Grid-interconnection of BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) to MV/LV distribution network would impact the distribution network voltage profile, thermal loading, power flow, safety, and protection. Grid-interconnections standards and guidelines mandate the interconnection requirements to regulate general technical requirements, power quality requirements and safety and protection requirements. There are no interconnection standard or guideline exclusively for BESS. A 2020 part-IV project foucssed on developing some best practices of guidelines that could be followed by NZ Distribution Utilities in this space. This could be used for grid-following system
In the last couple of years we have supported SolarZero towards developing solutions towards grid-supporting (Link)
Recently there has been development from IEEE on Grid-supporting and Grid-forming Microgrid architectures in IEEE publications. The implementation is primarily based on inverter-interfaced PV, storage and other micro-generation resources. There is a need to research into developing interconnection guidelines if these microgrid architecture become operational in NZ in the coming years which is the focus of this project.
This project won the NZ Energy Innovation Award in 2023
We recently organized an international event where in one of the panels the development, standardization and uptake was discussed. If required, we can connect with those experts from international national labs like NREL and Sandia.
Undergraduate
Ideally, atleast one of the student enrolled for ELECTENG 731 and/or ELECTENG 703
Power Systems (405.628, Lab)