Locating and sizing energy storage systems for distribution feeder expansion planning

In this paper we present a mixed integer programming (MIP) formulation of an electricity network expansion planning model that considers the location, sizing, and operation of energy storage systems (ESS) as well as additional circuits. The model includes constraints to manage generator ramp rates, ESS charge/discharge rates, and losses on power transferred to, from, and within storage. Two new test networks based on representative feeder taxonomies identified by the National Feeder Taxonomy Study are used to demonstrate the use of the model, and a procedure to create other such test systems is defined. We find that ESS are typically omitted from the expansion plan as the cost of installing the new circuits is currently less than the cost of distribution scale energy storage.