Issues associated with the possible contribution of battery energy storage in ensuring a stable electricity system.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a consideration of the role of battery energy storage in enhancing electricity grid stability at a time of increased use of non-hydro renewable generation sources, focusing on the Australian case. Besides the creation of a strategic reserve one measure that might reduce this instability that have being increasingly attracted much attention by both the operators of power systems and electricity distribution networks is the use of battery energy storage. Together, the multitude of regulatory and advisory bodies operating in and around the National Electricity Market of Australia (NEM), and the diverse and sometimes contrary opinions as to the best underlying foundational architecture for the NEM, overlaid by ongoing disagreement at the government policy level, point to continuing uncertainty and difficulties for an Australian electricity system in a state of transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]