Innovative usage of Battery Energy Storage Systems for grids, microgrids, and shipboard applications

In a business in which the need to instantaneously match power demand with supply is a must, the potential of energy storage is universally recognized. The research in such a field has followed the power system development since its inception, but only recently the technological progress, the legislative and regulatory tailwinds coupled with new grid challenges have propelled the energy storage to a commercial reality. Among all the possible solutions, Battery Energy Storage System is one of the most promising; however, uncertainties concerning feasible uses, valuation methods, ultimate cost-effectiveness, impact on-grid and microgrid operation and stability remain, preventing a widespread, large-scale approach to this technology. In this thesis, the Battery Energy Storage System uses in power systems are investigated, specifically in the context of frequency services such as primary regulation and fast frequency response. To evaluate Battery Energy Storage System's and, in general, Converter Interfaced Generation's contribution to system regulation strategies, revised definitions of frequency maker and frequency taker units are provided. Based on such definitions, several energy management strategies and converter controls solutions are proposed and investigated considering typical power system's business case scenario, which includes all the possible power system operation levels such as transmission, distribution, and shipboard microgrids. To achieve this target and give value to the obtained results, the latest state-of-the-art simulation tools are adopted. Simplified and high-fidelity models for real-time simulation and Hardware-In-the-Loop testing are defined. Additionally, real experimental setups, including grid-connected Battery Energy Storage Systems and microgrids, have been adopted to prove the proposed solutions' effectiveness and practical deployability.