Cloud energy storage in power systems: Concept, applications, and technical challenges

Abstract

Cloud energy storage (CES) in the power systems is a novel idea for the consumers to get rid of the expensive distributed energy storages (DESs) and to move to using a cloud service centre as a virtual capacity. Although the different characteristics and applications of the energy storages are reviewed in some papers, there is no review study on the CES concepts, formulations, applications, and challenges. Therefore, the main contribution of this paper is to review the applications of the CES and its technical challenges in the power systems. For this purpose, the concept and fundamentals of the CES, as well as their role in supporting the consumers and the power network, are described first. The flow of information in a CES is then discussed, and the roles of the operator, consumers, and facilities, as the main sectors of the CES are explained. The existing studies are classified and discussed regarding the different applications of the CES in the power systems and their drawbacks are highlighted. The operation and planning (feasibility) problems of the CES are investigated. Reviewing the existing studies shows that comprehensive models are required to address the energy management (EM) and feasibility analysis of the CES applications. To address this challenge, the general formulations are presented for the planning and the operation scheduling problems of the CES. In addition, addressing different CES applications in the power systems leads to some technical challenges which are described. Finally, future directions are suggested for potential researchers to continue the studies on the CES integration and application.

A novel framework for photovoltaic energy optimization based on supply–demand constraints

“…The photovoltaic cluster individuals lease energy storage capacity from energy storage power stations and pay lease fees, and the distribution network assesses the total energy storage lease capacity of the photovoltaic cluster. Individuals in the cluster mainly consider the group evolution process under two pure strategies (Guo M. et al, 2023;Khezri et al, 2023b), namely, the energy storage leasing strategy (cooperator) and the non-renting strategy (betrayer). Suppose there are N photovoltaic power plants in the cluster, the number of partners is n and the set of partners is Ω n .…”

“…Energy storage is a high-cost resource (Khezri et al, 2023a). With the commissioning of independently operated energy storage power stations, the business model of energy storage leasing is gradually favored by the market (Liu et al, 2021).…”

“…Kumar and Palanisamy (2022) applied overbooking operation strategies in aviation and other fields to establish a joint operation model of community-distributed photovoltaics and energy storage under the sharing mode, thereby improving the utilization of energy storage resources and the economical electricity consumption of users in the community. Khezri et al (2023b) proposed a dual-layer energy storage configuration and operation method that takes into account the investment benefits of users and energy storage suppliers in a sharing scenario and improves the flexibility of energy storage resource utilization through capacity leasing. Introducing shared energy storage as an independent decision-making subject into the optimal allocation of optical storage capacity within the community of producers and sellers can improve the utilization rate of distributed photovoltaics and shared energy storage and reduce the investment costs of producers and sellers.…”