Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 7(4): 273-279, 2013 ISSN 1991-8178 Corresponding Author: J.O. Petinrin, Centre of Electrical Energy System (CEES), Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi, Malaysia. Johor Bahru, Malaysia. E-mail: wolepet01@yahoo.com 273 Implementation of Energy Storage in a Future Smart Grid J.O. Petinrin and M. Shaaban Centre of Electrical Energy System (CEES), Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi, Malaysia. Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Abstract: Modernization of power usage and design is demanding for new control and operation strategies of the smart grid. The changes in load control system coupled with the variable and stochastic nature of renewable energy integrated in the smart grid offers a new set of challenges in balancing generation and consumption. The deployment of energy storage system throughout the grid from generation to end-user present an opportunity to transcend the power balance paradigm by storing energy during off-peak and redispatched when needed. It also makes process happen more effectively and improve system performance. This paper addresses commonly used energy storage technologies, their application and benefits. The simulation carried out using OpenDSS software shows the effectiveness of energy storage on intermittent renewable energy and its positive impact on the tasks of voltage control. Key words: INTRODUCTION The inability to store electrical energy has made the utility industry to always operate on the principle of instantaneous supplying demand. There is need to maintain balance between generation and consumption, from generation capital planning to real-time control center operation. Smart grid seamlessly integrates renewable energy (RE) such as solar or wind power which they in turn solve the problem of energy crisis and climate change. However, the stochastic characteristic and the inherent property that exist in the solar and wind power presents difficulties for power system security operation. The deployment of energy storage [ES] system throughout the grid from generation to end-user (Fioravanti 2011) present an opportunity to transcend the power balance paradigm by storing energy during off-peak and redispatched when needed. Energy storage improves network performance in connection with other smart grid control technologies such as demand side integration. The event definitions and varying behavior of the network on both long and short timescale determine the level of contribution of the energy storage system. A greater number of problems could be solved by a higher energy capacity and power rating (1kW - 1GW) ES (Mohod and Aware 2008; Tanabe, Sato et al. 2008; Zhong, Zhang et al. 2008) but there is a balance of cost/benefit analysis (Wade, Taylor et al. 2010). In addition ES can increase grid reliability and asset utilization (EPRI 2010; Rastler 2010) Energy storage facilities relieve congestion and constrains. They provide easy connection of renewable sources and make islanding possible (Hamidi, Smith et al. 2010), and allows load leveling and peak shaving (Kumar 2011). Energy storage such as battery, thermal, hydrogen, superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) devices, and ultra-capacitors play an important role to minimized the impact of sudden load changes and fluctuations in solar and wind generation, as well as to shift energy consumption from peak hours by providing energy balancing, load following, increased supply redundancy and system reliability. The capability of distributed storage to store non-despatchable energy from renewable energy sources can certainly improve system reliability (Shaaban and Majid 2010). Application of Energy Storage in Smart Grid: Energy storage is essential in the visions of the SG, most importantly with respect to renewable generation. Energy storage systems is needed throughout the transmission and distribution (T&D) systems; at the generation, in transmission system support, at different point in the distribution feeder and on particular equipment and appliances on the end-user’s side of the energy meter (Mohd, Ortjohann et al. 2008) as shown in Fig. 1. The ES is applied to decouple the timing generation and consumption of electric energy. A typical application is load leveling, which involves the charging of storage when cost of energy is low and utilization as needed. ES is used to assume continuity of quality power.