Systems with heavy reliance on renewable energy can be technically and economically challenging to stabilize. Energy storage systems and dynamic communication and controls are often necessary to improve power system control and minimize threats such as brownouts or power surges. At its Energy Systems Laboratory and in military installations such as Utah’s Tooele Army Depot, Idaho National Laboratory researchers are integrating and testing dynamic storage and load-balancing options using microgrid systems; integrating wind, solar, natural gas and diesel generation to maximize reliability and resiliency; and leveraging bench-scale and full-scale facilities at INL.
KEY CAPABILITIES Megawatt-scale laboratory with microgrid incorporating wind, solar and two flow batteries (maximum energy storage capacity: 320 kWh) Advanced modeling capabilities for incorporating real-world data, hardware and software into real-time simulations. Load control capabilities and grid interaction algorithms, allowing researchers to study demand response, peak shaving, microgrid control interactions and ancillary services Flexibility in operating connected to the grid or as an independent island as needed Supporting infrastructure for grid component testing and validation FOR MORE INFORMATIONField-scale renewable energy integration
