Scaling up: Pushing battery energy storage to its limits in isolated microgrids
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are quickly becoming ubiquitous in our power networks. Utilities, independent power producers, private industry and homeowners have quickly adopted this newest distributed energy resource technology for the numerous benefits batteries offer. There is one installation type where the capabilities of BESS are pushed to their limits to realize their full potential; isolated microgrids. These unique power systems must rely on their own power generation (typically diesel or natural gas generators) and maintain balance between generation and load without relying on broader transmission networks. The installation of variable renewable technologies such as wind and solar into microgrids have significant benefits to these systems, but also present significant challenges compared to grid scale systems. Battery energy storage systems are the catalyst allowing the integration of high amounts of renewable energy into these power systems. In order to do this, all capabilities of battery energy storage systems must be used. This includes frequency support, voltage support, capacity, energy shifting, grid forming capabilities and black start, often referred to as the BESS “value stack”. Typically, large battery energy storage installations only take advantage of one or two BESS capabilities, but microgrids require all the capabilities to be used.
This discussion will focus on how BESS have supported the rapid growth of renewables in microgrids and how these projects are a bellwether for the future integration of large-scale renewables in our broader power networks. In some cases, these projects involve a steep increase of renewable energy integration, going from 0% to over 80% renewable penetration in a single project. Hatch will focus on several case studies that range from large industrial facilities in the arctic, utility-operated microgrid “fleets” and small community-based microgrids powering remote indigenous communities in Canada. We will draw on our experience having been involved in over 40 projects looking at renewable and BESS integration.