Storage in energy systems

The potential of any energy component can only be assessed with a whole system context. Until now whole system scenario modeling, does not adequately capture thermal and electrical energy storage. This was due to the short timescales over which the storage operates, cost, performance and uncertainties of technologies. In addition, the development of algorithms to control the stores and other system components, as demands and renewable supplies vary, is a major challenge. This is due to the fact that control strategy needs to optimise over period from minutes to days to months depending by size of stores. In this paper, the sequential allocation (SA) algorithm has been applied and it is seen that it performs well in that demands are rescheduled to make good use of available renewable electricity over fairly short periods. A greater challenge remains to optimise the configuration of the energy system including storage at the same as optimising the dynamic system control.

Storage in energy systems. Energy Procedia, 42 670-679.

Barrett, M., Spataru, C. (2013)