Industry Insight: AC Block vs DC Block in Utility Scale BESS

Synopsis

As battery technology continues to evolve rapidly, BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) design is converging around two key concepts: AC Block and DC Block-based architectures. Each approach comes with its own advantages and trade-offs, influencing project development, grid integration, and long-term flexibility.

This presentation will explore these design methodologies and provide a comparative analysis to address the following key questions:

What are the key macro trends shaping the BESS industry?

What are the main components of a BESS, and what functions do they serve?

How does BESS design relate to the stages of project development in Australia?

What is battery-agnostic design, and why is it important?

What are the key differences between AC Block and DC Block-based BESS, and how do these impact BESS design?