500kW/552kWh Containerized BESS for EV Charging and Solar Microgrid in the Netherlands

Project Location: Netherlands
Customer: Daniel van der Meer, Commercial Energy Project Manager
Project Type: EV Charging + Solar + Battery Energy Storage
Energy Storage System: COENG EnerCube P500C552
Battery Capacity: 552kWh
Rated Power: 500kW
Battery Technology: LiFePO4
Charging & Discharging Rate: 1C

Project Background

As electric vehicle adoption continues to expand across the Netherlands, commercial EV charging sites are facing increasing pressure from limited grid capacity, high peak electricity demand and the need to make better use of renewable energy.

For this project, the customer was developing a commercial EV charging site serving passenger vehicles and light commercial fleets. The site already had a rooftop solar PV system, but a significant portion of the solar generation occurred outside the main charging period.

The customer, Daniel van der Meer, was looking for a commercial battery energy storage system that could store excess solar energy, reduce peak grid demand and provide additional power for EV charging without requiring an immediate upgrade to the site's grid connection.

The project therefore required a 500kW-class BESS capable of high-power charging and discharging, outdoor installation and integration with solar generation and EV charging infrastructure.

The Customer's Main Challenges

Before the energy storage system was introduced, the charging station had several operational challenges.

1. Limited Grid Capacity

The EV charging load could increase rapidly when several vehicles were charging simultaneously. Expanding the grid connection would require additional infrastructure investment and a longer utility approval process.

2. Solar Generation Did Not Match EV Charging Demand

Solar production was highest around midday, while EV charging demand could remain high during the afternoon and evening. Without battery storage, excess PV electricity could not always be consumed directly at the site.

3. Peak Demand Management

Simultaneous operation of EV chargers and other commercial loads could create short-duration demand peaks. The customer wanted to use battery storage for peak shaving and load shifting rather than continuously increasing grid capacity.

4. Need for Fast Energy Response

Because EV charging loads can change rapidly, the battery energy storage system needed to respond quickly to changes in site power demand. The EnerCube specification includes a grid frequency regulation response time of less than 200ms.

COENG EnerCube 500kW/552kWh BESS Solution

To address these requirements, the project was designed around the COENG EnerCube P500C552 500kW/552kWh containerized battery energy storage system.

The system provides 500kW rated output power and 552kWh battery capacity at BOL, using LiFePO4 battery technology and a 1C charging and discharging configuration.

The battery system uses 100Ah LiFePO4 cells with a modular battery architecture. The P500C552 configuration consists of 8 × 1P216S battery strings, providing the required 552kWh system capacity.

The containerized architecture integrates the battery system, thermal management, protection and fire safety systems into a compact outdoor solution.

Project System Architecture

The energy management concept is based on three primary energy sources and loads:

Solar PV → COENG EnerCube BESS → EV Charging Station

The system operates together with the utility grid and commercial loads.

During periods of high solar production, surplus photovoltaic energy can be stored in the 552kWh battery energy storage system.

When EV charging demand increases, the stored energy can be discharged through the power conversion system to support the charging load and reduce instantaneous grid demand.

During peak electricity periods, the 500kW BESS can also be scheduled for peak shaving and time-of-use energy management.

This operating strategy allows the customer to use the battery not only as an energy storage asset, but also as a flexible power management system.

Why 500kW/552kWh Was Selected

The customer needed a system capable of delivering substantial instantaneous power rather than simply maximizing battery capacity.

The COENG EnerCube P500C552 provides:

• 500kW rated output power
• 552kWh battery capacity
• 1C charging and discharging
• 604.8–777.6V battery voltage range
• 400V AC output
• 3-phase, 3-wire AC configuration
• 721A maximum output current
• <3% harmonics at rated power
• Grid frequency regulation response <200ms

This combination is suitable for applications where the battery needs to react quickly to high-power loads such as EV charging infrastructure.

Peak Shaving and EV Charging

One of the primary functions of the commercial and industrial energy storage system is peak demand management.

Instead of allowing the grid to supply the entire charging station load during high-demand periods, the BESS can provide additional power from stored energy.

