STORY: Added value of storage in distribution systems

STORY (Added value of storage and distribution systems) is a European project which focuses on the presentation of new small-scale energy storage technologies and their benefits in distribution systems. The project involves 18 partners from 8 different European countries.

With the development of our society the demand for energy is increasing, most notably for electricity. To be able to generate electricity using renewable energy sources and at the same time to be able to use it when needed, we need new solutions to store energy. The challenge of the project is to demonstrate the innovative approaches to use thermal and electrical energy storage systems and evaluate their impact. We want to find an affordable and reliable solutions that lead to an increase in electricity self-sufficiency. The STORY project comprises eight demonstration cases that contain different concepts of local energy storage, both in industrial and residential environments. Demonstration cases are aimed at the integration of large-scale rollout of small scale storage solutions in energy distribution network, with a central question: “What would be the added value of small distributed energy storage solutions in the electricity distribution network?”

In the eight demonstration cases, distributed energy storage technologies and advanced ICT solutions were used. Data from the field trials was meant to calibrate simulation models through which we aim to analyze the impact of storage technologies in power system with a very high degree of distributed renewable energy sources. For the successful introduction of small distributed storage also various business models were designed and the necessary amendments proposed to the national support policies and regulatory frameworks.