EFFICIENT PRODUCTS


WHAT’S IN STORE FOR ENERGY STORAGE?


Largely coined as one of the secret weapons in the energy transition’s arsenal, it is no surprise that the


Carlos Nieto


global battery energy storage market continues to grow at pace. However, this is just the beginning. Along with the


acceleration of innovation and digitalisation, the battery energy storage category will continue to evolve to become even more sophisticated. Carlos Nieto, global product line manager, Energy Storage at ABB, explores what the future holds


GREENER AND SMARTER One of the most important of these developments is the transition to digitalisation. When partnered with an energy management


system (EMS) with monitoring and diagnostics systems, the data and analytics afforded by BESS can provide the insights needed to better match energy demand to requirement and improve overall efficiency. For utilities, this offers critical benefits. Amid an


A


s the world moves towards a sustainable energy landscape, operators have been quick


to realise the important role of battery energy storage systems (BESS) – and there is a very simple reason why. The majority of existing grid infrastructure is


decades old and was only ever designed to deal with a steady, reliable, supply of energy under the assumption that the amount of energy fed into the grid is always equal to the amount consumed. Weather-dependent wind and solar energy sources are incredibly difficult to predict and add a new layer of complexity. This means that, without some form of backup, renewables run the risk of instability and blackouts. BESS offers the most logical solution. Put


simply, it enables utilities to store excess energy and redeploy it when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing, to help balance the grid and ensure reliability. For commercial and industrial users who have invested in renewables, this strategy helps to ensure as much energy as possible is generated locally without the need for grid ‘top-ups’. It also provides critical backup power in the event of a grid failure. As economies continue to make progress


towards net zero goals and greater energy security, it is therefore not surprising that energy storage is becoming even more important. It is estimated that the global energy storage


industry will grow to reach a cumulative 1,676GW/ 5,827GW by 2050, attracting $964 billion in investment over the next decade1


suggests the industry will experience a compound annual growth rate of 23% until 20252 Along with this market growth comes


.


several key developments in BESS innovation, giving rise to radical new opportunities in energy efficiencies, energy optimisation and asset optimisation.


www.energymanagementmag.co.uk . A separate study


ever-turbulent energy landscape, it not only helps build a new layer of resilience through better foresight and planning but this strategy can also help utilities to save money by timing their ‘buys’ and ‘sells’ when market conditions are optimal. Importantly too, with the growth of electric mobility, digitally enabled BESS will play a huge role in allowing operators to respond more effectively to the increased pressure on the grid. For commercial users, further benefits come in


the opportunity to optimise power production by leveraging peak shaving and load-lifting to reduce energy cost as much as possible. But there’s more.


data. This data insight is partnered with wider weather, seasonality and market intelligence to forecast future supply and demand expectations. As a final step, a simulation provides the recommended parameters of the BESS operation for the next period, such as state of charge, charge and discharge rates, and when in time those are to happen. The result is radical new potential for energy and


asset optimisation. Through predictive analytics, it will allow operators to save and distribute self- generated resources more effectively and better prepare for upcoming demand. It can also ensure ‘business as usual’ by allowing users to identify and address issues before they escalate and anticipate similar failures or performance constraints. Greater intelligence is incorporated throughout


the system, which allows visibility into everything from the resting state of charge to the depth of discharge and how these factors can degrade the battery over time. This makes it easier to predict wear and tear, increases overall lifespan and ultimately the return on


“As economies continue to make progress towards net zero goals and greater energy security, it is no surprise that energy storage is becoming even more important”


NEXT GENERATION ENERGY STORAGE Applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) takes BESS to a completely new level of smart operation. As many operators will know, energy storage


operations can be complex. They typically involve constant monitoring of everything, from the BESS status, solar and wind outputs through to weather conditions and seasonality. Add to that the need to make decisions about when to charge and discharge the BESS in real-time, and the result can be challenging for human operators. By introducing state-of-the art AI, we can


now achieve all of this in real-time, around-the- clock, for a much more effective and efficient energy storage operation. This involves a rigorous approach. Using


advanced machine learning, the system is able to constantly handle, analyse and exploit all available


the investment for the end user. There is no disputing the central role that


BESS has already come to play in the renewable transition. Flash forward to the not-too-distant future, and the latest developments in digitalisation and AI will see this important innovation category emerge even more prominently as a key enabler of a sustainable, smarter and decidedly brighter future.


ABB https://new.abb.com/uk


1 2


2020 Long-Term Energy Storage Outlook. BloombergNEF, 14 Dec 2020.


2H 2021 Energy Storage Market Outlook, Leap ahead. BloombergNEF, 28 Jul 2021.


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