Successful Launch of Electrical Energy Storage (ees) 2014

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Jun 11, 2014, 08:53 ET

MUNICH, June 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

- Small, large, mobile, stationary: ees presented the entire value-added chain of innovative energy storage technology over three days

This year for the first time, the electrical energy storage (ees) international exhibition for batteries, energy storage and innovative production took place in conjunction with Intersolar Europe. The launch was a complete success and exhibitors were delighted with the outcome. Around 250 companies presented products, solutions and services for state-of-the-art energy storage systems at ees and Intersolar Europe. Together, Intersolar Europe and ees form the world's largest industry platform for storage systems presented in combination with photovoltaics solutions.Around 800 visitors attended presentations at the ees forum in hall B1 of the exhibition.One of the forum's highlight was the International Battery and Energy Storage Alliance (IBESA) Executive Panel on energy storage systems and photovoltaics. The electrical energy storage (ees) AWARD was also presented for the first time to showcase outstanding solutions in the area of energy storage. The ees exhibition was accompanied by seven ees sessions at the Intersolar Europe Conference dedicated to energy storage.

Energy storage is one of the most important elements needed to decouple the generation of solar power from consumption and take the load off the power grids. This makes energy storage systems a promising growth market as well as an indispensable part of a successful energy transition. A total of 250 companies presented products, solutions and services for state-of-the-art energy storage systems at ees and Intersolar Europe 2014. Around 50 ees exhibitors showcased a wide range of energy storage solutions - ranging from individual components and production to specific examples of application - and all were pleased with the outcome. Dr. Andreas Gutsch, Competence E Coordinator at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany, commented: "We were overwhelmed by the response to our participation. We had excellent conversations and are already planning to come back next year." Dr. Stephan Göttke, Managing Director Finance of E3/DC GmbH from Osnabrück, Germany, was also pleased with how the exhibition went: "ees has been very successful and positive for us, mainly because we were able to forge many good contacts. The visitors to our booth were well informed and had extensive experience and excellent technical know-how."

A host of innovative technologies

Battery storage systems that use state-of-the-art lithium-ion cell technologies were among the most prominent of the many technologies and solutions presented at ees. Most of them focused on increasing the share of on-site consumption by combining PV with intelligent load management, such as self-learning control algorithms. Grid management functions are also on the rise, while another trend favors larger storage units which can develop or support stand-alone grids when combined with other power generators. These can be used for the electrification of rural, off-grid areas. In addition to ensuring that power will continue to be supplied without interruption, larger units help to stabilize the grid and ease peak loads for industry and commerce. Light was also shed on long-term storage systems that use power-to-gas solutions in combination with biogas power stations and hydrogen technology.

Excellent response to ees forum

One of the highlights of ees this year was the ees forum in hall B1, which was co-organized by the International Battery and Energy Storage Alliance (IBESA) and the Battery University. Over three exhibition days, more than 34 experts spoke about storage solutions for energy systems with a high share of renewable energy, covering current market developments as well as new technologies and future scenarios. The forum's highlight was the IBESA Executive Panel on Energy Storage and Photovoltaics, which shed light on recent developments in the German and European industries. The panelists were Josef Feilmeier, Managing Director at Fenecon GmbH & Co. KG (Deggendorf, Germany), Markus A. W.Hoehner, founder and Managing Director of IBESA - International Battery and Energy Storage Alliance (Bonn, Germany), Joachim Simonis, Head of Sales and Marketing at Leclanché S.A. (Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland), Christoph Ostermann, Chief Executive Officer at Sonnenbatterie GmbH (Wildpoldsried, Germany) and Dr. Matthias Vetter, Head of Department, PV Off-Grid, Solutions & Battery System Technology at Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE (Freiburg, Germany). The Executive Panel discussion centered around the development and viability of storage incentives in Germany.

Conference sessions consolidate ees topics

This year saw around 1,300 attendees from over 50 countries take part in the Intersolar Europe Conference and its side events at the ICM - Internationales Congress Center München. The conference also offered seven ees sessions dedicated to energy storage, consolidating the exhibition topics. The expert presentations and panel discussions were dedicated in particular to small and large-scale storage systems and their role in expanding the use of renewable energy, international growth markets, different battery technologies and battery recycling. This year, the spotlight was also shined on battery safety and security, particularly considering that industry and research institutes are intensively working on binding criteria for the efficiency, security and safety of energy storage systems. Examples of this development include the storage system documentation developed by the Berlin-based German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) and ZVEH (German Central Association of Electrical and Information Technology Contractors) with headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, as well as the updated checklist for lithium-ion home storage systems published by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

The new electrical energy storage (ees) AWARD

2014 saw the launch of the electrical energy storage (ees) AWARD, which honors outstanding products and solutions in the fields of materials, production, systems technology, applications, second-use concepts and recycling. The 2014 winners were Ideal Power Inc. from Texas (USA), International Power Supply from Sofia (Bulgaria) and ViZn Energy Systems, Inc. (Montana, USA). The official award ceremony took place at Intersolar Europe's Innovation Exchange on June 4. The award-winning technologies include ViZn's new redox flow battery technology for commercial applications from 160 kWh and Ideal Power's 30 kW hybrid PV storage converter, which couples PV and batteries in the DC high-voltage range. Exeron presented an optimized system for stand-alone applications, which fulfils all requirements surrounding energy management, communication and modularity.

The winners of the ees AWARD were delighted with the exhibition. Paul Siblerud, Executive Vice President of ViZn Energy Systems, said: "We were more than impressed by the exhibition and the conference, particularly as we are taking home the AWARD. It gave us the opportunity to forge many valuable, predominantly international contacts with dealers, customers and partners. We are still delighted by how perfectly it was organized."

electrical energy storage (ees) 2015 takes place alongside Intersolar Europe at Messe München from June 10-12.

Further information on electrical energy storage (ees) can be found at http://www.ees-europe.com.

About electrical energy storage (ees)

electrical energy storage (ees) is the international exhibition for batteries, energy storage and innovative production. It is making its debut in 2014, taking place in conjunction with Intersolar Europe, the world's largest exhibition for the solar industry and its partners.

Around 250 manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and research institutes are expected to showcase products and services from the entire value-added chain of innovative battery and energy storage technologies at ees and Intersolar Europe. Together with Intersolar Europe, ees forms the world's largest industry platform for the combination of storage systems and photovoltaics. A total of around 1,100 exhibitors are expected to attend both exhibitions in 2014.

The accompanying, three-day specialist conference consolidates the topics at the electrical energy storage (ees) exhibition and Intersolar Europe. At the conference, a total of seven ees sessions provide an overview of the latest energy storage system developments. In 2013, more than 400 speakers and around 2,000 attendees discussed current industry topics and shed light on the background of technological, market and political developments.

Intersolar Europe and electrical energy storage (ees) are organized by Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG.

SOURCE Intersolar Europe