Distributed storage capacity reservations for residential PV generation utilization and LV network operation

This paper proposes a novel method for distributed generation utilization and Low Voltage (LV) network management with residential energy storage batteries in distribution systems. The batteries installed at end users are actually used for demand response, allowing customers and distributed network operators (DNOs) to reserve part of storage capacity in order to absorb energy from residential photovoltaic (PV) generation and relieve network congestion. The major difficulty in carrying out storage capacity reservations is the quantification of reserved capacity based on not only predicted PV outputs, but also identified network pressures. In order to overcome this difficulty, the algorithm of storage capacity reservation considers both energy and network sides. The reserved storage capacities are basically evaluated following two criteria: energy capacity reserved for cheap energy charging and capacity reservation according to customers' contribution to network pressures. A case study is carried out in a practical network in the UK to implement the proposed method, where the benefits are quantified in terms of energy consumption reduction from grid, energy cost reduction and network cost saving.