Energy Storage system, or ESS, is a rechargeable battery system that stores energy from the electric grid or any renewable energy source and provides that energy back to the building when needed. The primary component of an ESS is Lithium-ion Battery (LiB). A LifePo4 based Energy Storage System typically comprises a cathode (positive electrode) which is a metal oxide, an anode (negative electrode) which is porous carbon, and an electrolyte.
LifePo4 based Energy storage systems are becoming very popular and affordable for a variety of applications. The price of ESS has declined by over 90% in the last ten years while their performance and cycle life have increased considerably.
A battery backup system can be powered by the grid or by solar rooftop photovoltaic (RTPV) systems. While a typical DG set operates during power outages, which are only a few hours per month, the Su-vastika grid-connected energy storage system can support the grid 24×7 by providing frequency and voltage support and can be a great resource for renewable energy (RE) and electric vehicle (EV) integration with the electricity distribution grid.
An Energy Storage System like that of Su-vastika that is based on LifePo4 battery which is a proven technology and considered to be one of the most stable and accepted battery technology in the industry is famous for providing power backup for the building. But what are its other applications?
Price arbitrage: When electricity prices are low, batteries can be charged using cheap electricity, and when they are high, they can be discharged.
By storing excess energy generated from renewable energy sources that could otherwise be reduced, ESS can perform a similar time-shift job.
Peak shaving: Using the ESS’s stored energy during peak hours, peak shaving is a type of energy time-shift application that enables the user to lower his maximum grid demand. It is possible for an energy storage system to be installed at a user building, next to an energy-producing facility, or in another area of the grid. The variable operating costs, round-trip efficiency, and storage performance degradation over time are crucial factors for the ESS to function in peak shaving applications.
Delaying grid upgrades: ESS could be utilized to delay or lessen the requirement to increase transmission and distribution grid capacity by building additional generation capacity. In this application, when demand is high, the ESS supplies a portion of the peak capacity, lowering grid demand. When there is less demand, the ESS is recharged.
System regulation: By correcting the fleeting disparities between demand and generation within a control area or fleeting deviations in interchange flows across control areas, induced by continual oscillations in generation and loads, a BESS may efficiently regulate or balance the power system. Because sudden fluctuations in power production could cause severe wear and tear, conventional power plants are less suitable for this purpose. In this type of balancing application, BESS with a rapid reaction feature is appropriate.
Voltage support: Grid operators must keep the grid voltage within predetermined bounds. This typically calls for Volt/VAR support, or the management of both active and reactive power. Voltage support is particularly useful during peak load times when transformers and distribution lines are typically overloaded. BESS may act as a source or sink of reactive power if it were strategically situated. BESS’s dispersed installation on the grid enables close voltage support for big loads.
Renewable energy load following or ramping support: One of the auxiliary services needed to balance the electric grid with a significant amount of RE resources is load following. In order to account for variations in load as well as variations in RE generation, ESS can deliver (discharge) or absorb (charge) power. In general, the rate of change, or ramp rate in a generation, should be kept within predetermined limitations; this application is a type of ramp rate control.
ESS has the following benefits over traditional power generation:
- It can run at partial load with just minor performance concerns.
- ESS can react to varying loads quickly.
- By charging or discharging, ESS is suited for both load following up (as the load grows) and load following down (as the load lowers).
- Grid fluctuation from RE generation can be tamed via ESS.
- ESS can maintain a predetermined power factor and stop voltage swings that could harm delicate equipment.
Frequency response: Conventional power plants with synchronous generators often offer the physical inertia necessary to preserve the stability of the power system. In order to maintain a power system’s minimum level of total inertia, the quantity of synthetic inertia should be increased if the total amount of physical inertia drops. BESS can adjust for changes in the grid frequency by introducing artificial inertia into the system.
Management of Time of Use (ToU) bills: In situations where electricity rates vary based on the time of day, storing energy for use during peak hours can help keep expenses down. When energy is taken from the grid to be stored during periods of low demand and price (usually at night) and then consumed during times of high demand and price, it would help lower the total power bills.
Congestion relief in the transmission and distribution systems: The transmission and distribution networks’ capacities are used to their fullest during peak hours during the peak season (summer months). The greatest peak load is only encountered for a few hours a year, but reinforcing the grid to handle that extra load for those few hours a year would be quite expensive. In these situations, ESS can delay system improvements by a few years by relieving demand when the network is congested. Strategically placed ESS can handle such loads that cause network congestion.
To conclude we can say that yes, Energy Storage Solution is the only future-proof, green power solution that can be used in almost every situation.
