The Best Events are Powered by Clean, Off-Grid Energy Storage

Visualize yourself strolling through a local farmers' market on a beautiful Sunday morning, taking in the vibrant colors of the freshly-picked produce, the sweet smells of pastries, and the cheerful chatter of the local vendors. As you continue walking, the aroma of freshly-baked goods and the noise of conversations become replaced by the thick smell of gasoline and the constant hum of the generator powering the event. The once clean and organic atmosphere feels like a façade, leaving many to wonder if gas generators are the only answer for supplying power to off-grid events.

Outdoor events, such as farmers' markets, are often run by gas generators, which convert gas into the electrical power vendors need in order to run their equipment (fans, lights, ovens, stoves, speakers, and more). Generators are an affordable and trusted commodity, but regrettably, they are not clean; with their loud humming and fumes, they can quickly disrupt the atmosphere of a wonderful event. Events should be powered by clean energy sources, free of bothersome sounds and intrusive smells.

Solar and batteries are a clean alternative

Gas generators may be adequate for the present, but as time progresses, they are becoming less ideal. It is essential for event planners to find clean, off-grid energy storage solutions that provide the required electrical power for these outdoor events. One solution is to pair solar power with batteries, creating an environmentally friendly alternative to gas generators.

Solar panels convert light into electrical power, which can then be used to power vendor equipment and charge the paired battery system. The batteries store the leftover energy from the solar panels and provide this energy to the equipment during times when the solar panel alone cannot power the system (i.e. on cloudy days, or at night).

However, batteries alone can't power everything

A vendor hooks their equipment up to a solar and battery-powered generator, but nothing happens. The battery states it can deliver 2.4kW, which seems adequate, so how could this be? The answer is power.

Batteries shine at providing long-duration storage (high energy density), but lack a sufficient amount of power density, meaning they struggle to supply the “turn on” power required by things such as fans, HVAC systems, ovens, speakers, pumps, and even LED strips.

The power required to turn on that vendor’s equipment was higher than what the battery could provide. Think about how it is harder to start pushing a box than it is to continue pushing it. The same happens with electronic systems. It requires more power to turn equipment on than it does to keep it running. 

Hybrid energy storage systems are the solution

Batteries and other energy-dense technologies can be paired with power-dense energy storage technologies, such as supercapacitors, to harness the best of both worlds. Supercapacitors have a high power density and low energy density, meaning they can supply the “turn on” power required but cannot maintain it for long periods of time. A hybrid approach allows the battery to do what it does best (long-duration storage) and the supercapacitor to do what it does best (short bursts of high power).

However, a hybrid energy storage system is not one without tradeoffs. The addition of an energy storage technology creates complications regarding the physical space within a system. Meaning if supercapacitors are added to a system, this leaves less space for the batteries. This causes a difficult tradeoff to be made in order to get the best balance of long-term storage and power capacity. This is where Capacitech can help; we designed and manufactured a solution that allows for the utilization of both batteries and supercapacitors, without the tradeoffs.

The best supercapacitor is flexible

Capacitech has taken energy storage systems to the next level. By incorporating supercapacitors into power cords, there is now no competition for space with batteries. This allows supercapacitors to connect the batteries to power sources and loads, enhancing them without the tradeoffs that typically come with the use of hybrid systems.

For example, Capacitech's 10ft long energy-storing power cord can deliver up to 55kW of power in a matter of seconds, supplying all the "turn on" power you could need. A battery sized to provide that same amount of power would need to be 10x larger and would be much more expensive. Capacitech makes it easy to meet all of your power needs with a simple, affordable battery and our dual-function power cord.

Benefits of using clean, off-grid energy storage

Pairing batteries and supercapacitors can lead the way to a truly powerful and streamlined off-grid energy storage solution. Not only is the event quiet, clean, and odor free, but the application of renewable energy sources like solar is now a practical gas generator replacement. The many needs of concerts, farmers’ markets, or any outdoor activity will be met with the assistance of batteries as well as supercapacitors. With these systems in place, event planners can be certain that their events will be environmentally friendly and go off without a hitch!