DNV GL (formerly DNV KEMA) is planning its GRIDSTOR Joint Industry Project, which aims to develop a recommended practice to drive the safe and secure implementation of grid-connected energy storage systems forward and to accelerate the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid.
The global transition toward a sustainable energy mix requires more flexible grid systems, as renewable energy sources are variable and should be adapted to energy systems originally designed for constant supply sources. To accommodate the growth of renewable energy, grid-connected energy storage balances the peaks and troughs of variable sources, and is becoming a vital element in the design of electrical networks.
The GRIDSTOR initiative was spurred by the realization that the energy industry lacked a comprehensive framework covering all elements relevant for grid-connected energy storage systems. The gap was revealed by a DNV GL energy storage survey conducted in January 2014, which explored existing energy storage standards. The absence of this recommended practice hampers the industry from demonstrating the validity of energy storage systems and increases the risk of damaging the energy storage sector as a whole.
GRIDSTOR will be launched in January 2015 with 15 select partners — from international suppliers to system integrators, end users and regulators — who are involved with storage systems and can deliver key input in developing the recommended practice. This consortium will create a recommended practice focusing on three main aspects of grid-connected energy storage: system safety, operation and performance.
