A review of energy storage systems applications

Energy storage systems can be used in a wide range of applications in power system. Some of these applications can be procured as services through market mechanisms, while others can be a part of grid infrastructure or merchant installations. This paper reviews all these applications categorized in three main groups: system-level applications, transmission and distribution grid applications and end-user applications. Energy storage systems could be tailored for a specific usage, but they are usually profitable only when multiple applications are stacked. Applications stacking cannot be achieved for all combinations, especially when these applications are not market services or when storage ownership prevents it, e.g. system operator owned storage. The importance of service stacking and issues of storage ownership are recognized and addressed.