Cable pooling to add renewables amid grid congestion: Exploring optimal integration of solar and batteries with existing onshore wind under cost uncertainty

Grid congestion caused by the swift expansion of wind and solar photovoltaics (PV) installations obstructs additional renewable integration. This study investigates cable pooling, a mechanism where multiple energy assets share a single grid connection, as a potential solution. A case study was conducted to model the integration of solar PV and batteries with an existing 10 MW wind farm and 10 MW grid connection. The design and dispatch were optimized for maximal profit, while exploring the implications of cost uncertainty and future cost reductions for solar PV and batteries. The findings indicate that cable pooling can significantly increase renewable electricity output from a single grid connection. The integration of solely solar PV results in an optimal capacity of 19 MWp, with 9 % of production curtailed. Integrating a 43 MWh, 7 MW battery (with a 6-hour duration) facilitates the storage of otherwise curtailed energy, increases the optimal solar PV deployment to 28 MWp, and reduces curtailment to 7 %. Batteries convert the project from weather-dependent to semi-dispatchable, enabling charging during high wind and/or solar production and discharging when hourly electricity prices are high. Anticipated cost reductions for solar PV and batteries further strengthen the economic rationale, facilitating increased deployment of these technologies.