Located in a vast desert in Fukang, Xinjiang, the BESS must face harsh weather conditions, including extreme temperature difference (50 ℃ in summer, -40 ℃ in winter), dryness (annual average relative humidity of 20%), frequent sandstorms (over 20 days annually), and management challenges due to tough climate. Despite these difficulties, QAES’s Luminary series is designed to withstand such extreme conditions:
- All-weather Durability Design
Built with weather-resistant materials, the system can withstand sandstorms and harsh conditions, with an effective ventilation and pressure relief design to prevent safety issues, perfectly suiting the local environment. - Comprehensive Monitoring System
To fully understand the working conditions of the BESS, an automatic real-time monitoring system is employed, including pressure, temperature, smog, fire, electronic, and electrochemical monitoring spread throughout the entire system. - Smart Reaction System
Thanks to the comprehensive monitoring system, a smart reaction system could function according to different issues in real time, which includes temperature control, pressure relief, fire extinguishing, etc. Thus, the entire BESS could reach a proactive response mechanism, minimizing the risk of thermal runout and other potential accidents. - Cloud-Based Management
With all the mentioned monitoring and reaction systems, plus a stable communication system, users could learn and manage the BESS like switching operating modes remotely from the cloud, forming a synergetic battery management system (BMS) and energy management system (EMS). Not satisfied with the simple routine of charging and discharging, QAES could provide mature solutions from software to hardware, thus maximizing the use of renewables and BESS.
Supporting Green Development
As a key energy facility for Tianlong Mining, QAES’s energy storage solutions work in harmony with the photovoltaic systems to reduce energy waste, boost economic benefits, and help optimise the region’s energy structure by increasing the use of green electricity, thus supporting Fukang’s sustainable, green growth through setting a future-oriented example.
QAES continues to provide innovative and reliable solutions for clean energy projects in extreme climates. With its cutting-edge technologies, QAES is empowering more green energy projects and contributing to the development of the next-generation power system, driving regional energy transformation and a sustainable future.