SOLAR TODO delivered a containerized Battery Energy Storage (BESS) project in Ankara, Turkey (MENA) at coordinates 39.93, 32.85 to strengthen emergency backup power reliability for a utility-critical site. The deployment centered on a purpose-built, utility-grade 10×20ft container configuration—engineered for repeated monthly testing, stable operation under scheduled duty cycles, and safety compliance aligned with international and local expectations.
Answer Capsule: SOLAR TODO installed a 10,000kWh / 2,500kW containerized BESS in Ankara using LFP modules, forced-air cooling, and water-mist suppression, certified to IEC 62619, UL 9540, and NFPA 855.
Project Overview: Utility-Grade Backup Power in Ankara
The Ankara installation uses a utility BESS rated 10,000kWh / 2,500kW, delivered as 10× 20ft containerized units. Each containerized subsystem integrates the full energy storage stack—battery modules, BMS, HVAC cooling, and fire suppression—as well as the power conversion layer consisting of a PCS inverter and step-up transformer.
The primary use case was Emergency backup power with a controlled monthly test cycle profile: 0.05 cycles/day at 90% depth. This duty pattern is important because it balances operational assurance (regular verification) with battery longevity. By engineering the BESS around this predictable cycling behavior, SOLAR TODO ensured that the system could be exercised as required without drifting into high-stress operating regimes.
Why Containerized BESS Matters for Ankara’s Infrastructure Constraints
Ankara’s project environment reflects typical grid-and-site realities across the region: operators must coordinate works around active electrical infrastructure, maintain safety compliance during commissioning, and minimize downtime. Containerized delivery directly supports these constraints by allowing the energy storage system to be assembled, integrated, and factory-tested as a complete module—then transported and commissioned on-site with a clear scope.
For utility backup power, the operational priority is not only energy capacity, but also the ability to manage risk and thermal conditions. SOLAR TODO’s design integrates:
- Battery management (BMS) to monitor cell and module behavior
- Forced-air cooling to keep thermal conditions within safe operating boundaries
- Water mist fire suppression to reduce fire spread risk in a confined, utility-grade enclosure
This approach helps operators meet both reliability and safety goals while accommodating the practical realities of installing major electrical equipment in a constrained urban setting.
Product Architecture: The Containerized Battery Energy Storage (BESS)
At the core of this project is SOLAR TODO’s containerized Battery Energy Storage (BESS) architecture. The system is designed around LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery chemistry, chosen for its stability and suitability for repeated cycling profiles.
Battery chemistry, efficiency, and longevity
The Ankara utility configuration uses LFP battery modules with the following performance parameters:
- 95% round-trip efficiency
- 90% DoD (Depth of Discharge) for the intended emergency test cycle
- 8000 cycle life aligned to the project’s cycling requirements
- 2.5%/yr degradation assumption to support long-term performance planning
- 15-year warranty framework
In other words, the system is not “sized for a single event”—it is engineered for repeatable emergency verification. The monthly test cycle (0.05 cycles/day, 90% depth) is directly supported by these specified battery characteristics.
BMS and thermal management
Safety and reliability depend on tight control of battery operation. The system includes a BMS + forced air cooling strategy that continuously supervises battery state and maintains thermal conditions.
Forced-air cooling is integrated into each containerized subsystem, supporting stable operation even as the system transitions between standby and active backup power behavior. This is especially relevant for emergency systems that may remain idle for extended periods and then ramp into operation during test cycles.
Fire suppression designed for utility enclosures
SOLAR TODO integrated water mist fire suppression into the containerized BESS. This is a critical layer because utility battery systems must address the consequences of abnormal thermal events.
The project’s safety approach aligns with:
- IEC 62619 for battery safety
- UL 9540 for energy storage systems
- NFPA 855 for installation and fire protection for energy storage
These standards inform requirements around system-level safety design, risk mitigation, and compliance expectations for battery energy storage installations.
PCS inverter + step-up transformer
To deliver usable electrical output for emergency backup power, the BESS includes:
- PCS inverter (power conversion and control interface)
- Step-up transformer (voltage adaptation to match site requirements)
This power conversion layer ensures that the stored energy can be dispatched as grid-ready power during emergency operation and scheduled testing.
