DC Block
EquipmentAlso known as: Battery Container, DC Battery System, Battery Enclosure
A DC block is a containerized enclosure housing battery modules (cells assembled into racks), a Battery Management System (BMS), thermal management (air or liquid cooling), fire suppression, and DC-side electrical protection. The output is DC power, which must be converted to AC by an external Power Conversion System (PCS) before connecting to the grid.
DC blocks are the most common building block for utility-scale BESS. A typical project combines multiple DC blocks with shared PCS units and a medium-voltage transformer. The standard form factor is a 20-foot shipping container, with capacities ranging from 3 to 10+ MWh per unit depending on cell chemistry and design.