The IEEE PES T&D Conference had several panel sessions that were standing-room only this year, and the panel on the energy storage applications was one of them. The panelists discussed challenges and lessons learned, as well as recommendations regarding solutions to enable the adoption of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
A few drivers behind the growing interest in these systems include:
- steadily decreasing technology prices
- technology maturity
- need to integrate increasing amounts of renewable energy
- regulatory mandates
This panel presented real-life experiences of utilities that are actively working on deploying energy storage technologies.
Panelists were from National Grid, Arizona Public Service, Duke Energy, PEPCO Holdings Inc., ComEd, and Entergy.
Duke discussed eight or so different BESS/microgrid installations. Lesson learned: Thermal management is key.
ComEd focused its presentation on reliability and resilence, capacity deferral and integration of DER. Lesson learned: Since the technology spans several corporate departments, success requires transforming a collection of departments into a village.
APS reviewed a patnership with EPRI that started with volt-var control and peak shaving that has set the stage for APS work in this technology area today.
PEPCO reviewed a demonstration project in Washington DC that is primarily for peak shaving that will delay having to upgrade some transformers.
NG has eight multiple-use energy storage projects. The Nantucket installation had a lot to discuss in this realm.
Entergy is also demonstrating a Paterson solar & storage site. Main lesson learned is that solutions need to be scaleable and interoperable.
