Development of a charge path optimization controller block for a battery energy storage system

As part of its efforts to progress and innovate in the field of Smart Grid technologies, Enexis developed and currently operates a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) called the Smart Storage Unit (SSU), part of the Smart Storage Project (SSP). The SSU is a 400 kVA, 232 kWh storage system, equipped with internet-connected control hardware in order to add ¿smartness¿ into the equation. The objective of the project is to enable field-testing and research on advanced electricity storage solutions in the LV distribution grid. This paper mainly focusses on the development of an addition to the controller system for the purpose of minimizing grid losses and maximizing grid asset utilization. Its principles rely on using historic data for load prediction, in order to flatten the power demand at the transformer, through peak-reduction and valley-filling