The role of energy storage in stabilizing networks powered by renewable energy sources
The currently observed dynamic development of renewable energy sources means that renewable sources will play an increasingly important role in the energy mix. The energy transformation is already a reality. However, in order to use the actual potential of these sources, electricity storage is a very important part. What role does it play in stabilizing networks powered by renewable energy sources?
Increasing importance of RES in energy production
Climate challenges, growing ecological awareness, striving for a higher level of environmental protection, but also the need to ensure the energy independence of the economy are factors that support the energy transformation. Renewable energy sources, such as wind energy or photovoltaics, play an important role in this process, and are a key element of the energy transformation. In Poland, we are observing a dynamic growth in energy from RES – both from photovoltaic installations and wind farms. According to data cited by the Energy Forum, in April 2024 the share of RES in the total electricity produced in Poland amounted to 30.7%. This is still not enough compared to other EU countries and Poland still remains at the forefront of the most emission-producing economies in the EU, but consistently, year after year, changes in the approach to energy production in the Polish economy can be seen.
Undoubtedly, despite the growing share of renewable energy sources in energy production in Poland, we are still far from using the full potential of energy from renewable sources currently available. To make this possible, appropriate investments are necessary. These investments include, among others, energy storage technologies.
What are electricity storage facilities?
Renewable energy storage, as the name suggests, is used to store excess energy produced in order to use it at the desired time. These are primarily battery-based solutions. Energy storage technologies can use, for example, lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells or flow technologies. New ideas and proposals are also emerging in Poland, which in the future may bring interesting solutions in the field of energy storage, for example, gravity storage or solutions using hydrogen for energy storage.
The main purpose of using energy storage in the case of RES is to collect electricity for use at the right time or to send the produced energy to the grid. Renewable energy storage can be used in various installations, e.g. wind farms or photovoltaic farms. Wider use and optimization of the potential of energy storage can bring many benefits from the point of view of energy and the entire economy. These benefits include:
- continuing the energy transformation and reducing dependence on fossil fuels
- increasing the share of clean energy sources in the energy mix
- reducing energy costs
- ensuring continuity of energy supply
- optimizing and stabilizing the operation of the power grid
Despite a whole range of advantages, renewable energy sources cannot be considered as fully stable energy sources (in relation to demand). Electricity storage is a solution to deal with this problem. For example, photovoltaic energy storage can be charged during the day, when energy production is high, and the energy stored can be used at night. This is just an example on a micro scale, but RES energy storage can also affect the balancing and stabilization of the power grid on a much larger scale.stabilizację pracy sieci energetycznej w znacznie większej skali.
Electricity storage and power grid stabilization
What is the role of electricity storage in stabilising the grid? The use of RES can affect its operation in many fields. With a large number of prosumer installations on the grid, such as photovoltaic installations or windmills, there can be problems related to the quality of the voltage on the grid, especially during periods of increased energy production. The loads generated in this way can cause voltage drops and the potential benefits of renewable generation can be lost. The use of energy storage is a way of solving this problem, as it allows voltage to be symmetrised and stabilised, improving voltage quality and also enabling more efficient use of energy from prosumer installations.
Network stabilisation is one of the key arguments for the use of RES energy storage facilities. They also make it possible to reduce power losses or losses associated with the transmission of energy over longer distances, use intelligent systems to optimally manage the energy production process, balance the active power of medium- and low-voltage lines or compensate for the reactive power of lines, and in the event of a network failure, they can also provide an emergency power supply.
How can energy storage be used to stabilize the grid?
Distribution system operators have a major role to play in this process. Through the appropriate use of energy storage, they can manage the network load caused by power generation in such a way as to smooth it out, which will have a positive impact on network performance. What might this look like in practice? In the case of a grid with a lot of individual RES installations, the use of energy storage can allow it to be charged during the hours of power generation from these installations, and at times of high power demand (e.g. in the evening), the storage can be discharged. Importantly, intelligent algorithms can be used throughout the process to manage the operation of the storage in such a way that its battery is only charged from those phases where the voltage value exceeds standards.
Renewable Energy Storage – Summary
The use of energy storage facilities can bring many benefits both on a micro scale – from the perspective of individual consumers – and on a larger scale – the stable operation of the entire network. Bearing in mind the ongoing energy transformation, the pursuit of greater energy independence and the growing share of RES in the energy mix, the expansion of energy storage capacities and investments in energy storage facilities must not be forgotten.