The National Electricity System is undergoing a profound transformation due to the increase in distributed generation from RES (Renewable Energy Sources) and the progressive decommissioning of the conventional rotating generation fleet. This new structure will require, in the near future, a system management that uses new resources to guarantee adequate levels of safety and stability. Among these resources, electrochemical Storage Systems (SdA) will play a role of primary importance. These SdA can achieve high performance in terms of response speed and modulation of power injection/withdrawal proportionally to the variation in network frequency.
The impact will be all the more significant the more it is possible to implement an aggregate and coordinated management of the SdA such as Virtual Storage.
In this perspective, virtual SdA represent a significant resource for the national electricity system, with the aim of providing synthetic inertia services (very intense response lasting a few seconds) and fast reserve (delivery time up to fractions of an hour), i.e. frequency regulation services, as well as peak shaving and load levelling functions, i.e. functions for reducing power peaks and flattening the load curve.
The need for some of these services, in particular that of the fast reserve, has led European TSOs, including TERNA, to promote pilot projects. To date, the storage technologies on the market, in particular electrochemical SdA, are interfaced to the grid through converters and control and management systems that are not easy to integrate and coordinate with each other.
To create a Virtual Storage it is necessary to equip the individual SdA with hardware and software interface devices that allow for aggregate and coordinated management of Storage Systems (SdA) distributed in the grid.
In the context described above, the ViStoFaRe project aims to design and implement a conversion device, named StorInPluswith the related control strategies for interfacing to the network of electrochemical SdA generally coupled to generators powered by Non-Programmable Renewable Sources. Furthermore, a digital platform, called ViSto platform, will be developed for interfacing with the network operator and coordinating multiple SdA managed as Virtual Storage.
These aggregated devices must be able to provide synthetic inertia and fast reserve services, i.e. support for the safety and stability of the electrical system in the event of disturbances, such as sudden variations in load and/or generation, and secondary services of peak shaving and load levelling.
The main strength of ViStoFaRe is the implementation of the StorInPlus device, which can operate in Virtual Storage perspective through the ViSto platform This platform, which will be designed and implemented, will allow to provide services to the network normally reserved for large programmable generation plants and to satisfy the basic needs of users/producers.
Expected results of the projectRisultati attesi dal progetto
The expected results of the project can be summarized as follows:
- – Control and management algorithms of the StorInPlus device for the implementation of synthetic inertia and fast reserve services, and their coordination with the peak shaving and/or load leveling services required by the ViSto platform;
- – The ViSto platform for the management of multiple SdA as Virtual Storage, capable of providing the services mentioned at the aggregate level;
- – Prototypes of the StorInPlus device (in laboratory scale and in full scale) for the control and management of a single electrochemical energy storage system, which implement the algorithms mentioned in the first point;
- – An experimental demonstrator for the validation of the project results and for their dissemination.
