Pilot Projects

Energy storage, with its ability to shift energy supply and demand, will play a larger role in the power system as countries around the world integrate large amounts of variable renewable energy. Through Greening the Grid, NREL and USAID work with in-country partners around the world to share best practices, build capacity, and provide technical assistance with energy storage issues. The following are examples of recent and ongoing projects in partner countries.

India

Distributed energy resources—such as distributed photovoltaics (DPV), battery energy storage systems (BESS), and electric vehicles (EV)—will be critical as the Government of India looks to modernize its electricity system, deploy more renewable energy, and reduce air pollution. To address challenges posed by this energy transition, USAID and NREL, in collaboration with BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. (BRPL), developed an advanced power distribution system impact analysis framework of BRPL’s distribution system. This framework helps determine the preparedness of the network to bring on new technologies. Battery storage is assessed on their effectiveness to mitigate overloading scenarios and their costs.

In a separate study, USAID and NREL prepared a report based on discussions with a broad range of stakeholders to determine the best ways to regulate and facilitate the installation of DPV-plus-storage systems in India. The report provides Indian policymakers, regulators, and other stakeholders concerned with DPV with a broad framework for the implementation of DPV-plus-storage systems in the country. It also includes recommended policies, programs, and regulations that can facilitate its deployment.

For more information on energy storage in India, see:

Thailand

In January 2021, USAID and NREL prepared a guide for regulators in developing countries to deploy battery energy storage systems (BESS) safely and reliably. With the decreasing cost of and increasing interest in BESS, there is a growing need for guidelines for interconnection and development of BESS in Thailand. In addition to reducing grid impacts and the restrictions of renewable generation, BESS standards and codes could help support the deployment of stand-alone solar and BESS microgrids for rural electrification in Thailand.

While this guide was developed specifically to support the Thailand Office of Energy Regulatory Commission (OERC) and other Thai energy stakeholders in their efforts to develop technical codes and standards for BESS deployment and operation, it is also applicable for other countries. This guide provides global best practices of codes, standards, and interconnection procedures and includes six key considerations: energy storage system components, safety, procurement, interconnection, ancillary services, and relevant interconnection standards and codes. 

For more information, see:

Philippines

USAID and NREL are supporting the power sector stakeholders in the Philippines to learn more about the role of utility-scale and distributed-level battery energy storage. In 2021, NREL provided expert guidance to the Philippines Energy Regulatory Commission in incorporating battery energy storage into distributed generation interconnection regulations. Meanwhile, NREL is developing deployment scenarios, and modeling methodologies for capturing energy storage in capacity expansion and production cost models which will be incorporated into the Philippines’ renewable energy planning process. 

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