INTEGRATION OF DISTRIBUTED BATTERY STORAGES IN MODERN POWER GRIDS

SmartGrids are the core of the future power supply. They are cell-wise structured, intelligent power grids which are interconnected to exchange both energy and information. In each SmartGrid, control center engineers will supervise the grid and dispatch its distributed, renewable generators (RES), the assigned power plants, the loads and the energy storages. Wind and PV generation, however, is volatile and subject to the weather. Small distributed battery storages in the distribution grid to compensate their fluctuations can be a new approach to solve the problem. This paper presents first the results of a research project between the University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt, Germany, and the regional DSO, HSE Energy. The final goal is to transform the regional distribution grid to a SmartGrid with 30% RES generation till 2020. The authors' calculations have shown that stationary, distributed battery storages in the distribution grid have a couple of positive effects: The peak load can be reduced, investments in grid assets can be postponed and the number of full load hours of RES facilities are increased significantly. In times of a high spread in energy prices, they even reduce energy acquisition costs. The paper shows two of these applications for battery storages and some rules for dimensioning and planning. In this context, the authors also doubt the suitability of unbundled electricity market structures for future tasks in operational control of Smart Grids.