Abstract:
As emphasis on renewable energy increases harnessing the maximum solar energy potential has become imperative. However the effective use of its potential is restricted by certain factors. The inherent feature of intermittency causes variations in power and voltage while the dependency on time of generation during day time limits its actual requirement. A night time peak as in Sri Lanka demands a cost effective renewable solution. Battery Energy Storage systems provide an integral solution for both these limitations. A case is studied on implementing a PV combined Battery Energy storage system on domestic consumers with two investment scenarios. The Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of Photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage System (PVBESS) reduces with increasing system capacity and a 5kW domestic PVBESS configuration shall have a LCOE of Rs.42.14 on a combined consumer utility investment plan. It is presented that under a peak energy system based on gas turbines could be replaced by a combined investment of consumer and utility on battery energy storage with both parties gaining equal benefit.
However the implementation of such scheme is heavily dependent on the Peak power energy mix. . Hence extensive commitment on implementing a PVBESS solution could lead to a loss to the utility, if the share of Gas turbines energy during the peak hours is less than 80%.
