Residential Peak Electricity Demand Shaving Using Battery Energy Storage: Modeling and Experiments

Work previously developed in (Leadbetter & Swan, 2012a) presents the simulation of residential electricity demands for the five major regions of Canada using ESP-r building performance simulator and the CHREM residential energy model. Based on these results, a 6.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and experimental cycling unit was constructed. Cycling operation was conducted on this BESS to establish performance characteristics that were then used to calibrate a battery model for use with the previously developed peak shaving model presented in (Leadbetter & Swan, 2012a). Experimental peak demand shaving operation was then conducted to obtain experimentally measured voltage and current values of the battery under realistic peak shaving demand profiles to validate the model for this application. Using the newly developed battery model peak shaving was simulated again and results were updated showing inverter capacities of 3.4 kW to 5.4 kW and battery capacities of 5 to 8 kWh are adequate to conduct the described peak shaving operations for a typical home in all provinces with the exception of Quebec, which requires 28 kWh of storage capacity due to the use of electric heating.