Energy storage for system reliability and interconnection

Benefits of fast-response storage devices for system regulation in ISO markets.

High performance energy storage systems, such as advanced batteries, flywheels, and compressed air, have been attracting considerable interest for use in electricity system regulation, responding to Automatic Generation Control (AGC) signals.

This is particularly so in Independent System Operator (ISO) environments where there can be significant revenue potential. However, the prospect of widespread use of storage for regulation raises a number of complex and interrelated questions about effectiveness and economics.

Dynamic simulation
The AES Corporation engaged KEMA to further the understanding of using storage for frequency regulation to improve electric grid system reliability, efficiency and flexibility. KEMA used a detailed dynamic simulation of three different representative ISO environments, including AGC systems and real time markets, to explore the performance of high performance energy storage systems when used for regulation.

Effective
Through the modeling, KEMA reached a number of conclusions about the use of fast-response storage devices to provide regional regulation services, the desirable energy-to-power ratio of the device, and the control schemes to operate it. One overarching finding is that a fast-response storage device with an appropriate duration period (energy-to-power capacity ratio) is at least as effective as conventional generation for the supply of regulating services. There also may be additional benefits such as decreasing dependence on traditional generation units, and thus reducing adverse emission effects.

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