Optimal sizing of energy storage system and their impacts in hybrid microgrid environment

Large-scale deployment and integration of renewable energy sources (RES) such as wind turbine generators and photovoltaics are important in a Hybrid Microgrid (HMG) environment, an immense challenge considering their intermittent power generation. Energy storage resources play a vital role in enhancing intermittency issues in RES and when integrated into a HMG, also enable other benefits, such as power quality improvement, short-term power supply, ancillary service and arbitrage [1]. However, economics of large-scale energy storage systems (ESS) are high considering their present status of technology maturity [2]. A trade-off on optimal sizing of ESS to the cost of its implementation in a HMG is imperative for its successful operation. This paper presents a thorough analysis on appropriate HMG architecture design based on location and load requirements, optimal sizing of ESS resources and ESS characteristics in serving various degree of power needs. In addition, thorough sensitivity analysis on component sizing in HMG environment is performed and knowledge gained from the simulation studies is utilized to propose a control philosophy for the operation of battery energy storage in HMG.