New model makes energy storage coordination 27 times faster

A new control model can manage large energy storage facilities in the electricity grid nearly 27 times faster than existing solutions, ERR reports. Developed with the participation of Tallinn University of Technology researcher Juri Belikov, the model distributes the load among storage units of different sizes and capacities while keeping them within safe operating limits.

The researchers compare the system to a large symphony orchestra in which giant energy storage facilities, such as reservoirs and battery parks, replace musical instruments. Such storage is increasingly important for balancing the electricity grid when wind or solar power production fluctuates.

The researchers tested the algorithm using data from Israel’s electricity grid and three large pumped-storage plants. The system synchronised the operation of nine different storage units in just a few seconds, while a previously widespread method took almost a minute to perform the same task.

The increase in speed did not come at the expense of accuracy. The calculations differed from the ideal scenario by about 1 percent and kept the risk of dangerous overcharging extremely low.

The algorithm distributes the load in real time according to each storage unit’s capacity instead of spending time forecasting the future or testing every possible option. When a unit approaches its safe charging limit, an automatic mathematical penalty is applied to reduce its load.

Belikov and his colleagues caution that the model is designed for systems without energy losses. In systems with greater energy losses, the model’s trajectories can drift, requiring more complex and slower numerical solvers. The findings were published in the journal Sustainability.