C-rate
C-rate in the SpeicherCampus context: indicates charge/discharge speed. Technically, the term is usually described as the ratio of power to capacity.
What does C-rate mean?
The C-rate relates power to capacity: 1C (or 1P) means the full capacity is charged or discharged in one hour, 0.5C in two hours. A 215 kWh system with 105 kW therefore operates at roughly 0.5C.
The C-rate connects datasheet and application: peak shaving and charging buffers demand high rates, pure PV shifting manages with 0.25-0.5C. At the same time it affects ageing — permanently high rates accelerate degradation.
What matters in practice
- derive the required C-rate from peak height and capacity
- check the datasheet: charge and discharge rates can differ
- high rates create more waste heat — think about the cooling concept
- warranty terms often specify a maximum permissible rate
Practical example
A charging-hub buffer must deliver 300 kW from 300 kWh — 1C. The choice falls on the Elecnova E101WX class with 1P capability; a 0.5P system would have needed double the capacity just to reach the power.
The SpeicherCampus perspective
SpeicherCampus checks the C-rate against the load profile and the warranty terms — it helps decide which product class is even in the running.