A techno-economic analysis of the integration of energy storage technologies in electric power systems

Abstract

Energy storage plays a key role in enabling any country to develop a low-carbon, environmentally friendly energy system. Energy storage technology (EST) devices can supply more flexibility and balance to the main grid, providing a backup to intermittent energy needs. ESTs can provide an improvement in the transmission and distribution networks, which will improve energy efficiency. This in turn will considerably reduce the cost of energy transmission. In light of this, ESTs can not only accelerate the de-carbonization of the electricity grid, but also enhance the security and efficiency of electricity transmission and its distribution by reducing unplanned loop flows, grid congestion, and voltage and frequency variations. This can stabilize electricity market prices and correspondingly guarantee a higher security of energy supply to the consumers. ESTs can also pave the way to the introduction of renewable energy. In this study, the advantages of ESTs to meet the future energy demand for the arid region are investigated. The integration of the various ESTs that are suitable for arid region's power system is evaluated in terms of technical, environmental, and economic aspects to obtain the optimal EST for each position. Both Energy Storage Computational Tool and Energy Storage Select tools are used to evaluate and assess the ESTs and accordingly realize the optimum EST for each position. Based on the investigation and analysis, the rankings of ESTs suitable to an arid region are sodium sulphur batteries, lead acid batteries, and sodium nickel chloride batteries. These are ideal ESTs for the arid region's power sector as they are more probable to optimize the power supply and high demands at peak loads within the existing electrical power system.