Danfoss acquires 1500 VDC converter technology from Finnish Ampner Oy and bets on energy storage

Danfoss Drives has acquired 1500 VDC converter technology (ACE300 product) from Finnish company Ampner Oy, with plans to scale up its advanced electrification portfolio within energy storage.

The product will be integrated within Danfoss Drives’ portfolio of Electrification Solutions with primary focus on Smart Grids and energy storage.

Danfoss focus on battery storage systems

With the extension of the electrification portfolio, Danfoss Drives states it will be able to support customers even better in battery energy storage system applications (BESS). Battery energy storage can be used for mobile power supply; to absorb surplus renewable power for later use; and in peak shaving in industrial plants, smoothing peaks and troughs in power supply.

In the case of fleets, the use of battery storage applications has the potential of leveraging V2G capabilities of heavy vehicles (which could be a way to monetize the fleet itself…), as well as enabling second life battery applications (projects are already underway in Germany and Sweden, for instance).

Mika Kulju, President of the Danfoss Drives business, says: “With 2030 climate targets becoming ever more imminent, decarbonization via electrification is accelerating in multiple sectors. There is a growing trend in all focus application areas where 1500 V DC is starting to play a key role. This is a big step for Danfoss Drives in ensuring a complete electrification offering, thus securing the right solutions for our customers in their electrification projects.”

Shekhar Kubal, Head of Electrification Business Unit, states: “I am excited to extend our team and strengthen our power conversion portfolio. The new team has developed an extraordinarily strong product, and we will add even more value to it while integrating it into the Danfoss Electrification portfolio. In the electrification business unit, we are excited to offer our customers even better energy storage solutions from now on, and we are looking forward to sharing this exciting news with our customers”.