Overview — Pumped-hydro energy storage for balancing wind energy forecast errors

This paper analyses the increasing wind energy integration impacts on the Estonian power system, particularly wind energy production forecast errors. It proposes a solution to integrate wind parks with Estonian power grid, which is mainly based on large thermal power plants utilizing fossil fuels, together with a grid-scale energy storage system, particularly pumped-hydro energy storage, in order to balance the forecast errors in wind energy production utilization. Continuing increase of installed wind power capacity with its impacts on the grid is discussed. The last section describes a technical solution, simulated under real-time situation of the grid, which proves pumped-hydro energy storage as a suitable alternative.