System

Noise protection systems for battery storage sites.

A battery energy storage system runs day and night. Inverters, transformers and the cooling of the containers produce a steady noise, often with low tonal components. If homes are nearby, the night-time limit usually decides how much screening a site needs. We supply three wall systems that can be chosen and combined according to space, duration and surroundings.

Where the noise comes from

Source	What you hear
Inverters and converters	fan noise with tonal components
Transformers	hum at 100 Hz and its multiples
Container air conditioning and fans	broadband noise that rises with load and outdoor temperature

Because the plant runs at night as it does by day, the night value under TA Lärm (the German technical instructions on noise) is normally the critical one. Clearly audible tones such as transformer hum attract a penalty. The noise report for your project shows which levels reach the neighbours and how high and long a wall has to be. An acoustic consultant prepares that forecast; we build to its requirements.

Three systems

RAU Klimawand R3, for sites with room. Galvanised steel baskets are filled with mineral material, then planted. Depending on height, the wall is 80 to 300 cm wide at its base. The mass of the fill is useful against low frequencies. Our first choice is suitable excavated material from the site; otherwise we use certified recycled crushed stone or regional gravel. More on the Klimawand R3

RAU Rock Extensive, for tight sites. Fibre cement panels with water-repellent rock wool, no fill required. The minimum build width is 13 cm, around 25 cm is typical. This fits a storage site right on a boundary or beside an access road. More on the Rock Extensive

RAU Rock Mobil, for construction phases or interim use. Pre-assembled elements are held by galvanised steel posts on movable concrete footings. According to its data sheet it reaches 20 dB absorption and 26 dB insulation. It suits a site that grows in stages and can later be taken down and set up elsewhere. More on the Rock Mobil

Wall or enclosure

A free-standing wall screens one side. When housing lies on several sides, or one unit is particularly loud, an enclosure can make sense. Cooling air, maintenance access and fire safety then need planning from day one, and a container must never draw its own exhaust air back in.

We have already built a Klimawand enclosure with doors: on an industrial site in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, containers are surrounded by Klimawand sections up to 4.80 m high, with two acoustic doors set into the wall.

What we need from you

site plan showing containers, inverters, transformers and access roads
noise report or the authority's requirements, if available
available width along the planned wall line
schedule, and whether the protection is permanent or temporary

From this we propose the system, alignment and height. We build with our own crews or supply the components for another contractor to install. Data sheets and test reports are available under Downloads. For planning and consent questions see Noise barriers for battery storage.

Frequently asked questions

Which RAU system is right for a battery storage site?

Mainly a question of available width and how long the protection is needed. With enough room we build the RAU Klimawand R3. Where space is tight, the RAU Rock Extensive needs as little as 13 cm. For temporary needs there is the RAU Rock Mobil. The systems can be combined along one wall line.

Does a wall help against transformer hum?

Low tones around 100 Hz are harder to screen than broadband noise. What helps is a heavy, gap-free wall of sufficient length placed close to the source. The filled Klimawand brings a lot of mass. How much it achieves at the nearest house can only be shown by the noise forecast for the actual site.

Which acoustic values have been tested?

For the Klimawand R3, sound insulation of 63 dB (category B3) is backed by the CE declaration of performance and an on-site measurement. Sound absorption of 20 dB (A4) applies with a soil fill; with other fills the declaration gives 5 to 8 dB. For the RAU Rock Extensive, an acouplan report gives 26 dB insulation (B3) and 20 dB absorption (A4).

Can protection be added to an existing storage site?

Yes. The walls are assembled on site and need no change to the plant itself. Access routes, maintenance paths and the airflow of the containers must stay clear.