Active network management supporting energy storage integration into system, market and the distribution network

There has been an increase in the number of applications to connect large scale storage devices to distribution networks in the United Kingdom. Possible reasons for this include the decrease in technology cost and changes to the UK renewable policy and regulation. This introduces new complexities for how UK Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) treat the connection of storage, as it is not defined in the licenses, standards and codes of practice. Additionally, there is a question of how DNOs should model storage devices for network planning and connection into Active Network Management (ANM) schemes. This paper discusses and analyses the approach a DNO could take in managing energy storage using ANM within the existing framework of constraint management (e.g. rules based Principles of Access such as LIFO and Shared) and the revenue streams available in the existing energy, balancing and ancillary services markets in the UK. While these are not entirely new arrangements (a number of distributed generators already operate as system Balancing Mechanism Units in the UK), one challenge anticipated is the ability to provide services to transmission system operators in a constrained area of the distribution network.