The paper analyzes the configuration, design and operation of multi-MW grid connected solar PV systems with practical test cases provided by a 10MW field development. In order to improve the capacity factor, the PV system operates at its maximum power point during periods of lower irradiance, and the power output is limited to a rated value at high irradiance. The proposed configuration also incorporates a utility scale battery energy storage system (BESS) connected to the grid through an independent inverter and benefits of the experience gained with a 1MW 2MWh BESS large demonstrator. The BESS power smoothing and frequency regulation capabilities are illustrated though combined theoretical and experimental studies. The behavior of the grid connected PV and BESS combined system is studied using a modified IEEE 14-bus test system implemented in PSCAD/EMTDC. The paper also includes a sizing exercise for energy storage in order to provide dispatchable PV power.

Advanced control techniques may be used to establish a virtual power plant to regulate the operation of electric water heaters, which may be regarded as a “uni-directional battery” and a major component of a hybrid residential energy storage system. In order to estimate the potential of regulating water heaters at the aggregated level, factors including user behavior, number of water heaters, and types of water heaters must be considered. This study develops generic water heater load curves based on the data retrieved from large experimental projects for resistive electric water heaters (EWHs) and heat pump water heaters (HPWHs). A community-level digital twin with scalability has been developed to capture the aggregated hot water flow and average hot temperature in the tank. The results in this paper also include the “energy take” in line with the CTA-2045 standard and Energy Star specification. The data from the experiments demonstrated that changing from an EWH to an HPWH reduces electricity usage by approximately 70%. The case study showed that daily electricity usage could be shifted by approximately 14% and 17% by EWH and HPWHs, respectively, compared to their corresponding average power. Another case study showed that both EHWs and HPWHs, coordinated with PV to reduce morning and evening peaks, could shift approximately 22% of the daily electricity.

The multi-megawatt grid connected photovoltaic (PV) system studied in the paper includes parallel arrays and power electronic units, each with their own DC-DC and DC-AC converters. In one configuration, the DC-AC converters of adjacent parallel sections are connected in cascade, in order to effectively operate as a multilevel inverter, thereby reducing the filtering requirements. Grid voltage oriented control is employed for inverters and a battery is incorporated for energy storage and performance improvement. Modeling is performed with the PSCAD/EMTDC software, such that both the power electronics components, controls and subsystem aspects, and the electric grid power system issues, can be studied during steady-state and transient operation. The system simulation is demonstrated on a modified IEEE 14-bus test case.

Significant changes in conventional generator operation and transmission system planning will be required to accommodate increasing solar photovoltaic (PV) penetration. There is a limit to the maximum amount of solar that can be connected in a service area without the need for significant upgrades to the existing generation and transmission infrastructure. This study proposes a framework for analyzing the impact of increasing solar penetration on generation and transmission networks while considering the responses of conventional generators to changes in solar PV output power. Contrary to traditional approaches in which it is assumed that generation can always match demand, this framework employs a detailed minute-to-minute (M-M) dispatch model capable of capturing the impact of renewable intermittency and estimating the over- and under-generation dispatch scenarios due to solar volatility and surplus generation. The impact of high solar PV penetration was evaluated on a modified benchmark model, which includes generators with defined characteristics including unit ramp rates, heat rates, operation cost curves, and minimum and maximum generation limits. The PV hosting capacity, defined as the maximum solar PV penetration the system can support without substantial generation imbalances, transmission bus voltage, or thermal violation was estimated for the example transmission circuit considered. The results of the study indicate that increasing solar penetration may lead to a substantial increase in generation imbalances and the maximum solar PV system that can be connected to a transmission circuit varies based on the point of interconnection, load, and the connected generator specifications and responses.

The equivalent circuit model for utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) is beneficial for multiple applications including performance evaluation, safety assessments, and the development of accurate models for simulation studies. This paper evaluates and compares the performance of utility-scale equivalent circuit models developed at multiple sub-component levels, i.e. at the rack, module, and cell levels. This type of modeling is used to demonstrate that the equivalent circuit model for a reference cell, module, or rack of a BESS can be scaled to represent the entire battery system provided that the battery management system (BMS) is active and functional. Contrary to the rapid pulse discharge cycles employed in conventional cell parameter estimation approaches, the study proposes a new charge/discharge cycle for identifying the equivalent circuit parameters for utility-scale battery systems using equipment readily available at installation sites without the need for laboratory setups. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis for classifying and quantifying the effect of each equivalent circuit parameter on the performance of the proposed battery system model was executed. The measurements and simulations are conducted for a 1MW/2MWh BESS testing facility located at the Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities (LG&E and KU) E.W. Brown generating plant. The results indicate that for the example utility-scale battery setup with an active BMS, the equivalent circuit model of either the cell, module, or rack can be scaled to represent the battery system with less than 1% average voltage error.