Role of Energy Storage Systems in Integrating Wind Power to

Grids
Fiaz Ahmed1, Waqas A. Imtiaz2
1,2

(Department of Electrical Engineering, IQRA National University, Peshawar, Pakistan)

ABSTRACT
A global push for generating power from renewable
energy sources is observed since last two decades. Out of
numerous renewable energy resources wind energy is
used as a primary source to capture energy. Wind
energy system or farms are mostly used in integration
with the conventional grid to enhance its reliability. The
major limitations of wind are its variability,
intermittency and non-dispatch ability of wind power.
These limitations results in various issues when wind
farm is integrated with the conventional grid such as: 1)
power quality and grid stability problems 2) Low
utilization of transmission lines 3) Tariff increase due to
wind unavailability at times of load requirement etc.
These problems affect the reliability and efficiency of
wind energy systems (farms). System reliability can be
restored if somehow the problems stated above are
mitigated or overcome. This paper details the issues and
problems faced due to wind integration with the grid. It
emphasizes on the need of energy storage system as a
solution to these problems along with clear benefits.

proportion [11]. Total installed wind capacity of the world

till the year 2010 is shown in Fig. 1(a). It is clear that the
installed capacity of the world has increased extensively and
is still increasing as shown Fig.1 (b), which shows the
forecast of future installed capacity.

Fig. 1 (a): Worldwide Installed Capacity [1][11]

Keywords - Wind Energy, Renewable energy, Wind Farms

I. INTRODUCTION
Power production from wind energy is increasing every
year. At the end of 2010, the total installed wind capacity of
the world touched the figure of 197GW [8]. In the year
2006, production of energy was 430 TWh. It is only 2.5% of
the electricity being used worldwide [8][9]. In the last three
years, this has almost doubled. In many countries the
penetration of wind energy has increased substantially in the
energy markets. As example, Denmark has increased its
electricity production from wind by 21% by the end of the
year 2010 [8]. In the year 2011, wind power is used on
commercial scale by above 80 countries of the world [6].
Wind energy is a very clean, environmental friendly as it
doesnt produce any carbon emissions, and a widely
distributed resource of energy in comparison to the fossil
fuels which are limited to specific locations and cause
pollution. However, there are some limitations of the wind
energy. Wind is an intermittent resource of energy. Wind
power is non-dispatch able, meaning that for economic
operation, all of the available output must be taken when it
is available. The intermittency of wind seldom creates
problems when using wind power to supply a low
proportion of total demand, but costs rise as does the

Fig. 1 (b): Worldwide Installed Capacity Forecast [1][2][11]

The increasing power production from wind energy is very
challenging. Wind has the capability to be used for the
production of electricity on larger scale but major problem
with wind is its strong weather dependence. The wind in a
particular region does not blow at constant speeds all the
year but changes with the seasons. This seasonal variation of
wind is the major hurdle in making the wind energy plants a
committed one. This variability of wind is responsible for
various problems like power quality problems, Grid stability
issues, Transmission lines congestion and low utilization
problems etc.
In this paper, different issues of power quality, transmission
lines utilization, stability, load following and peak shaving,
tariff increase due to fuel dependency and extra expenditure
on wind farm(with no storage) are discussed. Energy storage
system is proposed as a solution to all these problems. Cost
analysis of various storage technologies is performed which

shows that Compressed Air Energy Storage is a more

economical and large scale energy storage option.

having frequencies that are multiples of power-system

frequency as shown in Fig. 2 (f).

II. NEEDS FOR ENERGY STORAGE

Causes: Classic sources: electric machines working above

the knee of the magnetization curve (magnetic saturation),
arc furnaces, welding machines, rectifiers, and DC brush
motors. Modern sources: all non-linear loads, such as power
electronics equipment including ASDs, switched mode
power supplies, data processing equipment, high efficiency
lighting.

