Cost Modeling and Valuation of Grid-Scale Electrochemical Energy Storage Technologies

Abstract

Electrochemical Energy storage (ES) technologies are seen as valuable flexibility assets with their capabilities to control grid power intermittency or power quality services in generation, transmission & distribution, and end-user consumption side. Grid-scale storage technologies can contribute significantly to enhance asset utilization rate and reliability of the power systems. The latter is particularly critical for deployment of regional and national energy policies of implementing renewable sources. Once the suitable storage technology is chosen, modeling and simulation of electrochemical storage devices are utilized extensively for performance or life cycle prediction purposes. The main challenge of adopting electrochemical storage technologies among utilities is how to match the right energy storage technology for a site-specific grid configuration to an appropriate grid service. The majority of system-level modeling efforts do not provide information that can be used for valuation of storage technologies. Battery performance models generally suffer from lacking techno-economic predictions and accurate assessment of performance characteristics of the emerging ES technologies. This chapter introduces a valuation framework that is built upon high-level electrochemical storage models. This valuation model can characterize and quantify different grid applications and services for which electrochemical storage devices are used. Taking local differences in electricity markets and storage value for several grid applications and services, the modeling framework is employed in case studies to identify the value that storage systems can provide to the grid.