A Norwegian Case Study on Battery Storage as Alternative to Grid Reinforcement

As the power system is developing, the need for new cost-efficient grid solutions is increasing. A battery energy storage system (BESS) can prove to be a technically and economically feasible alternative to a grid reinforcement. This paper presents a techno-economic analysis of a BESS used to maintain the voltage level in a low-voltage network with periodically large voltage drops. The Backward/ Forward Sweep (BFS) algorithm is used to perform a power flow analysis in a rural distribution grid supplying a cabin field in Norway. The grid-connected BESS has an operating strategy so that voltage deviations in the grid larger than a preset limit are avoided. The BESS also operates efficiently to lower the installed capacity. The costs of installing a BESS to satisfy the operating requirements were found to be 77 % higher than the corresponding line costs. Another important finding is how sensitive the BESS installation is to small changes in the system and that it depends heavily on the time perspective, while these factors barely affect the grid installation.