Cost-Benefit Analysis of Battery Storage System for Voltage Compliance in Distribution Grids with High Distributed Generation

The increasing distributed generation of renewable energies in distribution networks leads to several challenges for distribution network operators (DNOs). During high feed-in times, voltage violations can occur if the hosting capacity of the grid for distributed generation is exceeded. The paper at hand investigates the installation of grid-supporting battery storage system (BSS) in the medium voltage (MV) level to serve mainly for voltage compliance and to defer grid reinforcement. A control approach for the BSS based on two characteristic curves is suggested. The BSS is then analyzed technically and economically for scenarios of high distributed generation. The results show that the alternative of BSS has potential to defer grid reinforcement in the presented case studies. However, the power curtailment is more viable than the BSS and grid reinforcement. The economic viability of BSS can increase in the future based on the expected reduction of battery costs. Furthermore, BSS have the technical potential for providing other services, since voltage violations occur during high feed-in times. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.