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The Benefits of GFM BESS Project Team has released a brief for decisionmakers, “A Call to Action for a Stable Energy Transition: Grid-Forming Battery Energy Storage Systems,” summarizing a study evaluating the benefits of deploying utility-scale batteries with advanced (grid-forming) inverters widely in a typical grid. Utility-scale grid-forming batteries can help stabilize the future grid, and equipping utility-scale batteries with these advanced controls is proven and cost effective when compared against alternative solutions.

While grid-forming battery energy storage systems (GFM BESS) are commercially available and are deployed globally, U.S. deployment is lagging. One reason is a lack of system studies evaluating the behavior of grid-forming batteries when widely deployed in a typical grid. This project used a detailed model of the real grid and manufacturer-specific equipment models to demonstrate that GFM BESS are providing stability benefits in weak grid conditions as well as having no adverse impacts when placed in stronger parts of the power system. It also demonstrates that GFM BESS work well across multiple vendors and in the vicinity of other, existing solar, wind, and battery resources. These utility-scale GFM batteries can help to defer more costly solutions, serving as a bridge to long-lead-time solutions like transmission infrastructure build-out.

 

 

 

 

Supporting Presentations:

July 2, 2024: GB Grid Forming Development, National Grid ESO
August 2, 2024: GFM in Australia,  AEMO
September 5, 2024: History of BESS (and IBRs) in Alaska, HickoryLedge
October 3, 2024: Grid-Forming Battery Energy Storage Systems, MISO
November 7, 2024: ERCOT AGS-ESR Adoption and Proposed Requirements, ERCOT
December 5, 2024: SMA Large Scale Grid Forming Solutions, SMA

Study objective and core questions: The Benefits of GFM BESS Project Team conducted detailed electromagnetic transient (EMT) studies on a real-world, interconnected power system to explore the benefits, opportunities, challenges, and considerations of adopting grid-forming (GFM) battery energy storage systems (BESS) at-scale. The studies explored, using an actual network with real models from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the following core questions:

  • Is GFM BESS a “do no harm” solution option that provides grid-stabilizing benefits to both weak and strong areas of the grid?
  • What are the benefits or challenges of adopting GFM BESS on a widespread basis?
  • Will there be any notable interactions or interoperability challenges with GFM BESS technologies across multiple OEMs?
  • Can GFM BESS help defer more costly solution options and lead to increased integration or less curtailment of renewables?

Approach: EMT studies were conducted with a partner utility, American Transmission Co. (ATC), using their actual network and scenarios loosely based on their interconnection studies. The study team developed scenarios and sensitivities in different zones of the ATC system to explore the questions described above. The studies were held confidentially among the core study team; however, results were shared in a genericized and anonymized manner with the broader project team to help guide the study, discuss key findings, explore additional sensitivities or scenarios, and to help craft the key messages regarding findings and recommendations from this work. The project team met periodically to hold informational meetings, hear from a wide array of stakeholders, and share lessons learned.