Energy storage for peak shaving : Case study for the distribution grid in Björnarbo

Sammanfattning: Sala-Heby Energi Elnät is a supplier of electrical power for the communities of Sala, Heby, Morgongåva and Björnarbo in Uppland, Sweden. The electrical power grid in this area is currently facing several challenges. Bottlenecks and power shortages are some of them. As an expansion of the Swedish power grid lies many years in the future, there is a need for other solutions to these problems. Because of this, Sala-Heby Energi Elnät is looking at the prospect of installing an energy storage system in the small community of Björnarbo. This report investigates a number of the most commonly used energy storage options available today and concludes that the most suitable choice for Sala-Heby Energi Elnät would be lithium-ion batteries implemented in a battery energy storage system, a BESS. This report also focuses on how a BESS can reduce power peaks by using a method called peak shaving. The financial implications of implementing a BESS of this kind for this purpose are taken into account as well. The study shows that by utilising a BESS with an energy capacity of 500kWh, the power peaks can be reduced by peak shaving. This not only provides a solution to the capacity problem in Sala-Heby Energi Elnät’s power grid, but a BESS could also allow for them to reduce their power subscription to Vattenfall, Sweden’s electricity provider. This would allow Sala-Heby Energi Elnät to make some financial savings. However, a BESS of this type would be very expensive. The conclusion is that a BESS could manage the energy consumption by using peak shaving but will only be financially profitable in the long run for Sala-Heby Energi Elnät.