1. Technical Definition and Structural Breakthrough of AC-DC Integrated Cabinets
In energy storage systems, an AC-DC integrated cabinet is a modular device that deeply integrates AC power distribution, DC power distribution, power conversion systems (PCS), and battery management systems (BMS). Its core design innovation lies in eliminating the physical separation between AC and DC components in traditional energy storage systems, achieving "AC-DC co-location" through standardized cabinet structures. For example, Sungrow's PowerTitan 2.0 uses a 20-foot standard container to integrate battery units and PCS into a single cabinet, creating the world's first 10MWh fully liquid-cooled AC-DC integrated system. This design not only realizes a safe architecture of "DC never leaving the cabinet" but also boosts system efficiency to industry-leading levels through technologies like cluster-level current sharing control and liquid-cooled heat dissipation.
2. Analysis of Disruptive Advantages
2.1 Revolution in Space Efficiency
Traditional energy storage systems require independent DC busbars, PCS cabinets, and AC distribution cabinets, while AC-DC integrated cabinets save over 30% of equipment space through structural integration. Take Sungrow's PowerTitan 2.0 as an example: its 100MWh energy storage plant occupies only 2,000 square meters, a 29% reduction compared to traditional solutions. This intensive design is particularly suitable for commercial and industrial scenarios with limited land resources. For instance, MINGMI's 315kW/645kWh mobile energy storage supercharging station in Hong Kong uses a single 20-foot container for solar-storage-charging integration, perfectly solving the transformer capacity expansion problem in old urban areas.
2.2 Minimalist Installation and Maintenance
AC-DC integrated cabinets adopt a factory-preassembled + on-site plug-and-play model. Pre-installation, pre-commissioning, and system joint debugging are completed at the factory, eliminating four major on-site steps including PCS installation, DC wiring, and communication testing, reducing the project cycle by over 70%. Sungrow connected 51 PowerTitan systems in Saudi Arabia's 7.8GWh project from delivery to grid connection in just 25 days, 70% faster than the industry average. The "one-cluster-one-PCS" design also cuts single-unit fault repair time to half an hour, increasing system availability to 92%.
2.3 Double Breakthrough in Energy Efficiency and Reliability
Efficiency Surge: By reducing two-stage conversion losses in traditional DCDC + centralized PCS systems, round-trip efficiency increases by 2%. PowerTitan 2.0 achieves a 45% reduction in auxiliary energy consumption through full liquid cooling for both battery packs and PCS, pushing system round-trip efficiency (RTE) beyond 88%.
Safety Enhancement: The DC busbar is enclosed in a fully liquid-cooled "air-conditioned room," paired with AI arc extinction technology for millisecond-level arc shutdown. Cell-level 6D sensing (voltage, current, temperature, gas, pressure, particles) provides 24-hour advance warning of thermal runaway. MINGMI's liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet further uses in-PACK fire partitions to block thermal propagation at the source.
2.4 Upgraded Intelligent Management
Integrated with GWh-level EMS (Energy Management System), it enables "full-station control on one screen." PowerTitan 2.0 reduces system response time by 25% and operational workload by 75% through block-level intelligent sub-array management. Its grid-forming technology supports 0ms grid-following/grid-forming self-switching, validated in complex grid environments like Guangxi Weizhou Island.
3. Application Scenarios and Industry Practices
3.1 Large-scale Utility-scale Stations
Sungrow's PowerTitan 2.0 ensures stable operation of grid-forming energy storage in projects like Dalia in the Middle East, supporting the construction of new power systems. With a 5MWh single-cabinet capacity and full liquid cooling, it reduces the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) by 45% over the system's lifecycle.
3.2 Commercial and Industrial Energy Storage
Xiongtai's 100kW/200kWh AC-DC integrated cabinet supports PV integration and multi-mode energy management, flexibly adapting to factory peak-valley arbitrage and microgrid scenarios. MINGMI's liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet in Hong Kong's supercharging station reduces carbon emissions by over 150 tons annually through "valley-to-peak power usage," increasing charging efficiency by 30%.
3.3 Data Center Backup Power
Tsinghua University's Dongguan Data Center uses a full DC power supply scheme, improving system efficiency by 15% and eliminating traditional UPS configurations. By integrating energy storage as backup power, it achieves N-2 level power supply reliability, reducing data center PUE by over 0.1 and significantly lowering operating costs.
4. Industry Trends and Market Outlook
With the implementation of standards like GB20943-2025 Energy Efficiency Grades for AC-DC and AC-AC Power Supplies, requirements for the energy efficiency and safety of AC-DC integrated cabinets have become more detailed. According to China Research Reports, the global DC power cabinet market is expected to reach $1.136 billion by 2025, with a CAGR of 5.2%. Liquid cooling technology, silicon carbide devices, and AI control are core growth drivers. In the future, AC-DC integrated cabinets will develop towards higher power density (10MWh+ per cabinet), full-scenario adaptation (residential/commercial/grid-scale), and solar-storage-charging integration, driving energy storage systems from "capacity-oriented" to "value-oriented."
Conclusion
As the "heart" of energy storage systems, AC-DC integrated cabinets are redefining industry standards through technological innovation. Their space optimization, efficiency improvements, and intelligent management not only solve the pain points of traditional energy storage but also provide key support for the energy revolution under the "double carbon" goal. Driven by policy dividends and market demand, AC-DC integrated cabinets are poised to become the mainstream choice for future energy storage systems, leading the industry into a new era of AC energy storage.
