Battery energy storage for buildings and communities: sizing and control strategies for multiple services and objectives

Renewable electricity generators (REG), such as wind turbines and photovoltaics, reduce fossil-fuel use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, their output does not match electricity demands and consequently requires technology to act as an intermediary. The objective of this research program is to develop control strategies for battery energy storage systems (BESS) that are suitable for buildings connected to the electricity grid. BESS are uniquely suitable storage for buildings as they are sealed and highly efficient. Co-locating BESS in buildings and communities with REG (e.g. net-zero energy buildings) has several advantages compared to centralized storage, demand side management, and thermal storage; including: (1) charge/discharge of electricity, (2) efficiency because of proximity to distributed generators and demands, and (3) no influence upon building occupants. Several BESS models have been proposed, however they are not comprehensive in their treatment of control strategies and they lack experimental data for calibration.This research will address these knowledge deficiencies by creating optimal sizing methods and comprehensive BESS control strategies for buildings and communities. The new sizing and control strategy will simultaneously incorporate characteristics of renewable resources (wind, sun, tides), buildings (heat/cooling, lighting, appliances), electricity grid (ramp rate, min/max capacity), and batteries (power, capacity, efficiency, life). The strategy will decide to charge/discharge/standby on the basis of maximizing benefits to the REG, electricity grid manager, and building manager, so as to achieve technical, economic, or GHG emissions objectives. Experiments will be carried out using advanced battery technologies and power-cyclers to provide real operational data for calibrating these BESS control strategy models. Models of the control strategy will be integrated within existing building simulation software and community level REG models, thereby enabling energy management and construction industries to design and specifying building integrated BESS.