Energy Storage: Realizing a game changing opportunity

Energy Storage is being considered as the game changer by the power industry. For a distribution utility Energy Storage brings the promise of a grid with improved asset utilization, improved reliability and power quality. However, presently Energy Storage technologies are perceived as too costly. Therefore, the question for the presentation paper is threefold: First, identify the benefits of Energy Storage utilization for of a distribution utility, secondly, discuss the challenges associated with attributing a value to those services, and thirdly attempt to put a value against one of the potential benefits (peak shaving) and assess its impacts in 4 scenarios. Representative data from ENERGEX network and Energy Storage Technologies is used and simulations are performed to answer these questions.