Ch-4 ESS
Ch-4 ESS
4.1 Introduction
4.1.1 Definition of Energy Storage
Energy storage refers to the process of capturing energy produced at one time for use at a later time.
Energy Storage Systems (ESS) encompass a range of technologies that convert energy, typically electrical
energy, into a form that can be stored (e.g., potential, kinetic, chemical, thermal) and then convert it
back into usable electrical energy when needed. The interface between the storage medium and the
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electrical grid is almost always managed by sophisticated power electronics converters, which handle
charging, discharging, and grid synchronization.
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(VRES) like solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind turbines. Unlike dispatchable conventional generators,
VRES output is intermittent and often non-coincident with electricity demand patterns. This mismatch
poses significant challenges to the stability, reliability, and power quality of the electrical grid. A classic
illustration of this challenge, particularly with high solar penetration, is the ”Duck Curve” (Figure 4.1),
which shows a sharp decrease in net load (total load minus VRE generation) during midday solar peaks
and a steep ramp-up required from conventional generation or storage in the evening.
Energy storage acts as a crucial buffer:
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• It absorbs surplus energy during periods of high VRE generation or low demand.
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• It injects stored energy back into the grid during periods of low VRE generation or high demand.
By decoupling generation from consumption, ESS enables higher penetration of renewables, enhances
grid flexibility, and contributes to the decarbonization of the power sector.
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Fig. 4.1. Conceptual ”Duck Curve” illustrating the growing mid-day dip and evening ramp challenge
in net load due to increasing solar PV penetration.
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(ii) Grid Balancing, Stability, and Ancillary Services
Modern power grids require precise real-time balancing of generation and load to maintain stable fre-
quency (e.g., 50 Hz) and voltage profiles within acceptable limits. Fast-responding ESS, controlled via
advanced power electronics, are increasingly vital for providing ancillary services:
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• Frequency Regulation: Rapid injection or absorption of active power (kW) to counteract fre-
quency deviations caused by sudden generation-load imbalances. ESS offers faster and more accu-
rate response compared to conventional generators.
• Voltage Support: Injection or absorption of reactive power (VAR) to maintain local grid voltage
levels, particularly important in areas with high VRE penetration or weak grid infrastructure.
• Operating Reserves: Providing spinning, non-spinning, or supplemental reserves that can be
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dispatched quickly to cover generation shortfalls or unexpected load increases.
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• Inertial Response: Synthetically providing inertia through power electronic controls (virtual
inertia) to slow down the rate of change of frequency (RoCoF) during disturbances, enhancing grid
stability as synchronous generator inertia declines.
• Black Start Capability: Providing power to restart parts of the grid following a major blackout,
without relying on external power sources.
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• Energy Arbitrage: Exploiting electricity price differentials by charging during low-price periods
(e.g., overnight, high VRE output) and discharging during high-price periods.
• Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Deferral: Installing ESS at strategic locations to al-
leviate grid congestion or meet local peak demand, potentially delaying or avoiding costly upgrades
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backup
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increasing integration of intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
Ep = ρ · g · V · H (1)
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where, Ep is the stored energy (in joules, J), ρ is the density of water (approximately 1000 kg/m ), g
is the acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s2 ), V is the volume of water (m3 ), and H is the vertical head
or elevation difference between reservoirs (m).
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density and efficiency.
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process, lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode through the electrolyte while electrons flow
externally, storing energy in chemical form. During the discharging process, the ions migrate back to
the cathode, and electrons flow through the external load, providing electrical power.
This process is based on the principle of intercalation (insertion/extraction), where lithium ions
are inserted into and extracted from the electrode materials in a reversible manner. The closed-cell
configuration enables multiple charge-discharge cycles with high efficiency.
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E =C ·V (2)
where, E is the stored energy (in watt-hours, Wh), C is the battery capacity (in ampere-hours, Ah), and
V is the nominal voltage (in volts, V).
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molten salts, concrete, rocks) without changing its phase.
• Energy Stored:
Q = mcp ∆T (3)
−1 −1
where Q is heat energy (J), m is mass (kg), cp is specific heat capacity (J kg K ), and ∆T is
temperature change (K or ◦ C).
