This article explores the advantages and challenges of wind energy storage, including increased grid stability, cost savings, and limited storage capacity, and how wind energy storage can help integrate renewable energy into the grid.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy storage systems?
Besides its advantages, wind energy is not constant and presents undesired fluctuations, which can affect the power quality, reliability, and generation dispatch. Energy storage systems (ESS) are used to smooth the wind power output, reducing fluctuations.
Wind-Battery Energy Storage System Topology. The grid power (P grid) is the combination of the wind power output (P wind) and the battery power (P BESS). The BESS is connected at a point of common coupling through a converter and can supply or extract power from the system.
Within the variety of energy storage systems available, the battery energy storage system (BESS) is the most utilized to smooth wind power output. However, the capacity of BESS to compensate for fluctuations is usually exceptionally large, which will increase the capital cost of the system and reducing its suitability.
Battery energy storage systems are crucial for enhancing energy independence, reducing reliance on the grid, lowering electricity costs, and providing backup power during outages. They play a significant role in stabilising energy supply and integrating renewable energy into the overall energy landscape.
How to improve power system reliability and reduce wind power fluctuation?
In order to improve the power system reliability and to reduce the wind power fluctuation, Yang et al. designed a fuzzy control strategy to control the energy storage charging and discharging, and keep the state of charge (SOC) of the battery energy storage system within the ideal range, from 10% to 90% .
Despite their benefits, battery energy storage systems have notable disadvantages. The initial investment for purchasing and installing these systems can be quite high, particularly for larger or more advanced configurations.