Report on Hybrid Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and their Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Accelerating the Energy Transition through Innovative Infrastructure

The deployment of Hybrid Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) represents a critical advancement in the global energy transition, directly supporting the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By integrating energy storage with renewable generation assets, these systems address the intermittency of clean energy sources, enhancing grid stability and promoting the widespread adoption of renewables. This report outlines the strategic importance of Hybrid BESS, focusing on its role in advancing SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Addressing Renewable Energy Curtailment to Advance SDG 7 and SDG 13

A significant challenge in the expansion of renewable energy is the curtailment of power from solar and wind assets. This occurs when grid congestion or negative pricing forces operators to reduce output, effectively wasting available clean energy. This inefficiency hinders progress towards SDG 7 by limiting the supply of clean power and impacts the economic viability of renewable projects. Hybrid BESS offers a direct solution to this problem.

• Mitigating Energy Loss: Batteries can store excess generation during periods of abundance, preventing curtailment and ensuring that clean energy is utilized rather than wasted.
• Enhancing Economic Viability: By enabling strategic market bidding and improving asset utilization, Hybrid BESS strengthens the financial case for renewable energy investments, accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels in line with SDG 13.

Key Technical and Strategic Considerations for Hybrid BESS Development

The development of Hybrid BESS projects involves complex technical and regulatory decisions. These considerations are crucial for building the resilient and innovative infrastructure required by SDG 9.

1. Coupling Configurations and Infrastructure Innovation (SDG 9)

   The choice of electrical coupling significantly impacts project efficiency, cost, and scalability. This decision is fundamental to designing sustainable energy infrastructure.

   • DC-Coupling: Often preferred for new (greenfield) projects, this configuration can reduce energy conversion losses and more efficiently capture surplus renewable generation. However, it presents greater complexity for retrofitting and engineering.
   • AC-Coupling: A more flexible option for retrofitting BESS to existing renewable plants. While it may involve slightly higher energy losses during charging, it allows for independent asset development and leveraging specialized expertise.

2. Operational Models: Flexibility vs. Simplicity

   Developers must decide how to register hybrid assets within the energy market, a choice that balances operational simplicity against market optimization.

   • Single Dispatchable Unit Identifier (DUID): Simplifies operations and compliance but limits the ability to optimize the renewable asset and the battery independently.
   • Multiple DUIDs: Offers greater flexibility to maximize revenue from each asset separately but introduces significant compliance and operational complexity.

3. Grid Connection and Resilient Infrastructure (SDG 9)

   A primary advantage of Hybrid BESS is the ability to place multiple assets behind a single grid connection point, potentially streamlining the approval process. However, challenges remain in integrating these complex systems into the existing grid, a critical step for building the resilient infrastructure central to SDG 9. The grid modelling and approval processes for hybrid systems, especially DC-coupled configurations, can be more demanding, requiring early and thorough planning.

4. Integrated Forecasting and Bidding Systems for Climate Action (SDG 13)

   To maximize their contribution to SDG 13, hybrid systems must operate with high precision. This requires sophisticated, integrated software capable of managing multiple variables in real-time.

   • Forecasting renewable energy availability.
   • Adjusting to dynamic grid headroom.
   • Responding to five-minute market signals and dispatch instructions.

   Early integration of advanced bidding software is essential to ensure these systems can effectively reduce emissions by optimizing the dispatch of clean energy.

5. Integrated Hardware and Software for System Reliability (SDG 7 & SDG 11)

   The complexity of managing co-located assets necessitates a deeply integrated approach to hardware and software. This integration is key to reducing operational risks and ensuring the delivery of reliable, clean power, which is fundamental to SDG 7 and the creation of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

   Essential components include:

   • A Power Plant Controller (PPC) or Energy Management System (EMS) capable of managing multiple assets simultaneously to ensure grid stability.
   • A Bidding Platform that uses advanced forecasts to determine the most profitable and efficient mix of generation and charging, aligning project economics with environmental goals.

Conclusion: Strategic Partnerships for a Sustainable Energy Future

Hybrid BESS are poised to play a central role in achieving a balanced, reliable, and clean energy grid. Their successful deployment is instrumental in making substantive progress on SDGs 7, 9, 11, and 13. The complexity of these projects underscores the need for strategic partner selection and early collaboration among developers, technology providers, and market bodies. By leveraging proven, integrated technologies, the energy industry can navigate regulatory environments and accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy system that provides affordable and clean power for all.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article’s central theme is the use of hybrid Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to support and enhance the integration of renewable energy sources like solar and wind. It directly addresses the challenge of making clean energy more reliable and economically viable by tackling issues like curtailment and grid congestion, ultimately aiming to deliver “reliable, affordable, and clean power.”
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The text focuses on technological innovation (hybrid BESS, AC/DC coupling, advanced bidding software) and the development of resilient energy infrastructure. It discusses upgrading existing plants (“retrofitting a BESS”) and building new, more efficient systems to support the energy industry’s transition.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: By providing a solution to increase the capacity and reliability of renewable energy, the article implicitly supports climate action. The entire push for renewables and technologies like BESS is driven by the need to reduce carbon emissions and transition away from fossil fuels.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article explicitly highlights the importance of collaboration, stating the need for “thoughtful partner selection and early engagement among developers, technology providers, system operators, and market bodies to align design, regulation, and revenue strategies.”

Specific Targets Identified

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

1. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article directly supports this target by presenting hybrid BESS as a solution to a key problem limiting renewable energy growth: “the curtailment of energy from renewable assets.” By storing excess energy, BESS allows for a greater amount of wind and solar power to be utilized.
2. Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology. The article discusses advanced technologies like “DC-coupling,” “integrated forecasting and bidding systems,” and “power plant controllers,” which are critical investments needed to expand clean energy infrastructure.
3. Target 7.b: By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all. The discussion on choosing between AC and DC coupling, managing grid connections, and retrofitting existing plants with BESS are all examples of expanding and upgrading infrastructure to support sustainable energy.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

1. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. The article explains how hybrid BESS contributes to a more reliable and resilient grid by managing “active and reactive power, and the overall stability and efficiency of the system,” which is essential for supporting the economy and providing power to “Australian homes and businesses.”
2. Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies. The article details how BESS can be retrofitted to existing plants and improves “overall asset utilisation and economic returns,” which is a measure of increased efficiency. The entire discussion is about adopting a clean technology (BESS) to make the energy industry more sustainable.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article concludes by emphasizing that success requires “early engagement among developers, technology providers, system operators, and market bodies.” This directly calls for the type of multi-stakeholder partnerships described in this target.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

• Reduction in energy curtailment: The article identifies “curtailment of energy from renewable assets” as a primary problem. A reduction in the frequency and volume of curtailed energy would be a direct indicator of progress towards Target 7.2.
• Increased asset utilization and economic returns: The text states that BESS improves “overall asset utilisation and economic returns.” Tracking these financial and operational metrics for renewable energy projects would serve as an indicator for Target 9.4, showing increased efficiency.
• Investment in and deployment of hybrid BESS: The number of new hybrid BESS projects, their total storage capacity, and the financial investment in them are implied indicators of progress in expanding and upgrading infrastructure (Targets 7.b and 9.1).
• Adoption of integrated control systems: The article stresses the need for “integrated forecasting and bidding systems” and “power plant controllers.” The rate of adoption of this advanced software is an indicator of technological upgrading within the industry (Target 7.a).

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: energy-storage.news