Strategizing sustainability: Integrating hybrid energy storage systems into renewable power grid for optimal operation

De-carbonization of present energy systems and fulfilment of sustainable development goals (SDGs) are driving a brisk proliferation of renewable energy sources into the power system. In this context, hybrid power systems (HPS) contribute an imperative role to power grid in attaining optimum sustainability by enhancing the share of renewable energy (RE) and deploying new forms of energy storage facilities. However, the intermittency and unpredictable attributes of RE may make the scheduling and operation of HPS extremely vulnerable. To address these issues, this work demonstrates the impact of hybrid energy storage system (HESS) on the voltage secure and cost effective operation of HPS. The HESS consists of combination of battery and pumped hydro storage systems and the HPS under consideration consists of wind-PV-thermal (WPT) system of generation. To portray the effectiveness of HESS, a comparative evaluation among three different grid connected power system configurations with and without the HESS is carried out in a constrained optimization framework. Modified bacteria foraging algorithm has been implemented to evaluate the optimal generation schedule for the HPS configurations. Results show the supremacy of HESS+WPT over WPT in terms of presenting superior cost effective and voltage secure system operation. IEEE30 bus benchmark power system has been used for the validation of results.