Power electric farm kit with high-power energy storage system

Energy storage and microgrid specialist Bluetti is now offering its flagship energy storage system to agriculture, helping to power the increasingly common electrical kit used at and around the farm.

The firm’s primary focus is research and development of battery storage technology, with demand increasing rapidly over recent years as industrial and domestic energy users look to decarbonise.

This commitment to sustainable energy solutions has helped BLUETTI expand its reach to over 100 countries and gain the trust of millions of customers worldwide.

Backup power 

Until now, the core market for its high-power energy storage systems has been domestic use, replacing fossil fuel generators installed in the home as backup during grid power outages.

Fossil fuel generators have a comparatively cheap upfront cost and are easy to install, but there are plenty of downsides.

Users need to store fuel to keep them running for the duration of any outage and during operation, they are noisy and pump out local pollution, including carbon monoxide, so can be a safety risk.

Batteries are often more expensive upfront, and buyers may need some help from an electrician to get the system installed, but they solve the noise and pollution issues associated with fossil fuel generators.

Bluetti’s EP760 is an inverter and battery system that helps back up domestic and business electric supply, delivering up to 7600W continuous supply through it single-phase output.

This high output rating is significant, as more power means more devices, or more power-hungry devices, can be plugged into the system at once and operate comfortably.

© Bluetti

Storage capacity

Battery storage capacity is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh), and this can be tailored to needs by stacking 2-4 of the firm’s B500 expansion batteries with each EP760, offering a range of 9.9-19.8kWh per installation.

Bluetti’s batteries are made with lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), which is a safer and longer lasting material than the alternative lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (Li NMC).

LiFePO4 batteries last more than 10 years, depending on use, and Bluetti’s 10-year warranty reflects this long life.

© Bluetti

The easy-to-install and flexible system is also IP65 waterproof and dustproof and can operate in temperatures anywhere between -20C and +40C, so any installation will be fine indoors or outdoors in the UK.

Another important feature is the ability to charge the unit from either the grid, or from solar panels, which can help cut electricity costs.

If drawing from the grid, this can be done outside of periods of peak demand when the electricity tariff is lower, typically at night. When powering the system from solar, electricity is 100% renewable and emissions free.

This has enabled some customers to live completely “off grid”, and battery power installations even add value to the home.

Mobile system

In a farm setting, the same EP760 system could replace backup fossil fuel generators in workshops.

However, a major pain point for farmers is using electric tools or equipment away from the yard where there is no access to mains electricity. The EP760 system can go mobile to solve this problem sustainably and without the noise and exhaust fumes.

Agricultural drone use for applying pesticides, fertiliser and seed is about to become much more common across Europe as civil aviation and local Government health and safety regulations evolve.

In Germany, Dronenservice is a company which offers drone application contracting services and sales and service of agricultural drones.

The firm has been operating a range of agricultural drones in vineyards to apply agrochemicals, often a long way from any power source.

Historically, it has used a petrol generator carried in a trailer to charge the multiple batteries needed to keep a drone flying continuously during a working day.

However, this was noisy and didn’t marry with its environmentally friendly image, so the business invested in a Bluetti EP760 system installed in the back of its van.

App control

The system now enables continuous charging of drone batteries, with an average charge time of 12 minutes per unit, all controlled via Bluetooth and WLAN through its app. This shows operational data, such as battery levels and output.

In the future, Dronenservice hopes to design a trailer that can carry the system with solar panels, which will charge the EP760 and B500 expansion units when conditions allow, making significant energy savings.

In the off season, the whole system can be moved into a workshop or domestic location to maximise use 12 months of the year.

As farms and their equipment become increasingly electrified, applications for Buetti’s EP760 system will continue to expand, with small robots and other autonomous vehicles potentially benefitting from a mobile unit.

Good service

Bluetti prides itself on a network of local offices and service points across Europe, including in the UK, and is working closely with almost 300 installation companies.

This means that customer service is robust and covers everything from pre-sales installation to post-sales support.

Interested customers can now take advantage of a £500 discount when purchasing a system. To redeem the discount, use the code BLUETTIEP760 when purchasing. Offer expires on 30 September 2024.

For more information on Bletti’s EP 760 system, click here.