Site selection for battery storage on medium voltage feeders to increase hosting capacity

In 2022, Hungary announced the installation of at least 33 MW / 66 MWh of battery storage on transmission and distribution systems, to support the integration of variable renewable energy. In the case of the distribution system operators (DSO), the aim of the installations was to increase the hosting capacity of medium voltage (MV) feeders. To maximise the technical potential of the storage units, site selection studies were conducted; present paper details the method and the results of this process using the example of 6 real MV feeders. During the simulations, normal operating conditions were examined, and the symmetry of the network was assumed. To examine the voltage conditions of the lines, we performed time-series, quasi-stationary, one-year power flow calculations. To analyse the voltage regulation possibilities, we also determined the sensitivity factors characteristic of the given network using power flow calculations. In general, the higher the average sensitivity factor of a line, the stronger intervention can be achieved with a given unit of storage capacity. The presented results are suitable for forming a central element of a future strategic plan, which examines the possibility of a roll-out covering the entire service area of DSOs.