First-Ever
Islanding Application of an Energy Storage System
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CHICAGO, IL August 12, 2009 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- AEP�s Balls Gap
Station Distributed Energy Storage System was commissioned
and placed on-line earlier this year in Milton, West
Virginia. The system fulfills a DOE goal to implement energy
storage as a Smart Grid technology, and is the first US
application of a battery serving radially-fed distribution
system loads during periods when they are isolated from the
grid (or �islanded�) by a fault that locks out normal
service. The 152-mile-long, 34.5-kV Balls Gap feeder is
situated in very challenging terrain, and is not one of AEP�s
most dependable. The installation�controlled by S&C�s unique
IntelliTEAM II� Automatic Restoration System�includes an S&C
Smart Grid Storage Management System, a 2-MVA NGK
sodium-sulfur battery, four S&C Scada-Mate� Switches with
5801 Automatic Switch Controls, and two reclosers equipped
with S&C Universal Interface Modules. IntelliTEAM II
operates the feeder devices to automatically engage the
battery as an alternate source, serving as many customers as
the battery can carry for up to seven hours.
A live �islanding� test of the system has been successfully
completed. First, a switch in the Balls Gap feeder was
intentionally opened, interrupting service to approximately
700 customers. This prompted the feeder devices to
reconfigure and use the Smart Grid Storage Management System
to provide power to the island. The battery served these
customers for approximately 30 minutes, at which time the
system was allowed to return to normal.
In addition to the reliability improvements that accrue from
islanding up to 2-MVA of customer loads, the Balls Gap
Distributed Energy Storage System also provides peak
shaving, allowing deferral of capacity expansion at AEP�s
Milton Station. And it further provides deferral of the
capital expense associated with four miles of new 138-kV
transmission lines, and new station structures,
transformers, and breakers at the Balls Gap Station.
It took the combined efforts of American Electric Power, the
US Department of Energy, S&C Electric Company, and NGK to
make the project a success.
S&C Electric Company, headquartered in Chicago, IL,
specializes in the development and manufacture of innovative
products for the electric power industry, as well as the
delivery of comprehensive, expert services for this
industry. Information about S&C and S&C�s Smart Grid
Solutions is available at
www.sandc.com/bg.
Contact:
Steven A. Strand
Phone: 773-338-1000 x2430
E-Mail: sstrand@sandc.com
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