The significant expansion of battery energy storage systems (BESS) expected in the coming years presents grid operators with a promising new technology—and, with it, new challenges. Now that transmission system operators (TSOs) have already published technical requirements for BESS on the transmission grid and the process for allocating grid connections has been restructured as part of the maturity assessment procedure (in German), it is now necessary to make the operational requirements transparent as well. These requirements define the “rules of the game” according to which BESS will be operated on the transmission grid in the future.
BESS make valuable contributions to the power system, for example by smoothing out price spikes in the energy-only market, shifting energy flows over time, or providing key system services such as control reserve, instantaneous reserve, black start capability, and voltage maintenance. At the same time, in an increasingly volatile market environment, highly dynamic market behavior is also to be expected, which can lead to grid congestion in the short term.
To address these challenges, grid operators must be able to accurately account for the behavior of BESS in their planning processes and—if necessary—take control measures in specific situations to prevent any risk to the grid. The regulations now in place compile the necessary operational requirements and thereby provide clarity for the future operation of BESS on the transmission grid.
Further information on requirements for battery energy storage systems (in German)