Could ancillary services change battery energy storage?

Ancillary services make up a falling share of the revenue stack for battery energy storage, as frequency response prices have fallen. But could new markets for other ancillary services change this? Through its pathfinder schemes, the ESO has been testing new ancillary services for stability, voltage, and constraint management.

Are energy storage-based frequency control solutions suitable for ancillary services?

Consequently, additional energy storage-based frequency control solutions are essential for integration into the grid. Recent research, highlighted in [7, 8, 9], has explored various energy storage technologies suitable for providing ancillary services on power grids.

Why are ancillary services important?

Ancillary services are essential to prevent blackouts and other system failures, providing stability to energy markets. In energy markets, ancillary services are a key component that helps maintain system reliability.

Can energy storage technologies provide ancillary services?

Since only a handful of countries have currently opened FFR markets (as per Table 1) and allowed energy storage technologies to provide ancillary services, the available literature (especially focused on combined techno-economic evaluation) is very limited.

How are ancillary services regulated?

In the U.S., ancillary services in energy markets are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which sets policies to ensure reliable grid operations and fair market participation.

Does storage technology meet the operational requirements for high-res ancillary services?

While various storage solutions demonstrate potential in providing fast frequency response ancillary services, no single technology sufficiently meets all the operational demands required for future high-RES grids. The inherent pros and cons of each storage technology necessitate a more integrated approach to ensure effective frequency control.