Optimisation methods for dispatch and control of energy storage with renewable integration

Renewable energy integration is an effective measure to resolve environmental problems and implement sustainable development, yet the volatility of wind and solar generation has a profound impact on power system operation, calling for sufficient backup capacity. Energy storage can shift demand over time and mitigate real-time power mismatch and thus help integrate renewable energy resources into power grids. However, the unit capacity price of energy storage is still relatively high, and the capacity of energy storage is usually limited. Given the prominent uncertainty and finite capacity of energy storage, it is crucially important to take full advantage of energy storage units by strategic dispatch and control. From the mathematical point of view, energy storage dispatch and control give rise to a sequential decision-making process involving uncertain parameters and inter-temporal constraints. Multitudinous optimisation methods have been developed for such a problem while they differ in two aspects: the modelling of uncertainty and the mechanism to handle uncertainty. This review aims to draw a methodological picture of historical developments and state-of-the-art advances in this research field. These methods are subsumed into three major categories: multistage optimisation, online optimisation, and multi-timescale optimisation. In addition to introducing the advancements and applications, the authors also explain the motivations and theoretical foundations of these methodologies. The authors hope interested readers can attain a holistic outlook of these sophisticated approaches and choose the most appropriate one for their specific applications.

Automated summary

Integrating renewable energy requires energy storage to balance the volatility of wind and solar generation. However, the high price and limited capacity of energy storage necessitate strategic dispatch and control to maximize its utilization.