Can FEMP assess battery energy storage system performance?

This report describes development of an effort to assess Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) performance that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and others can employ to evaluate performance of deployed BESS or solar photovoltaic (PV) +BESS systems.

What is the difference between rated power capacity and storage duration?

Rated power capacity is the total possible instantaneous discharge capability (in kilowatts [kW] or megawatts [MW]) of the BESS, or the maximum rate of discharge that the BESS can achieve, starting from a fully charged state. Storage duration is the amount of time storage can discharge at its power capacity before depleting its energy capacity.

What is a battery energy storage system?

A battery energy storage system (BESS) is an electrochemical device that charges (or collects energy) from the grid or a power plant and then discharges that energy at a later time to provide electricity or other grid services when needed.

How is energy storage capacity calculated?

The energy storage capacity, E, is calculated using the efficiency calculated above to represent energy losses in the BESS itself. This is an approximation since actual battery efficiency will depend on operating parameters such as charge/discharge rate (Amps) and temperature.

What are the KPIs of a battery system?

For battery systems, Efficiency and Demonstrated Capacity are the KPIs that can be determined from the meter data. Efficiency is the sum of energy discharged from the battery divided by sum of energy charged into the battery (i.e., kWh in/kWh out).

How long does a battery storage system last?

For example, a battery with 1 MW of power capacity and 4 MWh of usable energy capacity will have a storage duration of four hours. Cycle life/lifetime is the amount of time or cycles a battery storage system can provide regular charging and discharging before failure or significant degradation.