Power systems with high levels of energy storage could successfully balance load 24/7 and see other operational, economic, and environmental benefits. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL.
Energy storage’s ability to store electricity when demand is low and discharge stored electricity when demand is high could offer significant value to the grid, but it does add complexity to grid operations. Some days, a storage technology could charge 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from sun or midnight to 6 a.m. from wind. Other days, it could charge both ways or not at all.
To help grid operators understand how to use this unique asset, in the latest phase of the Storage Futures Study (SFS) the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) modeled grid operations in future high-storage power systems, down to the hour. Findings are published in an NREL technical report.
“We once again find that the…
Happy Hours: Energy Storage Could Support the Grid Every Hour of the Day, All Year Long
