The role of storage in integrating wind energy

This paper presents a new methodology to quantify the value of storage in the integration of intermittent resources, mainly wind. The main goal of the work is to provide quantified estimates of the potential value of storage, in managing the intermittency of wind generation, in the context of the future United Kingdom (UK) electricity system. In an electricity grid with large wind penetration additional system balancing costs are incurred due to the intermittent nature of wind. We developed studies to evaluate the benefits of using storage for providing standing reserve, as part of the overall reserve needs, in terms of savings in fuel cost, CO2 emissions and conventional energy. These studies were conduced considering a number of generation systems characterized by different mixes of generation technologies, representative of the size of the UK system with different levels of wind penetration. From these studies we were able to conclude that providing a greater part of the increased reserves needed, from standing reserve, in the form of pumped hydro storage, increases efficiency of system operation and reduces the amount of wind power that cannot be absorbed.