OEM Electrical Components for Swiss C&I Energy Storage Systems

September 22, 2024

Project Overview

• Project Name: Energy Vault B-VAULT FlexGrid (C&I Applications)
• Locations: Ebikon (Canton of Lucerne) & Wettingen (Canton of Aargau), Switzerland
• Technology Provider: Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NRGV)
• Capacities: 2 MW/2-hour (Ebikon) & 8 MW/2-hour (Wettingen)
• Role: OEM Component Supplier for Power Conversion and Distribution

 The Background

The B-VAULT FlexGrid projects represent a practical expansion of commercial and industrial (C&I) energy storage in the Swiss market. The Ebikon installation, located at the Schindler Group headquarters, retrofits an existing building into a 2 MW/4 MWh energy storage facility.

The Wettingen site is an 8 MW/16 MWh system built for the municipal utility, Energie Wettingen AG, to support grid stability and voltage optimization.

Operating in the 2 MW to 25 MW range, these C&I systems require highly durable components to manage power conversion and distribution consistently.

OEM Supply and Integration

For the B-VAULT FlexGrid initiative, KRIPAL acts as an OEM component supplier to the manufacturers building the Power Conversion Systems (PCS) and power distribution cabinets. Utilizing our OEM/ODM manufacturing capabilities, we supply custom electrical components engineered to meet the exact technical parameters required for safe and reliable grid integration.

Core Components Deployed

We provided a targeted range of industrial control and protection devices tailored for energy storage environments:

Power Switching & Control

We integrated AC contactors and thermal overload relays within the PCS. These components manage precise circuit switching and deliver essential overcurrent protection during automated power conversion cycles.

Distribution & Protection

For the primary power distribution cabinets, we supplied Moulded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCBs) to serve as main switches, alongside Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs) for branch circuit protection. This combination ensures stable short-circuit and overload defense across the system.

Safety Isolation

To meet strict maintenance protocols, the systems utilize our industrial switch disconnectors to provide a visible break for safe manual isolation. Residual Current Devices (RCDs) were also installed to monitor and protect against ground faults.

Testing and Compliance

Component reliability is strictly validated prior to deployment. All KRIPAL components supplied for these projects hold CE, VDE, TÃœV, and KEMA certifications, ensuring full alignment with Swiss and EU grid regulations.

Furthermore, every batch undergoes performance validation in our in-house CNAS-certified laboratory. This facility is equipped with over 100 specialized testing instruments, providing our OEM partners with verifiable quality assurance.