The importance of energy storage in Renewable Power Generation: A review

Renewable Power Generation systems are currently preferred for clean power generation. However due to their intermittent and unpredictable nature, energy storage needs to be used to ensure that the load is met at all times. There are many possible options for energy storage and the most popular and technologically matured option, batteries, is the subject of this paper. This paper explores the importance and necessity of batteries within isolated Renewable Energy systems, specifically hybrid PV and wind power generation systems. The paper looks at different varieties of batteries with a specific emphasis on lead-acid batteries. To integrate batteries into renewable energy system models, the system and the energy storage, must be simulated to test the impact on as well as optimise the sizing of the system in terms of cost and efficiency. There are currently many methods of modelling batteries. These and various additional methods of simulation and optimisation of storage and battery components are discussed in this paper.