Dynamic modeling of gravity energy storage coupled with a PV energy plant

Abstract The growing interest in renewable energy systems has led to the development of energy storage to overcome their inherent intermittency. Currently, the most used storage technology for large scales systems is pumped hydro energy storage. This system is recognized for its economic viability in large scale applications. Another new alternative for large-scale energy storage is gravity storage system. The dynamic behavior of gravity storage including the mechanical machines and the hydraulic storage components is analyzed to gain insight into the performance of this system. An analytical model has been developed through interconnection of the different plant equipment models using Matlab/Simulink application. This paper details the operation modeling of a hybrid renewable energy system. The proposed model is able to simulate the interaction between the power plant, the storage system, and the electric grid. To evaluate the performance of the Simulink model, a simulation study is carried out on a large scale system.