Publications

The National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) developed by the U.S. Department of Energy`s Energy Information Administration is a well-recognized model that is used to project the potential impact of new electric generation technologies. The NEMS model does not presently have the capability to model energy storage on the national grid. The scope of this study was to assess the feasibility of, and make recommendations for, the modeling of battery energy storage systems in the Electricity Market of the NEMS. Incorporating storage within the NEMS will allow the national benefits of storage technologies to be evaluated.

Under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Utility Technologies, the Energy Storage Systems Analysis and Development Department at Sandia National Laboratories conducted a series of dialogs with industry regarding the uses and value of storage in stationary applications. The dialogs consisted of meetings with industry executives in which Energy Storage Systems (ESS) Program management solicited input regarding expected changes in the electric utility industry and the long-term research and development in storage technologies and systems that would be most appropriate for the emerging competitive business environment. This report is a compilation of the findings from this Executive Meetings Project.

Evaluation of flooded lead-acid, Valve Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA), and advanced batteries is being performed in the power sources testing labs at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). These independent, objective tests using computer-controlled testers capable of simulating application-specific test regimes provide critical data for the assessment of the status of these technologies. Several different charge/discharge cycling regimes are performed. Constant current and constant power discharge tests are conducted to verify capacity and measure degradation. A utility test is imposed on some units which consists of partial depths of discharge (pulsed constant power) cycles simulating a frequency regulation operating mode, with a periodic complete discharge simulating a spinning reserve test. This test profile was developed and scaled based on operating information from the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) 20 MW battery energy storage system. Another test conducted at SNL is a photovoltaic battery life cycle test, which is a partial depth of discharge test (constant current) with infrequent complete recharges that simulates the operation of renewable energy systems. This test profile provides renewable system designers with critical battery performance data representative of field conditions. This paper will describe the results of these tests to date, and include analysis and conclusions.

Under the sponsorship of the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Utility Technologies, the Energy Storage Systems Analysis and Development Department at Sandia National Laboratories contracted Sentech, Inc., to assess the impact of power quality problems on the electricity supply system. This report contains the results of several studies that have identified the cost of power quality events for electricity users and providers. The large annual cost of poor power quality represents a national inefficiency and is reflected in the cost of goods sold, reducing US competitiveness. The Energy Storage Systems (ESS) Program takes the position that mitigation merits the attention of not only the DOE but affected industries as well as businesses capable of assisting in developing solutions to these problems. This study represents the preliminary stages of an overall strategy by the ESS Program to understand the magnitude of these problems so as to begin the process of engaging industry partners in developing solutions.

Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico, conducts the Energy Storage Systems Program, which is sponsored by the US Department of Energy`s Office of Utility Technologies. The goal of this program is to assist industry in developing cost-effective energy storage systems as a resource option by 2000. Sandia is responsible for the engineering analyses, contracted development, and testing of energy storage systems for stationary applications. This report details the technical achievements realized during fiscal year 1996.

Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico, conducts the Utility Battery Storage Systems Program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy`s Office of Utility Technologies. The goal of this program is to assist industry in developing cost-effective battery systems as a utility resource option by 2000. Sandia is responsible for the engineering analyses, contracted development, and testing of rechargeable batteries and systems for utility energy storage applications. This report details the technical achievements realized during fiscal year 1995.

Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico, conducts the Utility Battery Storage Systems Program, which is sponsored by the US Department of Energy`s Office of Energy Management. The goal of this program is to assist industry in developing cost-effective battery systems as a utility resource option by 2000. Sandia is responsible for the engineering analyses, contracted development, and testing of rechargeable batteries and systems for utility energy storage applications. This report details the technical achievements realized during fiscal year 1994.

Abstract not provided.

Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico, conducts the Utility Battery Storage Systems Program, which is sponsored by the US Department of Energy`s Office of Energy Management. In this capacity, Sandia is responsible for the engineering analyses, contract development, and testing of rechargeable batteries and systems for utility-energy-storage applications. This report details the technical achievements realized during fiscal year 1993.

This report was prepared at the request of the US Department of Energy`s Office of Energy Management for an objective comparison of the merits of battery energy storage with superconducting magnetic energy storage technology for utility applications. Conclusions are drawn regarding the best match of each technology with these utility application requirements. Staff from the Utility Battery Storage Systems Program and the superconductivity Programs at Sandia National contributed to this effort.

This report describes the requirements, designs, performance, and development histories for the T1576 power supply and the MC3935 rechargeable battery. These devices are used to power Permissive Action Link (PAL) ground controllers. The T1576 consists of a stainless steel container, one SA3553 connector, and one MC3935 battery. The MC3935 is a vented nickel/cadmium battery with 24 cells connected in series. It was designed to deliver 5.5 Amp-hours at 25{number_sign}C and the one-hour rate, with a nominal voltage of 28 V. The battery was designed to operate for 5 years or 500 full charge/discharge cycles. The power supply is expected to last indefinitely with replacement batteries and hardware.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is sponsoring the Utility Battery Storage Systems Program at Sandia National Laboratories and its contractors. This program is specifically aimed at developing battery energy storage systems for electric utility applications commencing in the mid to late 1990s. One factory-integrated utility battery system and three battery technologies: sodium/sulfur, zinc/bromine, and lead-acid are being developed under this program. In the last few years the emphasis of this program has focused on battery system development. This emphasis has included greater interactions with utilities to define application requirements. Recent activities have identified specific applications of battery energy storage in certain utility systems and quantified the value of these applications to these utility companies. In part due to these activities, battery energy storage is no longer regarded by utilities as a load-leveling resource only, but as a multifunction, energy management resource.

This report documents the fiscal year 1992 activities of the, Utility Battery Storage Systems Program (UBS) of the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Management (OEM). The UBS program is conducted by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). UBS is responsible for the engineering development of integrated battery systems for use in utility-energy-storage (UES) and other stationary applications. Development is accomplished primarily through cost-shared contracts with industrial organizations. An important part of the development process is the identification, analysis, and characterization of attractive UES applications. UBS is organized into five projects: Utility Battery Systems Analyses; Battery Systems Engineering; Zinc/Bromine; Sodium/Sulfur; Supplemental Evaluations and Field Tests. The results of the Utility Systems Analyses are used to identify several utility-based applications for which battery storage can effectively solve existing problems. The results will also specify the engineering requirements for widespread applications and motivate and define needed field evaluations of full-size battery systems.