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(ii) Latent Heat Storage (PCM)
• Principle: Stores energy using the heat absorbed/released during a phase transition (e.g., solid-
liquid) of a Phase Change Material (PCM) at a nearly constant temperature.
• Energy Stored (during phase change):
, Q = mL (4)
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where L is the specific latent heat (J kg−1 ).
ηRT = (5)
Qin
Typical round-trip efficiency values include:
• Sensible heat storage: 85–99% (especially with high insulation),
4.3.3.3 Applications
TES is applied in various sectors, including:
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4.3.4.2 Stored Energy
The energy stored in a supercapacitor is given by-
1
E= C ·V2 (6)
2
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where, C = Capacitance (F), V = Operating voltage (V)
major challenge.
and fuel cell is depicted in Fig. 4.4. The produced hydrogen is stored in various forms (compressed gas,
liquefied, metal hydrides, or chemical carriers such as ammonia). It is then reconverted to electricity
using fuel cells (producing DC) or combustion turbines/engines (producing AC). The Proton Exchange
Membrane (PEM) is one of the most promising hydrogen production techniques.
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Fig. 4.4. Hydrogen storage system from electrolyzer to fuel cell.
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4.3.5.2 Pros and Cons
• Pros: Enables very long-duration (e.g., seasonal) storage, high energy density by mass, serves as a
versatile energy carrier (applicable for electricity, heating, transport fuel, and industrial feedstock).
• Cons: Low electrical round-trip efficiency (30 % to 50 % for the full P2G2P cycle due to multiple
energy conversions), high capital costs (electrolyzers, storage systems, and reconversion units),
infrastructure and transport challenges, and safety concerns due to hydrogen’s flammability and
storage requirements.
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4.3.5.3 Applications
Grid-scale energy storage (especially long-duration and seasonal), backup power systems, fuel for hydrogen-
powered vehicles (FCEVs), industrial processes (e.g., ammonia production, refining), and heating.
This section details the fundamental Key Performance Metrics (KPMs) used to characterize ESS, focus-
ing primarily on electrochemical storage (batteries), which is the most prevalent type for many electrical
engineering applications. Understanding these metrics is essential for system design, integration, eco-
nomic analysis, and operational management.
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• Units: Typically kilowatt-hours (kW h) or megawatt-hours (MW h) for grid-scale systems; Ampere-
hours (A h) multiplied by nominal voltage (V) can also represent energy, especially at the cell/module
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level.
• Significance: Determines how long the ESS can supply power at a given rate or serve a specific
energy demand (e.g., powering a home overnight, peak shaving duration).
• Note: Usable Energy Capacity is often less than the rated capacity due to operational constraints
like Depth of Discharge limits (see Section 4.4.5).
4.4.3 C-Rate
Power capability is often expressed relative to energy capacity using the C-rate.
• Definition: A measure of the rate at which an ESS is charged or discharged relative to its nominal
energy capacity (typically in A h or kW h). A rate of 1C means discharge/charge would complete
in 1 hour if sustained.
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• Calculation: The C-rate is calculated as:
Power (P )
C-rate = [h−1 ] (7)
Energy Capacity (E)
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• Example: A 100 kW h battery discharging at 50 kW has a C-rate of 50 kW / 100 kW h = 0.5 h−1 ,
commonly written as C/2 or 0.5C. Discharging at 100 kW is 1C, and at 200 kW is 2C. Charging at
25 kW is C/4 or 0.25C.
• Significance: Higher C-rates generally lead to lower efficiency and potentially faster degradation.
Datasheets specify maximum allowable C-rates for charging and discharging.
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4.4.4 Round-Trip Efficiency (RTE)
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• Definition: The ratio of the total electrical energy discharged by the ESS to the total electrical
energy required to charge it, over one complete charge-discharge cycle under specified conditions.
Edischarged
RTE (%) = × 100% (8)
Echarged
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• Factors: RTE is influenced by C-rate (lower efficiency at higher rates), temperature, state of
charge (SoC), and system age (degradation).
