Low voltage power grid congestion reduction using a community battery: Design principles, control and experimental validation

Werner van Westering, Hans Hellendoorn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)
472 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

By installing a battery storage system in the power grid, Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) can solve congestion problems caused by decentralized renewable generation. This paper provides the necessary theory to use such a community battery for grid congestion reduction, backed up by experimental results. A simple network model was constructed by linearizing the load flow equations using a constant impedance load model. Using this model, an accurate estimate of voltage and overload problems is fed into a receding horizon charge path optimizer. The charge path optimization problem is posed as a linear problem and subsequently solved by an LP solver. The algorithms have been applied and validated on a real-world community battery installation. It was found that the voltages and currents can be controlled to a great degree, increasing the grid capacity significantly. The proposed control framework can be used to safeguard network constraints and is compatible with other battery control goals, such as energy trading or energy independence. Network design formulas are described with which a DNO can quickly estimate the potential (de) stabilization of a community battery on the steady-state voltages and currents in the grid.

Original languageEnglish
Article number105349
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems
Volume114
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Keywords

  • Battery
  • Community battery
  • Distribution grid
  • Electricity storage
  • Energy transition

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