What is BESS?
BESS is an electrochemical energy storage system.
Battery Energy Storage Systems are rechargeable batteries that can store energy from different sources, such as solar and wind power, and discharge it when needed.
BESS consists of one or more batteries, used to balance the electric grid, provide backup power, and improve grid stability.
Types of Energy Storage Systems:
Mechanical, thermal, electrochemical, electrical, and chemical storage systems are among the several energy storage technologies that are available, as illustrated below:
The pumped Hydro Energy Storage System is explained in detail here. PSH
Why Energy Storage Systems Required?
When a significant amount of variable and intermittent renewable energy is added to the energy mix, grid stability, and a consistent electricity supply are challenged.
The problem with renewable energy sources is that they change depending on the season, climate, time of year, and location. The available energy from renewable sources can be stored using Energy Storage Systems (ESS), which can then be used at the day’s busiest times.
Energy storage has several advantages, including reducing generation variability in renewable energy sources, enhancing grid stability, facilitating energy/peak shifting, offering ancillary support services, facilitating greater integration of renewable energy, lowering peak deficit and peak tariffs, lowering carbon emissions, deferring transmission and distribution capital expenditures, and enabling energy arbitrage, among other things.
Benefits of BESS used in powerplants:
If demand falls below the Minimum Environmental Load (MEL) of the power plant, it can also absorb and store the excess power. By charging the integrated BESS in times of lower demand, power plants can be operated longer in this power range. As a result, their average specific fuel consumption could be lower.
Energy is released from the battery storage system during peak demand times, keeping costs down, and electricity flowing, thus reducing the need to buy more expensive energy units.
Additionally, BESS is utilized to reduce the grid synchronization time for conventional power facilities of various kinds, including gas turbine peaking units and classic steam plants.
Primary components and working of BESS:
Battery:
The battery is the fundamental element of an electrical energy storage system.
Nowadays, the most widely employed storage technology for large-scale facilities that help electrical grids maintain a consistent supply of renewable energy is lithium-ion batteries, which are used in electric cars and cell phones.
Battery modules containing individual low-voltage battery cells arranged in racks within either a module or container enclosure. The battery cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy. The batteries are connected in series and parallel for the required capacity.
Battery management system (BMS):
The battery management system (BMS) handles cell charging, balancing, and health monitoring, complemented by a microcontroller providing system control and communication.
The BMS data is internally collected and used to monitor and maintain an optimum level of charge without overcharging the battery, helping to prolong the lifecycle of the system.
Power conversion/conditioning system (PCS):
The power conversion system is designed to convert the direct current produced by batteries, or the battery system, into alternating current that can be used for power consumption on the grid.
During off-peak time, the PCS takes the energy from the grid to store in the BESS. In essence, the PCS’s main function is to convert the power between the energy storage system and the grid, and vice versa. It accomplishes that by offering a bi-directional flow from DC-AC and AC-DC.
Intelligent battery software uses algorithms to coordinate energy production and computerized control systems are used to decide when to store energy or to release it to the grid.
Energy management system (EMS):
The EMS coordinates the BMS, inverters, and other components of the battery energy system by collecting and analyzing data used to manage and optimize the overall system performance.
Safety systems:
A BESS will contain cooling, heating, and air conditioning systems, smoke detection, fire suppression, and a temperature control system, dependent on system functionality and operating conditions.
BESS Types:
1. Front of The Meter (FTM):
FTM BESS are systems that are, either directly connected to the utility grid or are owned and operated by electric utility companies. These systems are typically integrated with generation facilities, distribution networks, or transmission systems. Their primary roles are to help the electric utility companies by offering arbitrage, conventional generation support, capacity firming, upstream disturbance limitation, frequency management, voltage support, black start, and distribution power quality.
2 . Behind The Meter (BTM):
BTM BESS is installed on the consumer’s side of the utility service meter. These systems are common in commercial, industrial, and residential settings. The main goal of BTM BESS is to manage energy consumption for the consumer and reduce electricity bills by integrating renewable energy, Peak shaving and demand charge management, Uninterrupted power supply, Power quality management, Time-of-use energy cost management, EV fast charging infrastructure, etc.,