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• Significance: Essential for operation and control. The Battery Management System (BMS)
continuously estimates SoC to manage charging/discharging, prevent over-charge or over-discharge,
and provide user information. Accurate SoC estimation can be complex, relying on voltage, current
integration, and sometimes impedance measurements or model-based techniques.
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• Definition: A measure of the current condition of an ESS (primarily batteries) compared to
its ideal or beginning-of-life (BoL) condition. It reflects the system’s degradation. SoH is often
expressed in terms of remaining capacity or increased internal resistance relative to the BoL values.
Current Max Capacity
SoHCapacity (%) = × 100% (12)
Rated Initial Capacity
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SoHResistance (%) =
Initial Internal Resistance
Current Internal Resistance
× 100% (13)
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(Note the inverse relationship for resistance-based SoH).
• Units: Percentage (%).
• Significance: Indicates the aging and degradation of the ESS. Used for predicting remaining useful
life, scheduling maintenance, and assessing warranty conditions. End-of-life (EoL) for an ESS is
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often defined when SoH drops below a certain threshold (e.g., 70 % to 80 % of initial capacity).
typically provide cycle life curves or values under specific test conditions.
• Units:
– Volumetric: W h L−1 (Wh/L) or kW h m−3 (kWh/m3 ).
– Gravimetric: W h kg−1 (Wh/kg).
• Significance: Critical for applications where space or weight are constraints, such as electric
vehicles (EVs), portable electronics, and aerospace applications. Higher energy density allows for
longer range in EVs or longer runtime in devices for the same size/weight.
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4.4.11 Power Density
• Definition: The amount of power available per unit volume (Volumetric Power Density) or per
unit mass (Gravimetric Power Density).
• Units:
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– Volumetric: W L−1 (W/L) or kW m−3 (kW/m3 ).
– Gravimetric: W kg−1 (W/kg).
• Significance: Important for applications requiring high power output from a compact or lightweight
package (e.g., power tools, hybrid vehicle acceleration, fast frequency response). Note that tech-
nologies often involve a trade-off between energy density and power density (e.g., supercapacitors
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have high power density but low energy density, while some battery chemistries are the opposite).
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4.4.12 Cost Metrics
• Capital Cost (CAPEX): Initial investment cost, often expressed per unit of energy capacity
(e.g., $/kWh) or power rating (e.g., $/kW). This includes the cost of hardware, installation, power
electronics, battery management system (BMS), and other associated components.
• Operational Cost (OPEX): Ongoing expenses for maintenance, system operation, auxiliary
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power usage, and potential component replacements (e.g., battery module augmentation).
• Levelized Cost of Storage (LCOS): The average cost per unit of energy discharged over the
system’s lifetime. It accounts for CAPEX, OPEX, charging energy cost, efficiency, degradation,
discount rate, and total discharged energy. LCOS is a key economic metric to compare different
storage technologies and use-cases.
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where N is the project lifetime in years, r is the discount rate, and t represents each year in the
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analysis.
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Fig. 4.5. Typical Block Diagram of a BMS.
excess energy as heat) or actively (redistributing charge between cells), thus improving efficiency
and lifespan.
4. Microcontroller (Control Unit):
Serving as the brain of the BMS, the microcontroller processes sensor data, executes control algo-
rithms, and manages protective actions. It also estimates the State of Charge (SoC) and State of
Health (SoH) of the battery.
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5. Protection Circuitry:
This circuitry safeguards the battery by disconnecting it during fault conditions such as overcurrent,
short circuits, or extreme temperatures. It typically uses relays or MOSFETs for safe isolation.
6. Communication Interface:
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Enables the BMS to communicate with external systems including vehicle control units and charg-
ers. Communication is typically achieved via standard protocols such as CAN (Controller Area
Network) or LIN (Local Interconnect Network).
4.6 Conclusion
Energy Storage Systems are vital for building sustainable and resilient power systems. They support
renewable integration, enhance grid flexibility, and offer scalable solutions across various applications.
While challenges remain in cost, duration, and sustainability, ongoing innovations continue to strengthen
their role in achieving a reliable and low-carbon energy future.