Opportunities for Smart Electric Thermal Storage on Electric Grids With Renewable Energy

Electric thermal storage (ETS) can be used to alter electric heating demand without affecting comfort. While traditionally used for peak shaving, ETS coupled with the smart grid can increase a system’s variable renewable energy capacity. A methodology is presented to evaluate how ETS can be used with hydro-electric and wind resources to meet load growth in isolated grids. Through a case study of the Yukon electric grid, it is found that ETS and wind resources can play complementary roles to meet its future energy balancing demands (though high capital costs remain an obstacle). ETS, especially when controlled dynamically through the smart grid (as opposed to statically through time-of-use), is found to be particularly effective in reducing diesel consumption, and thus greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, by capturing the wind and hydro potential that would otherwise be spilled.