Optimal Operation of Battery Storage Systems in Renewable Energy Communities

Abstract

Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) are expected to play a central role in the efforts to increase the share of distributed-connected sustainable energy production. Assets such as battery storage can effectively contribute to the development of RECs by leveraging on their intrinsic flexibility. However, the value for batteries in RECs is not univocal; this would ultimately depend on the way these assets are connected to the grid and on the operational choices adopted by the members of the REC concerning the simultaneous achievement of multiple objectives. This paper assesses the economic value of the optimal multi-objective operation of battery storage in RECs under different connection schemes and operational approaches. Results indicate that the combination of these two aspects may lead to fundamentally different techno-economic performance.