Flywheel Energy Storage for Ancillary Services: A Novel Design and Simulation of a Continuous Frequency Response Service for Energy Limited Assets

Abstract

With National Grid ESO introducing a suite of new Frequency Response Services for the GB electricity market, there is an opportunity to investigate the ability of low-energy capacity storage systems to participate in the frequency response market. In this study, the effects of varying the response envelope of the frequency response service on the performance of a standalone Flywheel Energy Storage System is assessed. In doing so, a new Frequency Response Service that would allow flywheels and other high-power, low-energy storage devices to participate in the frequency response market as standalone systems is designed. This results in a 20C FESS achieving a 95% availability over the course of a year of operation, representing an excellent level of performance under existing market conditions. This work shows that a far wider range of energy storage mediums have the capability to provide meaningful contributions to grid frequency control than was previously assumed. It is also shown for the first time that through tailoring a service to the advantages of a flywheel, significant economic benefits can be achieved, culminating in showing that a 20C FESS could provide a positive economic performance up to a total capital cost of £3,364/kW under current market conditions.