Grid Modernization - Integration of Storage

Abstract

The existing electric power grid is reliable enough to meet everyday needs of U.S. electricity users. However, the grid needs major infrastructure upgrades to meet the rising demands for a reliable, resilient, and secure electricity delivery. Drivers to modernize the grid include increased demand for clean sources of energy, growing number of renewable energy sources on the grid and customer participation in power generation. Smart grid technologies are critical for monitoring, managing and controlling the power grid. Energy storage introduces an important new dimension on the grid, the ability to store electricity at one time and release the stored electricity for use at another time. Flow batteries are one type of energy storage technologies that are well suited for large-scale utility application on the grid. Currently, vanadium redox ow batteries are the most common used utility-scaled ow batteries.