In the United States, battery energy capacity is projected to triple by 2028, driven by renewable energy adoption, economic benefits such as arbitrage, technology advancements and more. The U.S. electricity demand is projected to increase by 500 TWh by 2030. This rise in power demand, particularly because of the rise of electric vehicles and data centers, shows the need for expanded energy storage solutions to continue delivering reliable and sustainable energy for communities and utilities.
Currently, lithium-ion battery energy storage systems are the undisputed market kings, capturing the majority of storage projects by revenue. Depending on market structure, some locations have seen successful deployment of projects based on capacity payments, similar to traditional generation. This trend is expected to strengthen in the immediate future.
However, an underrepresented and growing portion of the market to date are medium to large projects providing some other service, such as energy support for critical or uninterruptible services, cost reduction for load centers, localized black start for on-site power resources, and even combinations of these functions.
For all these applications and other specialized energy storage projects, a more fully integrated power plant controller (PPC) is required to manage the multiple load centers, complex switching, and different energy sources than what a typical off-the-shelf site BESS controller or EMS would provide. The PPC must successfully integrate controllers from different suppliers, data from meters and protective relays, as well as energy storage equipment. This requires the development of custom algorithms and control graphics, detailed testing in simulation, factory acceptance testing of controls and critical components, and on-site tuning for successful integration. A one-size-fits-all approach will not serve all customers in this critical market. Project success hinges on selecting the right team with the right credentials and experience in complex power plant control systems, including the integration of multiple equipment manufacturers under a unified site controller.
The future is here with battery energy storage systems, offering reliability, economic benefit, and overall technological and energy advancement. The demand for electricity will only continue to rise and BESS will play a critical role in delivering stable and reliable energy to meet power needs. By understanding the potential of these systems, factors that contribute to good BESS installations and crucial developments for successful integration, utilities and communities can reap the benefits of resiliency, reliability and sustainability.