For example, when several EV chargers operate simultaneously, the EMS can monitor the site's grid power and battery state of charge. When the predefined grid power threshold is reached, the battery can discharge to reduce the amount of power drawn from the grid.

This approach can help the customer:

• Reduce short-term peak demand
• Improve utilization of the existing grid connection
• Support higher EV charging availability
• Reduce pressure on the local electrical infrastructure
• Improve overall energy management

Solar Energy Storage and Self-Consumption

The second major application is solar energy storage.

During periods when solar PV production exceeds the site's immediate electricity demand, the COENG EnerCube battery can store available energy.

The stored energy can subsequently be used when:

• Solar production decreases
• EV charging demand increases
• Electricity prices become higher
• Grid demand approaches the configured peak threshold

This allows the site to move from a simple Solar + EV Charging configuration toward an integrated Solar + BESS + EV Charging microgrid.

Safety and Thermal Management

Because the system is designed for outdoor deployment, the COENG EnerCube container incorporates dedicated environmental and safety systems.

The battery cabinet uses an IP55 protection level, while the electrical room is rated IP34.

The battery cabinet adopts HVAC cooling, while the electrical room uses forced-air cooling.

The specified operating temperature range is -20°C to 55°C, with a relative humidity range of 0–95% without condensation.

For fire protection, the system integrates FAS and FM200.

The container also features a C3 anti-corrosion level, supporting outdoor deployment in commercial and industrial environments.

Modular Operation and Maintenance

The COENG EnerCube uses a modular battery architecture, allowing battery modules and cabinets to be managed as structured system units.

The communication architecture supports:

• Ethernet
• RS485
• Modbus TCP/IP
• Modbus RTU

This allows the containerized BESS to communicate with external energy management and monitoring systems.

Project Application

The system is designed to support four primary energy management functions:

Solar Energy Storage

Store excess PV generation and release stored energy when solar production is insufficient.

EV Charging Support

Provide additional power during periods of high EV charging demand.

Peak Shaving

Limit grid power demand by using stored battery energy during high-load periods.

Grid Support

The system's specified response time of less than 200ms enables it to support fast-response energy management and grid frequency regulation applications.

Customer Feedback

“Our main concern was not simply adding more battery capacity. We needed a system that could deliver high power when several EV chargers were operating at the same time. The 500kW/552kWh configuration gave us the power capability we were looking for while allowing us to integrate solar generation and battery storage into the same energy strategy.”

— Daniel van der Meer
Commercial Energy Project Manager, Netherlands

Key Project Takeaways

The project demonstrates how a 500kW/552kWh containerized BESS can be integrated into a commercial EV charging and solar energy environment.

By combining LiFePO4 battery storage, 1C charging and discharging, peak shaving, solar energy storage and fast-response grid services, the COENG EnerCube provides a flexible solution for modern C&I energy management.

For EV charging operators, industrial facilities, solar developers and microgrid integrators, the system can be configured as part of a broader commercial and industrial battery energy storage system.

Key Solution Highlights

500kW Power Output
High-power output designed for demanding C&I and EV charging applications.

552kWh Battery Capacity
Provides substantial energy storage for solar shifting, peak shaving and load management.

1C Charging & Discharging
Suitable for applications requiring rapid energy dispatch.

LiFePO4 Battery Technology
Stable lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry for stationary energy storage.

Containerized Design
Integrated outdoor BESS solution for simplified deployment.

<200ms Frequency Regulation Response
Supports fast-response grid and energy management applications.

Solar + BESS + EV Charging
Flexible architecture for renewable energy integration and EV charging infrastructure.

Project Specification

Conclusion

The project demonstrates a practical application model for combining battery energy storage, solar PV and EV charging infrastructure.

With its 500kW output, 552kWh LiFePO4 battery capacity, 1C charging and discharging capability and containerized architecture, the COENG EnerCube P500C552 is positioned as a flexible C&I energy storage solution for EV charging stations, industrial facilities, solar-plus-storage projects and microgrid applications.

Looking for a 500kW/552kWh containerized BESS for your EV charging, solar or industrial energy storage project? Contact COENG for system configuration and project consultation.