Design of a Battery Energy Storage System for Critical Infrastructure

This paper describes the process for designing a battery energy storage system (BESS) to provide backup electricity supply to critical infrastructure, in this case a sewage pumping station. Three key criteria are considered in the design process; the characteristics of the load, the reliability of the electricity supply and the amount of energy used by the load. An understanding of each of these considerations has been achieved through a combination of laboratory experimentation, field measurements and analysis of reliability and energy consumption data. Using the presented design process, a case study design is undertaken for an actual sewage pumping station located in NSW, Australia. Evaluation of the site clearly showed the influence that the pump motor starting transient has on the sizing of the BESS and analysis indicates that changing the pump starting technology will result in an order of magnitude difference in the cost of the BESS.