Use of energy storage for Belgian power network

The intermittent and fluctuating nature of output power of renewable energy sources (RES) can lead to serious security concerns such as congestion in the transmission system. Incorporating storage devices with RES is technically an effective means to mitigate this concern by allowing fluctuating RES to be as stable as traditional power plants. Storage is an even more consumer-friendly solution with greater control over electricity consumption time and price compared to e.g. demand-side management which offers limited control over the price for end users. It can also contribute to lower the electricity price, peak-shave the demand, defer upgrade investments, provide ride-through solution for (momentary) faults, contribute to voltage/frequency control, increase the share of green energy and thus reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions, improve power quality by reducing harmonic distortions and voltage sags/surges, facilitate utilization of more efficient off-peak generation units, etc. This paper assesses the technical applicability and economical viability of different storage devices to the Belgian power network, focusing on the structure of the Belgian electricity market. A high-level overview of widely-used storage technologies, their benefits and shortcomings are also provided.