Optimal Design and Operation Management of Battery-Based Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in Microgrids

Energy storage systems (ESSs) can enhance the performance of energy networks in multiple ways; they can compensate the stochastic and intermittent nature of renewable energies and change them accordingly into predictable and controllable energy sources which is the main requirement for the large-scale integration of renewables into the grid environment. Energy storage options can also be used for economic operation of energy systems to cut down system’s operating cost. By utilizing ESSs, it is very possible to store energy in off-peak hours with lower cost and energize the grid during peak load intervals avoiding high price spikes. Moreover, storage devices can be used as an effective mechanism for shaping the daily load curve in order to reduce electricity bills of consumers. In other words, application of ESSs will enable better utilization of distributed energy sources and provide higher controllability at supply/demand side which is helpful for load levelling or peak shaving purposes. Last but not least, ESSs can provide frequency regulation services in offgrid locations where there is a strong need to meet the power balance in different operating conditions. Each of the abovementioned applications of energy storage units requires certain performance measures and constraints, which has to be well considered in design phase and embedded in control and management strategies. This chapter mainly focuses on these aspects and provides a general framework for optimal design and operation management of battery-based ESSs in energy networks.