Page 174 - Hybrid-Renewable Energy Systems in Microgrids

Renewable systems and energy storages for hybrid systems 157

Basically, ESS strive to achieve these goals in any established grid infrastructure:

• Efficient storage and delivery of electricity
• Resilient operation with flexibility
• Energy security
• Cost-efficient
• Sustainable
ESS deployment itself can be segregated broadly based on area of deployment as:
• Utility scale—implemented with the T&D networks to provide grid services.
• Consumer side—Behind-the-Meter implementation to participate in cost reduction and
Demand side management activities.
• Remote side—In isolated grids, realizing micro/nano/smart grids.

6.1 Utility scale
The most important market driver for ESS is the renewable energy sector with many
governments in the world aiming toward ambitious renewable targets. The renewable
targets are projected to reach more than 375 GW in the next five years in India [14].
ESS can be highly important in achieving the 2°C environmental emission targets
and in the development of the modernized infrastructure. Centralized grid is prone to
disruptions when encountered with natural disasters. Decentralized grid can fare far
better in such cases when equipped with storage. Falling prices of ESS is also one of
the major factors promoting their case in utility scale applications.
Difficulties: High upfront costs of ESS will continue to remain a major setback for
utility applications. People in the utility sector and power industry need to be educated
on technologies benefits and advantages of effective management and utilization. Ef-
ficient utilization of an ESS can realize implementation of same ESS for both capacity
and ancillary applications. Implementation and utilization of ESS for utility applica-
tions will require technically skilled system planners and operators.

6.2 Behind the Meter
Backup power at consumer side is one of the widest markets for ESS worldwide. Bat-
teries have been the most deployed ESS in this category [6]. Thermal energy storages
are also fast gaining on due to higher efficiencies. In case of commercial and industrial
customers, cost management is the priority function of ESS with utility electricity
rates determining the market economics. BTM also allows renewable penetration in
the domestic/distributed networks by introducing energy self-sufficient and self-sus-
taining. Increasing penetration of hybrid and distributed renewable systems will exert
pressure to restructure conventional power grids.
Difficulties: Applications of ESS in BTM sector are still developing with the major
setback in case of affordability on part of consumers. Local utilities and consumers
need to be introduced and educated on advantages of ESS with applications like De-
mand side management and consumer governed electricity market. It is obvious that
growth of local PV systems is a major contributor to need of BTM ESS but one cannot