Community Energy Storage System for Cost Benefits

Abstract

Future low-carbon energy systems will be people-centred. However, optimal utilisation of renewable-based distributed generation in neighbourhood energy market (NEM) remains a limiting factor. This paper investigates a NEM and evaluates the benefits of central energy storage system (ESS) in maximising collective self-consumption and savings, using Sheffield city centre, UK as a case study. The results show that the central ESS has a significant impact on utilization of renewable resources, reduces cost of energy and offers flexibility of the grid through peak reduction. In particular, use of central ESS reduces peak demand by up to 55 % while the community's self-consumption and self-sufficiency increased by 28.8% and 32 % respectively.