Economic viability of mobile electricity storage facilities serving as an alternative means of electricity sharing by providing time-shifting ancillary service
Krzysztof Zagrajek, J. Paska
Abstract
• A model of time shifting energy service for mobile electricity storage facility was developed. • Method for determining the economic parameters of custom electric vehicle was established. • 49 scenarios of different mobile electricity storage facilities configurations and economic conditions were analyzed. • Optimal number of custom electric vehicles for providing time shifting ancillary service was calculated. Ensuring conditions for increasing the self-consumption rate in energy resources managed by electricity end user is key issue to maximize the economic benefits. One such solution is the use of electricity storage systems. However, a problem of maximizing the profits has been noticed for entities with dispersed sites, that want to increase their self-consumption, without selling the surplus of energy to the grid. Therefore, other solutions must be explored to transport energy between such sites. The utilization of mobile electricity storage facilities is one of them. In order to substitute typical energy distribution with mobile electricity storage facilities, the economic viability should be examined. This article presents a methodology to assess the daily costs of transporting energy between sites using a fleet of custom electric vehicles carrying mobile electricity storage facilities. The technical feasibility of such ancillary service was examined, followed by an investigation into the economic viability of the entire process for two categories of custom electric vehicles with storage capacities ranging from 24 kWh to 192 kWh. Based on the results obtained, it is possible to provide an ancillary service involving load time-shifting, however, it will only be profitable once the electricity price exceeds 1.00 EUR/kWh. The entity benefiting from this alternative approach to transfer energy between sites can gain profit from €605 and even up to €116,000. Better results are obtained for scenarios when vehicles with greater energy potential are used, i.e., those with a larger battery capacity and a lower weight of the power output equipment.