Background

The traditional power grid generally consists of centralized generation assets that provide sufficient power generation and ancillary services to meet grid requirements. As the grid changes to a larger number of smaller-capacity generating resources and an overall move towards greater wind and solar deployments, there is increased need for additional units to provide flexibility and meet ancillary-service requirements. The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is providing incentives to participate in frequency regulation services. However, providing frequency response, especially fast frequency response, is challenging for many generation plants to deliver on their own.

Technology Overview

Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have developed a novel architecture for integrating battery and ultracapacitor systems (known as Hybrid Energy Storage Systems or HESS) with a hydropower plant to provide fast frequency regulation in a competitive electricity market. This architecture enables power generation operators and owners to take the first step of decomposing regulation signals into different components using the variational mode decomposition (VMD) technique while considering the available HESS components, their power capacity, and generation/ramping limits of dispatchable energy sources. This architecture is close-looped and monitors the output response from dispatchable plants. Power error compensation is provided through the HESS in case the dispatchable generator is not able to follow the required input power during the regulation service. This architecture also performs necessary sensitivity analysis using performance measures to select the appropriate HESS components that can function efficiently and are cost-effective.

Stage of Development

TRL 3, critical function and proof-of-concept experiments are underway.

Further Details

*T. Wang, “Battery Assisted Conventional Generator in PJM Frequency Regulation Market,” 2019 IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM), 2019, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/PESGM40551.2019.8973793

Benefits

Integrates the dispatchable generation plant with multiple energy storage systems to support frequency regulation in real-time.
Ensures minimum error for response rate and performance score
Enables power generation operators and owners to select the best combination of HESS components.
Facilitates the stable and transient signal operation of dispatchable power.
Reduced operation and maintenance costs through leveraging the ramp rate capability of different types of energy storage, reducing unnecessary stress.
Increased revenues through better utilization of dispatchable generation plants.
- Simulations indicate a 25% increase in value*
Better frequency response and stable operation assists in developing risk-informed investment strategies while considering the cost of energy storage assets.

Applications

Dispatchable power plant operators and owners
Energy Storage Systems operators and owners

Opportunity

Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering the opportunity to enter into a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this architecture for enabling integrated Hybrid Energy Storage Systems (HESS) to participate in frequency regulation markets. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses and ultimately an improved way of life for the American people.

INL is seeking to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities.

Integrating Hybrid Energy Storage Systems into the Frequency Regulation Market

Patents

IP Status

Seeking