Energy Storage Applications for Distribution Grid Support: Composition of Controlling Strategies and a Standardized Model

Abstract

Distribution grids will basically change in the near future: the increasing penetration of renewable energy causes high percentage of intermittent and decentralized generation. This procedure will lead to problems which are unknown for a conventionally planned and operated grid. Bidirectional power flows, power quality issues and voltage sags can occur. Energy storage systems (ESSs) are able to play a key role in the solutions. With a well-developed controlling strategy, these applications could support the low voltage grids locally: virtual islanding operations and load following, or improved reliability with reserves are both feasible. ESSs can even be used for trading on the liberalized electricity market. The focus of this work is to build up a modelling method and an analysing script, to test some self-composed controlling algorithms. The simulation considerate the main parameters of an ESS: efficiency, capacity, response time, cycle lifetime in optional time steps through load flow simulations. If a grid model meets a few requirements, it can be used as an input for the simulation script. With further standardizing, this program could be a useful tool for the distribution system operators (DSOs) and network developers. The results which contain all the relevant electrical power system parameters on an optional timescale could be exported for further evaluation.