Efficient Battery Deployment in Power Distribution with Solar-Integrated Networks
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: High penetration of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation in distribution networks introduces fast power fluctuations that can lead to voltage rise, visible flicker, and increased reliance on spinning reserve from upstream generation. Utility-owned battery energy storage systems (BESS) offer an effective solution; however, improper sizing and deployment can increase costs and accelerate battery degradation. Using a linear programming–based optimization method, this paper presents an optimal battery size and time-variable dispatch for solar-integrated distribution networks aimed at improving voltage profile and mitigating flicker, while minimizing utility-level operational costs to enhance efficiency and resilience. Results on a utility-scale 23-kV distribution feeder along with high-resolution measured solar data show that flicker is reduced to 0.5 from 1.3 under 90% solar penetration with the proposed optimally-sized BESS and dispatch. Also, mitigating sub-minute PV variability is predominantly power-driven, with battery power capacity increasing nearly linearly with solar penetration, while energy capacity remains relatively small. Moreover, battery storage significantly reduces and, in some cases, eliminates the need for spinning reserve traditionally used to compensate rapid PV output changes, providing economic benefits. Finally, adding an optimally-sized capacitive storage can further reduce the battery cost while maintaining the performance. Preliminary results of this work were presented in TPEC 2025. This paper includes more details and results.
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,645
OpenAlex ID: W7220847482