Renewable energy
Reduce variability
Variations in wind speed and/or shading of the sun occur throughout the day. During these variations, the ESM will discharge its stored energy. The combination of renewable generation and ESM will provide a more constant output onto the grid.
Utilize generation peaks
A renewable generation profile will not always coincide with utility demands for electricity. This can result in excess renewable power that is not utilized. The ESM stores this excess and then discharges it back onto the grid during peak demand.
Improving grid stability through ramping
Sudden changes in weather conditions can lead to an entire wind or solar farm being disconnected from the grid. This can lead to an immediate and severe impact on the power system. The ESM provides a quick and dispatchable output of energy. This compensate for the sudden loss of renewable generation and helps to ensure grid reliability.
Smart grid
Outage management
The ESM can provide power for short periods of time to a network, reducing or eliminating the effect of a temporary fault.
Load shifting
Load shifting is the practice of altering the pattern of energy use so that on-peak energy use is shifted to off-peak periods. To reduce the end-user's energy costs, the ESM is charged with low-priced energy and discharged later when energy prices are high.
Peak shaving
The ESM discharges its stored energy when there is high consumption of electricity. This reduces the demand on the grid and the need for excess generation.
Benefits:
- Commercial and industrial customers reduce their energy charges by improving their load factor
- Utilities reduce the operational cost of generating power in peak periods (reducing the need for peaking units)
- Investment in infrastructure is delayed because they have flatter loads with smaller peaks
Power quality
Voltage support
Energy storage with reactive power capability can provide voltage support and respond quickly to voltage control signals.
Frequency regulation
The ESM is an attractive alternative for this application with its rapid response.