Grid integration of market-oriented PV storage systems

Abstract:
As the business case for home-scale PV storage systems emerges, the impact of different pricing structures on the sizing and operation of such systems and on distribution grids has to be evaluated. This paper proposes an approach which first derives optimally configured PV and storage systems using a mixed integer linear program and subsequently assesses their impact on the peak power. Future lower storage costs and lower feed-in limits incentivize the investment into storage systems. However, lower storage system costs also allow for larger PV systems and decrease the peak reduction. Currently, market-oriented prices only lead to minimal storage charging from and discharging to the grid which have nearly no impact on peak powers. Storage systems reduce the billable grid consumption and do not lead to an additional peak reduction when feed-in limits are in place. Thus, refinancing the grid infrastructure requires an increase in grid charges under the present-day regulatory scheme.