Grid-Supporting Operation of Battery Energy Storage Systems in Distribution Grids: ALene Project

Battery energy storage systems play a key role in advanced grids. They make it possible to store and use excess electricity from renewable sources, such as solar and wind energy, as needed. This helps stabilize the power grid and lessen dependence on fossil fuels. Intelligent algorithms and advanced power electronic systems are essential to maximizing the efficiency and reliability of such storage solutions.

The objective of the joint ALene project, a collaborative partnership of industry, grid operators and research organizations, is to develop and field-test algorithms and power electronic systems for optimized, grid-supporting and multifunctional battery energy storage system operation. This is intended to produce solutions that help reduce and compensate negative grid effects and local grid phenomena, boost service quality, reduce the equipment load and utilize the existing grid infrastructure optimally. Collectively, this will increase overall system efficiency and resilience in local distribution grids.

In the project, battery energy storage systems will be equipped with upgraded ancillary service functions and integrated systemically. To this end, specific algorithms will be developed, which will be integrated in the system management in combination with upgraded power electronic components and intelligent communications technology.

Project objectives

The ALene project aims to improve the efficiency and functionality of battery energy storage systems in distribution grids and to optimize their integration in master grid control systems. Specifically, the main objectives are:

1. System control center for grid-supporting energy storage systems: development and implementation of new operating and control schemes for battery energy storage systems to ensure their grid-supporting use as part of the master management and control system. Integrated solutions for responsive and stable grid management will be created in the process.
2. Multifunctional energy storage system: design of a technically, environmentally and economically optimized battery energy storage system that will be employed multifunctionally and grid-supporting. The goal is to maximize these systems’ utility through upgraded functionality in the overall system to meet various requirements during grid operation.
3. Power electronics optimized for grid service: development of a hardware and software solution that enables using battery energy storage systems’ power electronics for optimized, multifunctional and grid-supporting operation. This will include modifying operations management for the requirements of advanced distribution grids.
4. Multifunctional intelligent AC/DC measurement and monitoring systems: design and development of precise and integrated measurement systems that help monitor and analyze power quality and detect resonances in the grid. These systems will be integrated in the grid-supporting operation of battery energy storage systems to enable better monitoring and diagnostics.
5. Grid-supporting control schemes for four-level inverters: analysis and development of specifications for the control of four-level inverters, first by simulation and then by practical implementation. The goal is a robust software and hardware solution that will be tested and optimized in collaboration with industry partners.
6. Grid-supporting storage system use in the microgrid: integration, validation and optimization of battery energy storage systems in microgrids to demonstrate their grid-supporting use and to analyze their interactions with various grid components. This will be done in the overall system. 
7. Grid-supporting energy storage operation in the distribution grid: examination and testing of operating scenarios relevant to battery energy storage systems in the distribution grid to identify techno-economic optimization capabilities. The goal is to broaden the potential uses of battery energy storage systems in the distribution grid and to enlarge their role in grid stabilization.

These objectives will be achieved by combining innovative control systems, intelligent power electronics and precise instrumentation to contribute to grid transformation toward more sustainability and reliability.

Subproject: System Control Center for Grid-Supporting Energy Storage Systems

In the System Control Center for Grid-Supporting Energy Storage Systems subproject, Fraunhofer IFF’s experts will concentrate on the development and integration of operating and control schemes as well as solutions for grid-supporting energy storage systems. The focus will be on the overall system architecture for the upgrade, integration and implementation of grid-supporting energy storage systems for different grid implementation scenarios and their implementation in a control center system.

In addition, information and communication technology (ICT) architectures and operating and control algorithms will be developed. They are intended to boost efficiency and will incorporate different target functions, optimized technically, economically and environmentally or for resilience. storage system features and performance will be modeled and integrated in the operating algorithms to boost efficiency and incorporate different target functions for multiple storage system applications. An ICT structure will be developed to connect battery energy storage systems, power electronics, AC/DC instrumentation and control systems and the subsystems’ different ICT components and integrate them in an energy control center.

The solutions and operating scenarios developed will be tested and optimized in a microgrid, a test and evaluation environment and under real conditions. The goal is to prepare the different operating and system parameters appropriately for implementation and optimized for central operation.

Expected ALene Project Deliverables

• Power electronics optimized for batteries for battery-friendly and efficient operation
• Grid-supporting power electronics through VISMA+ (virtual synchronous machine with phase selectivity) topology and control
• High-performing, precise and intelligent AC/DC measurement and monitoring system (grid and storage system monitoring system)
• Monitoring and control system for grid-supporting battery energy storage systems
• Overall system architecture for grid-supporting battery energy storage systems