Central-station photovoltaic plant with energy storage for utility peak load leveling

The impact of photovoltaic (PV) power generation with energy storage on the electric utility´s load shape for load leveling purposes is explored. Results show that utilities employing battery storage for peak load shaving might benefit from use of photovoltaic power, the extent of its usefulness being dependent on the specific load shapes as well as the photovoltaic array orientations. Typical utility load shapes both in the eastern and in the western parts of the US are examined for this purpose. Although photovoltaic power generation seems to have a bigger impact on the load of the western utility, utilities in both areas will experience considerable savings on the size of the battery system required to shave the peak loads and also in the off-peak base capacity required to charge the battery