Comparative analysis of domestic and feeder connected batteries for low voltage networks with high photovoltaic penetration

•Feeder connected batteries and domestic batteries are modelled reacting to the same load patterns within the same test feeder to enable direct comparison.•The feeder connected battery responds directly to power flows on the feeder, whereas domestic batteries aim to meet the demand for their home.•The effect of the additional energy storage is then compared by looking at feeder power flows, voltage deviations and export characteristics over a 1 year period.•It is seen that feeder connected batteries offer preferable services to the grid when simple control methods are used.

Excessive voltage and power flow issues associated with domestic solar power are threatening UK distribution system operation and the use of energy storage is one method proposed to mitigate these issues. In this study a data orientated approach was taken in order to simulate the effect of the location of the energy storage on the low voltage network. A number of small (<15 kWh) domestic batteries were compared to a single larger (>50 kWh) feeder connected battery in terms of their ability to shave load demand peaks, fill load demand valleys and counter voltage violations on a typical radial feeder system. To achieve this MatLab was used to create dispatch strategies for each battery and introduce them into an aggregated load, and OpenDSS was then used to model this scenario on a typical UK radial feeder based on the IEEE European Low Voltage Test Case.It was found that the feeder connected battery was more successful at mitigating the thermal overload effects of distributed generation at the low voltage level. Domestic batteries offer ease of installation and consumer support, likely to make their utilisation increasingly inevitable. However, their exposure to domestic energy flows and focus on minimising grid import to the home led to a reduced network level impact. This work shows that a feeder connected battery can respond to the power flows of the aggregated load and thus provides a far more capable tool for reducing network peak loads and preventing feeder system export.