The variability of wind creates many power quality

problems. If electrical equipment is working properly and
reliably and is not damaged or stressed, then electrical
power is of good quality. However, if the electrical
appliance is not working properly and is malfunctioning, is
unreliable and is damaged during normal usage, then the
power quality is poor. There are many power quality
problems known to the world today but the most common
power quality problems [13] are discussed in detail below
1. Voltage Sag or Dip
Description: 10 to 90% decrease in the normal voltage level
of the nominal rms voltage at the power frequency, for
durations of 1/2 cycles to 1 minute as shown in Fig. 2 (a).
Causes: Voltage Sag occurs due to faults on the
transmission or distribution network (on parallel feeders in
most cases), and due to faults occurring in the installation at
consumers side such as when heavy loads are connected
and large motors are started.
Consequences: Malfunctioning of IT equipment such as
microprocessor-based control systems (PCs, PLCs, ASDs,
etc.) which can lead to stoppage of the process. Tripping of
contactors and electromechanical relays may occur which
can result in the disconnection of electric rotating machines
hence resulting in the loss of efficiency.
2. Voltage Spike
Description: Very fast variation of the voltage value for
short durations such as from a several microseconds to few
milliseconds. These variations may reach thousands of volts,
even in low voltage as shown in Fig. 2 (d).
Causes: Lightning, sudden increase in wind (in case of wind
turbine), switching of capacitors used for power factor
correction or switching of lines, removal of heavy loads.
Consequences: damage of components especially electronic
components and rupturing of insulation, data processing
errors or data loss, electromagnetic interference.
3. Voltage Swell
Description: Short-lived increase of the voltage value, at the
power frequency, outside the normal tolerances, with
duration of more than one cycle and typically less than a few
seconds as shown in Fig. 2(e).

Consequences: Increased probability in occurrence of

resonance, neutral overload in 3-phase systems, overheating
of all cables and equipment, loss of efficiency in electric
machines, electromagnetic interference with communication
systems, errors in measures when using average reading
meters, nuisance tripping of thermal protections.
5. Voltage Fluctuation
Description: Oscillation of voltage value, amplitude
modulated by a signal with frequency of 0 to 30 Hz as
shown in Fig. 2 (g).
Causes: Arc furnaces, frequent start/stop of electric motors
(for instance elevators), oscillating loads.
Consequences: Most consequences are common to under
voltages. The most perceptible consequence is the flickering
of lighting and screens, giving the impression of
unsteadiness of visual perception.
6. Noise
Description: Superimposing of high frequency signals on
the waveform of the power-system frequency as shown in
Fig. 2 (h).
Causes: Electromagnetic interferences provoked by
Hertzian waves such as microwaves, television diffusion,
and radiation, which are produced due to welding machines,
arc furnaces, and electronic equipment. Improper grounding
may also be a cause.
Consequences: Disturbances on sensitive electronic
equipment, usually not destructive, may cause data loss and
data processing errors.
7. Voltage Unbalance
Description: A voltage variation in a three-phase system in
which the three voltage magnitudes or the phase angle
differences between them are not equal as shown in Fig.
2(b).

Causes: Start/stop of heavy loads, badly dimensioned power

sources, badly regulated transformers (mainly during offpeak hours).

Causes: Large single-phase loads (induction furnaces,

traction loads), incorrect distribution of all single-phase
loads by the three phases of the system (this may be also due
to a fault).

Consequences: Data loss, flickering of lighting and screens,

stoppage or damage of sensitive equipment, if the voltage
values are too high.

Consequences: Unbalanced systems imply the existence of a

negative sequence that is harmful to all three phase loads.
The most affected loads are three-phase induction machines.

4. Harmonic Distortion
Description: Voltage or current waveforms assume nonsinusoidal shape. The waveform corresponds to the sum of
different sine-waves with different magnitude and phase,

8.

Frequency Variations

Description: Blowing of wind at higher speeds will tend to

rotate the generators coupled with it at higher speeds
resulting in frequency increase as shown in Fig. 2 (c).
Causes: Due to shift in Wind Turbine speed, generator
speed increases and thus frequency is varied.
Consequences: Frequency variations are harmful to all
appliances.

The utility will always be interested in having alternate

solution to these peaking plants so that the load follows and
peak shaving is achieved economically. Energy storage is
the solution here. Energy could be storage at the times when
it is cheap (off peak periods) and released at the times of
peak loads. This will help cut the electricity prices.Fig4
shows the load profile. It can be seen that the storage is
being charged from the base load generation which is
economical and is discharged at the times of peak loads
where prices of electricity are high.

Fig. 2: Most Common Power Quality Problems [13]

Energy Storage as a Solution for mitigating PQ
Problems
Energy storage system is the proposed solution to mitigate
the power quality problem. Energy storage system, also
called restoring technology, smooth out the power
fluctuation and help in minimizing other power quality
problems as well as shown in Fig. 3

Fig. 3: Restoring Technologies Principle [13].

