Utility-scale batteries provide a wide range of grid services beyond just frequency response. These services can be broadly categorized as ancillary services, energy services, and transmission and distribution (T&D) services:
Ancillary Services
- Frequency response: Utility-scale batteries quickly inject or absorb power to maintain grid frequency stability around 60 Hz by balancing supply and demand nearly instantaneously.
- Voltage support: Batteries help stabilize grid voltage by providing fast reactive power support.
- Ramping and spinning reserve: They offer immediate backup power during rapid changes in generation or consumption, ensuring system stability.
- Fast response: Batteries can ramp their output from 0% to 100% in seconds, much faster than conventional thermal generators, which makes them uniquely suited to support grid reliability and ancillary functions.
Energy Services
- Capacity and resource adequacy: Battery storage adds system capacity during peak demand or emergencies, improving reliability during heatwaves, outages, or adverse weather. They function as firm capacity resources for utility planning.
- Solar firming and renewables shifting: By storing excess solar power when available and discharging it when needed, batteries smooth the intermittency of renewables and reduce curtailment.
- Energy arbitrage: Batteries charge when electricity prices or demand are low and discharge when supply is tight or prices are higher, optimizing energy costs and load on the grid.
Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Services
- Capacity support and upgrade deferral: Batteries sited strategically on the grid can reduce congestion and line losses, improving efficiency and deferring or avoiding costly infrastructure upgrades.
- Transmission capacity support: They supply power at distributed locations, enhancing grid resilience and flexibility by supporting local grid needs without new transmission investments.
In summary, utility-scale battery storage systems are versatile assets capable of delivering a suite of grid support services including but not limited to frequency response. Their fast, flexible capabilities help balance supply and demand, improve grid reliability, enable higher renewable penetration, and reduce infrastructure costs across the power system.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/can-utility-scale-batteries-provide-other-grid-services-besides-frequency-response/
