Assessing the technical performance of renewable power plants and energy storage systems from a power system perspective

Abstract In the electric power system, the share of renewable energy sources (RES) and energy storage systems (ESS) is increasing continuously. These changes have a considerable impact on the operation and performance of the power system. Therefore, in order to maintain a high performance, it is essential to assess and in a next step to improve the impact of RES and ESS on the power system. Methods of assessing the impact and of assessing RES and ESS in general are not developed sufficiently yet. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to introduce a novel assessment method for the technical performance of RES and ESS installations from a power system perspective. The assessment approach involves two assessment parameters which describe the temporal and geographic performance of a power plant in general and in particular of RES. The parameters were derived by comparing the temporal power profile and the geographical or electrical distance of the power generation and the electric loads. The assessment parameters allow the technical analysis and the comparison of different RES and EES installations from a power system perspective. Based on that, decisions regarding the realization or improvement of RES plants can be made. A graphical illustration shows the technical performance at a glance and enables the assessment of different improvement methods as well. The paper deals with three improvement methods to enhance the technical performance of RES plants: the combined installation of RES plants and ESS, the selection of appropriate grid coupling points and the clustering of RES plants were discussed in case studies. The results show how the different improvement methods can enhance the temporal performance and/or the geographic performance of RES plants. The assessment approach is useable for several purposes, e.g. for system operators, ESS manufacturers or policymakers in order to promote RES and ESS installations with a high technical performance and a beneficial impact on the power system.