Technical Specifications
- System type: Utility Battery Energy Storage (BESS), containerized
- Total capacity: 10,000kWh
- Total power: 2,500kW
- Containers: 10× 20ft
- Battery chemistry: LFP
- Round-trip efficiency: 95%
- Depth of Discharge (DoD): 90% for emergency test cycle
- Cycle life: 8000 cycles
- Degradation: 2.5%/yr
- Warranty: 15-year
- BMS and cooling: BMS + forced air cooling
- Fire suppression: water mist fire suppression
- Power conversion: PCS inverter + step-up transformer
- Use case: Emergency backup power (monthly test cycle)
- Test duty: 0.05 cycles/day, 90% depth
- Compliance standards: IEC 62619, UL 9540, NFPA 855
Deployment in Ankara: Commissioning for Emergency Backup Reliability
The Ankara project deployment followed a containerized workflow that supports fast integration and clear commissioning boundaries:
- Transport and placement of 10× 20ft BESS containers at the utility site.
- Electrical integration of PCS inverter and step-up transformer stages to match the backup power interface.
- System-level commissioning focused on BMS monitoring, forced-air cooling operation, and water mist fire suppression readiness.
- Operational verification under the monthly test cycle profile (0.05 cycles/day, 90% depth), ensuring the BESS could execute the required backup behavior.
Because the system is designed to handle repeated emergency testing, commissioning emphasized repeatability and control stability: the BESS must perform the same intended dispatch behavior each time, while the battery management and thermal controls maintain safe operating conditions.
Results and Impact
The containerized Battery Energy Storage (BESS) delivered measurable operational and safety benefits for the Ankara emergency backup program:
- Energy capacity: 10,000kWh for sustained emergency support during scheduled verification and backup events.
- Power capability: 2,500kW to meet site backup power demands with a utility-grade output stage.
- Repeatable emergency testing: Designed for 0.05 cycles/day with 90% DoD, supporting monthly test cycles without requiring redesign of the duty profile.
- Long-term performance planning: 8000 cycle life and 2.5%/yr degradation assumptions support predictable performance over the project horizon.
- Safety compliance focus: Battery and system safety aligned with IEC 62619, UL 9540, and installation/fire protection expectations under NFPA 855, with integrated forced-air cooling and water mist fire suppression.
Beyond the technical metrics, the containerized approach reduced integration complexity: the BESS was delivered as 10 discrete 20ft modules, enabling structured commissioning and clearer fault isolation during operational readiness checks.
Standards and Guidance (Reference Context)
This project’s design and compliance approach draws on widely used international guidance and safety frameworks, including:
- IEC 62619 (industrial lithium battery safety)
- UL 9540 (energy storage systems)
- NFPA 855 (installation and fire protection for energy storage systems)
- NREL and industry best practices for grid energy storage performance and reliability engineering
- IEEE guidance commonly referenced for power system integration and performance considerations
SOLAR TODO’s engineering process uses these references to structure system-level safety, thermal management, and commissioning verification for utility BESS deployments.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What cycling profile was the Ankara BESS designed to handle?
The system was configured for emergency backup power using a monthly test cycle profile of 0.05 cycles/day at 90% depth (DoD).
2) What safety systems are integrated inside the 10×20ft containers?
Each containerized subsystem includes BMS + forced air cooling and water mist fire suppression, designed to support safe operation under utility backup conditions.
3) Which standards does this project align with?
The Ankara installation is aligned with IEC 62619, UL 9540, and NFPA 855.
4) How is the stored energy converted into usable power for backup?
The BESS uses a PCS inverter and step-up transformer to convert and adapt electrical output to the site’s backup power interface.
Internal Links
For more information about SOLAR TODO’s containerized energy storage offerings, visit our product page. To discuss a deployment in Ankara or across Turkey, contact us at contact us.
Conclusion
The Ankara Battery Energy Storage (BESS) project demonstrates how a utility-grade, containerized architecture can deliver dependable emergency backup power while maintaining a strong safety posture. With 10×20ft modular deployment, 10,000kWh / 2,500kW performance, LFP battery characteristics (including 95% round-trip efficiency, 8000 cycle life, and 2.5%/yr degradation assumptions), and integrated BMS, forced-air cooling, and water mist fire suppression, SOLAR TODO delivered a system built for repeatable monthly emergency testing and long-term resilience.
Sources
- IEC 62619: Safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries for industrial applications
- UL 9540: Energy Storage Systems and Equipment
- NFPA 855: Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems
- NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory): Energy storage performance and integration references
- IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): Grid integration and power system performance guidance
Equipment Deployed
- Utility BESS battery containers: 10× 20ft containerized units, total 10,000kWh / 2,500kW, LFP battery chemistry, 15-year warranty
- BMS + forced air cooling subsystem integrated per container (battery monitoring and thermal management)
- Water mist fire suppression system integrated per container (utility-grade fire protection layer)
- PCS inverter for power conversion and control (per BESS architecture)
- Step-up transformer for voltage adaptation to backup power interface