5The dynamic development of renewable energy technologies (RES) is becoming the foundation of a modern energy economy. However, despite progress, Poland still faces many challenges that hinder the full utilization of renewable energy potential. One of them is managing the variability of electricity production from distributed sources and ensuring the stability of the power system.
Experts will discuss the challenges in the renewable energy market and strategies to support further RES development in Poland during the 40th EuroPower & OZE Power Energy Conference, which will take place on November 7-8, 2024, at The Westin Warsaw Hotel in Warsaw. Detailed event agenda and registration: https://konferencjaeuropower.pl/europower/program/
Join us!
The Role of Energy Storage in Stabilizing the Power Grid
The fluctuating nature of energy production from renewable sources, especially photovoltaic, poses one of the biggest challenges in the energy transition process. The power gap, i.e., the difference between electricity demand and its availability at a given time, is particularly pronounced in the case of solar energy. Energy storage systems, while not a panacea for all issues related to integrating RES into the grid, are an essential tool for stabilizing the power system. Storing energy produced during peak production hours and then utilizing it during periods of deficit not only increases grid flexibility but also stabilizes it and reduces the risk of power outages. Furthermore, the proper use of energy storage can significantly limit the need to invest in generation units that operate only during peak demand periods. From the perspective of system stability, real-time energy storage technologies, such as superconducting coils and supercapacitors, are best suited for responding quickly to sudden demand changes. However, these technologies are still in development and have specific applications and limitations compared to more common solutions such as lithium-ion batteries.
Energy storage systems, however, are unable to fully eliminate the power gap, especially during prolonged periods without sunlight. Their capacity is still limited, meaning they are effective only in short-term power balancing and do not provide sufficient security against extended periods of low RES electricity production. Another challenge is the high investment and operational costs of energy storage systems, which can be a barrier, particularly for smaller entities and households. Moreover, this technology does not address the issue of mismatched energy production to demand on an hourly and minute-by-minute scale.
Therefore, achieving full power grid stability requires combining energy storage systems with other solutions, such as flexible demand management (Demand Side Response), the development of smart grids, and integration with conventional energy sources that can provide rapid and stable power supply in critical moments.
Excess RES Energy Production as a Challenge for Poland’s Transmission Grid
As the share of renewable energy in the grid grows, the phenomenon of “backflow,” i.e., the reverse flow of electricity towards the transmission grid, is increasingly common. This can destabilize the power system and lead to local outages or reduced energy quality. Therefore, it is essential to implement solutions that safeguard the grid against overloads and enable maximum utilization of RES energy. Energy storage systems, as previously mentioned, are one of the tools that can help manage solar energy overproduction. However, to fully utilize the potential of photovoltaics, actions at the infrastructure level are also needed. Currently, Poland’s transmission and distribution network is not adapted to handle large amounts of distributed energy production. Thus, its rapid modernization is necessary, including the construction of new transmission lines, increasing the capacity of existing lines, implementing smart grid management systems, and integrating with energy storage systems. Without adequate investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure, challenges related to solar energy overproduction may pose a significant obstacle to the further development of the photovoltaic sector in Poland.
By definition, energy storage systems stabilize and flatten the energy profiles exported to the grid, and their construction is in the interest of investors, individual DSOs, and PSE. The best solution here is to make agreements regarding the maximum power introduced into the grid at a given point, regardless of whether the energy comes from a generation source or an energy storage system, the so-called “black box” from the connection point. The necessity to conduct additional agreement processes for network capabilities already defined by the DSO unnecessarily extends and increases investment costs while not changing anything in the power limit that can be introduced into the power system unless the investor applies for its increase.
The best practice here is to work based on the agreed parameter of net power introduced into the grid, making the process transparent and time-efficient.
Ireneusz Kulka, EDP Comercial, CS Poland
How Legislative Amendments Facilitate the Development of RES and Energy Storage
The dynamic development of RES and energy storage technologies, supported by EU regulations, necessitates Poland to update its existing laws. The latest legislative changes primarily concern the Energy Law Act of April 10, 1997, aiming to facilitate investments in RES and the integration of energy storage with the national power system.
One significant change is the introduction of an energy storage register, enabling the collection of data on installed storage capacities, their locations, and network integration. This aims to facilitate, among other things, network management and planning of transmission and distribution infrastructure investments. Another important change from the perspective of RES development in Poland is the amendment of construction law, allowing the installation of RES devices with a capacity of up to 150 kW without the need for a building permit or notification. Consequently, investors can install energy storage systems without counting them towards the overall capacity of the installation, which is a significant facilitation for prosumer projects. An important step towards stabilizing the power grid and supporting the integration of renewable energy sources is the exemption of energy storage from the obligation to draft tariffs by the regulator. This allows energy storage operators to purchase electricity during periods of low prices and return it to the grid during high-demand periods, enabling more flexible and efficient operation of storage on the market.
The mentioned legislative changes are among the most important among many other amendments to the Energy Law. While these changes are a step in the right direction, the problem of insufficient connection capacities in the distribution network remains. Unless these technical limitations are addressed, the development of the energy storage market in Poland may be slower than anticipated, despite favorable legislative changes.
The Role of Virtual Power Plants and Energy Storage in DSR Mechanisms
Virtual power plants (VPPs) play a key role in Demand Side Response (DSR) mechanisms, acting as intermediaries between energy producers and consumers. Through advanced management of distributed energy sources and the integration of energy storage systems, VPPs significantly influence the balancing of the power system. By intelligently managing energy consumption, VPPs can smooth the demand curve, “cutting peaks” during high-demand hours and “filling valleys” during periods of lower consumption. Energy storage systems are invaluable here, as they allow for the accumulation of surplus energy when production exceeds demand and its delivery during peak periods. This, in turn, reduces the need to maintain costly reserves based on coal and gas, which traditionally served to stabilize the grid during peak times. As a result, the reliance on fossil fuels is reduced, contributing to the decarbonization of the energy sector.
However, to fully exploit the potential of VPPs, appropriate legal and technical solutions must be introduced to support the development of virtual power plants and energy storage systems. Successful implementations of these technologies within smart grids worldwide demonstrate that integrating VPPs and energy storage can significantly improve the stability and operational efficiency of the power system.
Data publikacji:
