The power grid side connects the source and load ends to play the role of power transmission and distribution; The energy storage side obtains benefits by providing services such as peak cutting and valley filling, frequency, and amplitude modulation, etc.
Grid energy storage, also known as large-scale energy storage, are technologies connected to the electrical power grid that store energy for later use. These systems help balance supply and demand by storing excess electricity from variable renewables such as solar and inflexible sources like nuclear power, releasing it when needed.
Let’s explore the differences between grid following and grid forming energy storage and understand their roles in creating a more resilient and reliable power grid. Grid following energy storage systems, also known as grid-tied or grid-dependent systems, are designed to sync with the existing power grid.
Energy storage is one option to making grids more flexible. An other solution is the use of more dispatchable power plants that can change their output rapidly, for instance peaking power plants to fill in supply gaps.
For integrating energy storage systems into a smart grid, the distributed control methods of ESS are also of vital importance. The study by [ 12] proposed a hierarchical approach for modeling and optimizing power loss in distributed energy storage systems in DC microgrids, aiming to reduce the losses in DC microgrids.
While pumped hydro storage and compressed air storage are more suited to peak adjustment of the power grid, battery storage energy is better suited for small- and medium-sized energy storage and new energy power generation.