Power Consumption Analysis of the Power System in a Gigafactory: A Review

Recent decades have seen substantial growth in the demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs); as a result, the number of gigafactories is increasing. The power systems of these gigafactories are the most important parts of these installations, as they are directly responsible for energy efficiency, operational cost, and sustainable growth of the LIB industry. This necessitates the need for comprehensive studies of power consumption in a gigafactory during the LIB manufacturing process. This paper presents a detailed review of the state-of-the-art of different parts and components of power systems in gigafactories, and power consumption estimation during cell production. This research analyzes the existing components of a power system, including power sources, different power distribution mechanisms, various power equipment, thermal management strategies, failure analysis methods, and several technologies for regenerative functions. The analysis of the above-mentioned components, systems, and technologies will enable us to understand the cumulative power consumption profile of the gigafactory, including the power consumption at each step of the production process, for normal non-production operations, like powering and lighting the facility, and for the complex and highly sophisticated power distribution system. The outcomes of this research paper highlight the importance of an optimized power system for the gigafactory, with maximum possible efficiency and minimal power losses during transmission, distribution, operational stages, and the cell formation process. This paper also helps to understand the shortcomings in existing systems and technologies, suggests improvements, and provides targets for future research directions.