04 Mar What are BESS and what can they do for the industry?
What are BESS?
La tecnología BESS, que representa el concepto de “Battery Energy Storage System” o Sistema de Almacenamiento de Energía en Baterías, emerge como una solución vanguardista en el ámbito del almacenamiento energético. Esta tecnología, basada en el uso de baterías avanzadas, se ha diseñado con el propósito de almacenar electricidad para su utilización futura. Lo que la hace particularmente valiosa es su capacidad para capturar la energía producida en momentos donde la demanda es relativamente baja y conservarla hasta que sea necesaria, especialmente durante las horas pico de consumo, cuando la demanda de energía alcanza su máximo.
The role of BESS systems is crucial on the path to an energy transition that prioritizes renewable sources, such as solar and wind power. These sources, while clean and vital to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, present a significant challenge due to their intermittent nature; they are not always available when they are most needed. This is where BESS systems provide a solution, by enabling effective management of this intermittency and ensuring that power supply is constant and reliable, regardless of fluctuations in generation.
How can we use BESS systems?
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) have several modes of operation, each designed to meet different needs and objectives within the power grid and energy systems. These modes of operation include:
Renewable energy storage: Captures and stores energy generated from renewable sources, such as solar or wind, during periods of high production for use during times of low production or high demand.
Frequency regulation: Contributes to maintaining the balance between energy supply and demand by adjusting the frequency of the grid, which is crucial for the stability of the power system.
Back-up supply: Provides emergency power in the event of interruptions to the main power supply, improving the reliability of the electrical system.
Demand management: Allows end-users or grid operators to reduce energy demand from the main power system during peak consumption by shifting the use of energy stored in the battery.
Energy arbitrage: Involves buying energy when prices are low to store it and then selling it when prices rise, taking advantage of fluctuations in the energy market.
Improved power quality: Reduces voltage fluctuations and improves grid stability by providing ancillary services such as power factor correction and harmonic filtering.
Microgrid integration: Facilitates the creation and operation of microgrids, which can operate autonomously or be connected to the main power grid, providing flexibility and improving energy resilience in specific areas.
Each of these modes of operation highlights the versatility of BESS systems in supporting a sustainable energy transition and improving grid efficiency and reliability.