Regulation of distribution network voltage using dispersed battery storage systems: A case study of a rural network

The drive for power networks throughout the world to utilize clean, green renewable generation poses a number of issues for distribution and transmission companies. Two of the most popular forms of renewable generation, wind and photovoltaic (PV) face large fluctuations in their generation profile. This variation means that peak generation and peak customer demand are often greatly divergent. Battery energy storage can help to buffer wind and PV generation, capturing a portion of the energy produced during light load and exporting it back onto the network as required. Moreover, energy storage can be utilized to load shift and regulate network voltage. This paper investigates the use of battery storage in regulating network voltage, in particular, the different strategies which may be employed in controlling the storage unit. Simulations are coupled with real data, taken from a rural single wire earth return (SWER) network, showing that battery storage is capable of boosting the network voltage.