Energy Storage Systems: Duration and Limitations
While short-duration energy storage (SDES) systems can discharge energy for up to 10 hours, long-duration energy storage (LDES) systems are capable of discharging energy
When we talk about energy storage duration, we're referring to the time it takes to charge or discharge a unit at maximum power. Let's break it down: Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): Lithium-ion BESS typically have a duration of 1–4 hours. This means they can provide energy services at their maximum power capacity for that timeframe.
If the grid has a very high load for eight hours and the storage only has a 6-hour duration, the storage system cannot be at full capacity for eight hours. So, its ELCC and its contribution will only be a fraction of its rated power capacity. An energy storage system capable of serving long durations could be used for short durations, too.
Storage shifts energy in time. Storage can act as either generation or consumption, helping to maintain the balance between supply and demand at different time scales. For example, storage can provide capacity which contributes to resource adequacy during stress periods on the system.
True resiliency will ultimately require long-term energy storage solutions. While short-duration energy storage (SDES) systems can discharge energy for up to 10 hours, long-duration energy storage (LDES) systems are capable of discharging energy for 10 hours or longer at their rated power output.
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