Maximizing the benefits of PV utility scale storage at PNM prosperity project

Battery Energy Storage Systems play a vital role in assisting high penetration photovoltaic (PV) connections to the power grid. The development of PV, has led to concern about related reliability issues and due to inherent characteristics of PV intermittency. It has also led to investigation of using storage systems to better control renewable resources. A Smart Grid demonstration project is currently underway at Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM). The project combines both residential and commercial loads on a dedicated feeder, equipped with a utility scale 0.5MW photovoltaic (PV) system and large-scale utility based Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). This project is investing how PV works with Energy Storage to benefit the power grid. In this paper, we present how to use BESS to firm PV output, and at the same time align the PV output with peak load. The control strategy and current results of modeling for the existing infrastructure of this Smart Grid project are given.