Assessment of the Wind Integration Potential of Residential Thermal Storage

Thermal storage capability of residential heating loads can enhance power system flexibility and can potentially facilitate grid integration of variable renewable generation. This paper presents a detailed assessment of the wind integration potential of both active and passive residential thermal storage using the Building-to-Grid (B2G) model. The B2G model integrates buildings’ thermal dynamics and end-use constraints within a reserve-constrained unit commitment tool. The presented case studies evaluate the impact of various factors on the wind integration potential of residential thermal storage. These factors include storage capability of active and passive thermal storage, wind penetration levels, and participation of heating loads in various categories of system reserve. The results depict that utilisation of residential thermal storage can facilitate wind curtailment reduction. However, analysis of the results highlights that the curtailment reduction potential of thermal storage is constrained during large wind curtailment events. The start-up costs reduction potential of thermal storage becomes more important with increasing wind penetration levels. It was also observed that for the considered test system, participation of heating loads in over-frequency reserves is more important than under-frequency reserves in terms of wind curtailment reduction.