Assessing the Potential of Large-Scale Energy Storage for Distribution Systems Demand Management

Distribution systems are traditionally designed to meet a load peak demand, considering its growth in a certain time horizon. The possibility to use Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to shift the load demand from peak to off-peak hours has been receiving increasing attention by distribution utilities. Adequate management of the distribution system loading, propitiated by BESS, can rationalize the utilization of its assets and postpone investments related to expansion and/or equipment capacity upgrade. This paper presents a methodology for the assessment of the potential of large-scale BESS for distribution systems demand management. The methodology is then applied for a one-year data set comprising measurement collected by the SCADA from 831 primary feeders served by 175 power transformers of a Brazilian distribution utility. Results indicate that a 2.66 MW/10.54 MWh BESS can alleviate 7.5% of the peak loading for more than 70% of the transformers with capacity exhaustion expected within 10 years.