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energy storage energy

A Brief History of Utility-Scale

Energy Storage

By John Vernacchia

5-MW Utility-Scale Demonstration intelligent power management, the energy
How utilities are employing energy Was First of its Kind storage system can store or release energy
storage systems for grid support In October 2012, a 5-MW/1.25-MWh depending on energy market conditions to
and renewable energy firming energy storage system, part of a broader optimize lower cost generation resources.
The system can also prioritize renewable
U.S. Department of Energy Smart Grid generation over fossil fuel plants, ensuring that
Demonstration project, was commissioned the utility makes the best use of renewable
ive years ago, a mere 0.34 GW of energy for Portand General Electric (PGE). This early
storage could be found globally. Fast energy storage system was integrated with energy that is already available.
F forward and the market is expecting 6 GW an existing distribution feeder and utility-
to be installed in 2017 alone. Globally, analysts dispatched distribution generation, to form The integrated control system operates the
expect the energy storage market to grow 47 a high-reliability zone. The system was an energy storage system in a variety of modes
percent in 2017 over 2016 installations. Most industry-first; it used lithium-ion battery interfacing with inverters, power meters, the
of these deployments will be utility-scale technology in a large, utility-scale application battery management system and the utility’s
projects, while other markets are also showing that could operate connected to the traditional upstream system controls. This control system
significant growth. Best practices from recent utility supply or as an island in voltage forming with closed-loop controls coordinates the
storage projects are revealing ways to shorten mode, allowing the generation on the feeder operation of the inverters and balances states
project timelines, reduce costs and effectively to connect to it. of charge among the forty battery blocks. In
deploy electrical energy storage systems. When connected to the substation, through the event of an upstream outage, the control
system, combined with custom inverter

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