Quanta Technology has developed a best-in-class software tool, ESPT-T, for evaluating storage and other non-wires alternatives (NWA) yielding a techno-economic evaluation of alternatives to economic or reliability transmission constraints. Our tool combines standard transmission planning software such as PSLF or PSS/E and economic dispatch models such as Promod or Gridview to provide a thorough and rigorous 8760 comparison of wire and non-wire alternatives. The tool has a great deal of flexibility and can also assess value stacking of multiple revenue streams in different scenarios such as current and future market services that relate to a given NWA.
Energy Storage and NWA Planning
Siting – Sizing – Cost Estimation – Techno-Economics – Stacked Revenues – Option Value
Energy storage is increasingly attracting the interest of project developers and electric utilities. These modular assets have the capability to rapidly inject and absorb not only reactive power but also real power making them of universal utility along the electricity value chain from generation plants to consumers.
The storage’s rapid dynamic response can help system planners to increase the transfer limits on congested lines that are either constrained by N-1 contingencies or by stability limits such as voltage, transient, or rotor dynamics. A properly sized and sited storage system can provide several grid reliability and market efficiency services while facilitating public policy initiatives.
Other Non-Wire Alternative (NWA) technologies can also affect transmission system thermal loading and voltage limits and can be used alone on in combination with energy storage and conventional solutions such as shunt compensation to bring a competitive hybrid solution.
Why Quanta Technology?
Quanta Technology has been at the forefront of energy storage planning, engineering, testing, and commissioning. The experience gained from working with utilities and developers in the USA, Europe, and South America has honed the skills of our consultants.
Quanta also has developed a leading software tool to help our consultants to produce consistent results productively. Energy Storage Planning Tool (ESPT) enables a planner to site size, cost estimate, stack revenues, and perform techno-economic analysis.
Robust Solutions
Quanta’s experience ensures that the best solutions are determined for any application. Energy storage and NWA solutions are increasingly competitive but by far are not a replacement to conventional solutions all the time. Our experience and tools help our customers to screen opportunities and deep dive into the valid ones.
Service Offerings
Siting and Sizing
- Quanta’s proprietary algorithm calculates a siting index for each bus in the study area, based on the locations ability to reduce line overloads after contingencies. The resulting heatmap guides developers and utility planners to find suitable locations.
- The MW rating of single or multiple storage systems are optimized to ensure lowest storage cost while meeting system security constraints.
- Time-Series power flows (8760 hours) is utilized to size the energy capacity requirement taking into account not only the relief of the grid constraints but also the ability to recharge (or discharge) the storage system to be ready to serve its function the next time it is needed.
- For distribution reliability applications, the siting and sizing algorithm identifies sections of the feeder to place the storage system to eliminate feeder overloads and minimize customer interruptions.
Cost Estimation and Revenue Stacking
- Robust method and software tool to develop a total cost of the storage system and its bill of material and cost breakdown.
- Storage extra capacity, beyond its primary function, is optimized in the wholesale energy and ancillary markets.
Comparative Lifetime Techno-Economic Analysis
- Compares the revenue requirements of a regulated storage asset against a conventional solution, while accounting for the differences in asset life and O&M practices.
- Calculates investment metrics of IRRs, NPVs, and breakeven analysis for market assets.
Real Option Valuation
- Valuation of the optionality value embedded in energy storage to deal with uncertainty in load forecast and market prices. Rolling incremental investment decisions are triggered to address near to mid term forecasts. Monte Carlo simulations show the envelop of financial outcomes.
