Storage Devices Impact on Electricity Distribution

This paper addresses the potential impact that distributed energy storage systems have in the distribution networks, in terms of applications and available technologies in the market. Among the several components of the electrical system, the distribution network is the one experiencing the most profound changes, particularly in terms of technological evolution. At this stage, the recent deployment of some new technologies may play a significant role in the distribution networks development, one of them is energy storage. Although the energy storage devices are not bound to a specific technology, but rather on a broad spectrum, they do have in common the potential of influencing (balancing) power variations and in this way to contribute to supplying totally or partially the distribution grid, namely when disturbances and variations take place. This potential is driving this technology into the forefront particularly when the growing usage of variable energy resources and an increasing need of power quality are considered. At a moment in which the impact of variable renewable energy sources is expected to increase in the European Union, distributed storage has the potential to play a key role in stabilizing the network.