III. INDENTATIONS AND EQUATIONS

1.

Load Following and Peak Shaving

The procedure followed by a utility to keep the generating

units follows the load demand that is served by the utility, In
other words, operating the generating units in such a way to
produce that much power that is enough to meet the load
from the utilitys customers and to ensure that the generators
are producing neither too little nor too much energy.
Peak shaving is the use of alternative generation to meet the
peak load of the load curve in order to make the overall cost
of electricity production cheaper.
Load following and peak shaving is not easy due to the load
variations. Sometimes the loads will be high while at other
times it may be low. The utility must be able to meet the
highest load called peak load at any time. This requires
some standby generation capacity which will be brought in
action at the time of peak loads. The units used to meet this
peak load are called peaking plants. Since these plants are
run on oils which rises the tariffs of electricity.

Fig.4: - Load Profile [15]

2. Transmission lines Congession and Low Utilization
Wind farms integrated to the grid without involving storage
system will result in the low utilization of transmission line.
The transmission line will be used only when there is
dispatchable wind power which is possible when wind is
blowing. However, if no wind is blowing there is no wind
power available so the transmission line is not utilized at alllow utilization of Transmission lines. Sometimes it may
happen that the power produced by the wind turbine is
greater than the capacity of transmission lines. Under such a
condition the wind farm may be shut off to avoid damage to
the transmission lines and other equipments in the absence
of any sort of storage. This is called the congession problem
of transmission lines. If at any time the transmission line
capacity is less than the available dispatchable power than
the extra power is wasted which is not making economic
sense. We need to have some solution to address these
transmission line problems namely their low utilization and
congession.
Energy Storage efficiently overcomes the issues of low
utilization and congession of transmission lines. At the times
of no wind, the transmission line can be used by the storage
to transmit power thus increasing its utilization factor. The
congession problem can be overcomes by feeding extra
power to storage during transmission line congession
periods.
3. Grid Stability
Grid stability includes voltage stability which is the
propagation of decreasing voltage across the grid which then
makes the grid to fail. The Voltage stability problem is a
very well-known issue but still it is challenging one. It
cannot be removed however methods or ways could be

devised to best manage the electric power grid for its

prevention or to stop it as soon as it occurs without
producing more effect.
Energy storage is able to mitigate the grid stability issues.

IV. COST ANALYSIS OF VARIOUS ENERGY STORAGE

TECHNOLOGIES
A lot of research is going on different Energy Storage
Technologies. All the storage mechanisms can be effective
at a large scale but they add expense too. However, PHEs
and CAES are cost effective at larger scales since these are
able to provide power for hours to days. Table 1 outlines
the electricity generating capacity of the major storage
technologies. It clearly shows that the PHEs and CAES are
the only technologies which can store lots of energy which
can be used for the generation of electricity in the future.
Table 1: Cost and Performance of Major Storage
Technologies [10][14]
Technology

Energy
related
Cost
($/KWh)

Power
related
Cost
($/KW)

Balance
of Plant
($/KWh)

Discharge
Efficiency

Lead Acid
Battery (low)

175

200

50

0.85

Lead Acid
Battery (high)

250

300

50

0.85

SMES (HTS
projected)

500

300

100

0.95

Flywheels (highspeed)

25000

350

1000

0.93

Flywheels (lowspeed)

300

280

80

0.90

Super capacitors

82000

300

10000

0.95

Compressed Air
Energy Storage

425

50

0.79

Pumped Hydro
Energy Storage

10

600

0.87

Fig. 5: Capital Cost of Major Storage Technologies [10]

Fig. 6: Leveled Annual Cost of Bulk Storage Options [14]

V. CONCLUSION
The discussion and analysis above suggest that Energy
storage is able in mitigating the power quality problems and
in reducing winds variability. Further, Compressed Air
Energy Storage is the most economical option in the
available energy storage technologies and is able to replace
the peaking plants for making the electricity tariffs lower
and can make a wind farm more reliable source of power.

VI.
Installation costs for major storage technologies are shown
in Fig. 5. It is clear that capital cost of CAES is less. Annual
Levelized cost is shown in Fig. 6; again it is worthy to
mention that CAES is cost efficient.

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