Applications of sodium-sulfur batteries

NGK's sodium-sulfur (NAS) battery is an advanced energy storage system developed for power grid applications. Megawatt scale NAS batteries have been used for various applications, including load levelling, standby power sources and stabilizing fluctuating power from renewable energy resources. To utilize energy storages more effectively, it is desirable to “bundle” multiple services provided by a single energy storage installation. Most multi-hour energy storage technologies like the NAS Battery have the capability to provide multiple services such as combined frequency regulation and backup power. Optional business models to provide multiple services by a single energy storage system are described; however, because such services cut across the regulatory jurisdiction for conventional assets, rulemaking is probably needed to implement them.